The Harvest is Here, and I’m Finally Letting Myself Be Seen
On old fears, blooming truths, and bearing witness
The last month or so has been filled with so much joy and abundance, but it felt like a race to the finish line, I can’t lie.
Yesterday, I shared a video in the subscriber chat with a snippet of what I’ve been up to and where my mind has been. You can check it out here, and leave a comment in the thread if you’re tuned in and ready for more from Letters From the Safe House.
Today, I’m revisiting a piece I wrote nearly two years ago:
Overcoming the Fear of Being Been
Since moving to The Safe House earlier this year, I’ve done deep work to get over my fear of being perceived. Honestly, it’s been an even longer journey, perhaps a decade of combating that miserable critic in my head that sits in a corner of my mind's archives turning its nose up at everything. Limiting my possibilities before they get too large for the container I kept myself in.
“Being seen is giving ourselves the opportunity to show up for our talents, interests, quirks and our own humanity. It’s not constant, unsafe exposure, it’s an opportunity to be authentic.” - Ehime Ora
You can read that old piece for free this month, it’s been one of my most popular newsletters to date. I almost republished it outright, but as I reread it, I realized I’ve crossed into a new chapter of that story. So instead, I’m sharing this note– a small update from the other side.
“Releasing the notion that I have to create for others and embracing the truth that I create for myself was the biggest change I learned to make in my inner artist dialogue.”
That shift is what made it possible to write Garden Gossip and gain the courage to create soul-bearing work. To perform. To share freely. To stop flinching at the idea of being witnessed.
And now, I’m watching the women around me step into their own spotlight, too.
The other week, I showed up dutifully to watch my sister-friend Jade sign copies of her debut novel at the Black Romance Book Festival in Atlanta. I remember when she was contemplating whether to publish under her real name. Now she’s out in the world, fully seen, embraced, and celebrated. Seeing readers show up to her table with copies of her book they had traveled with to get signed, filled me with such pride and honor to bear witness to this evolution of my girl. If you’re looking for a slow, simmering summertime read, I highly recommend that you check out A Month of Sundays. As I said in the original post:
“It’s a joy to watch others conquer their inner critic, a preview of the freedom that’s on the other side of your fears.”
I believe I’m in my harvest season.
Not because everything is perfect, but because the seeds I planted; in the garden, in my art and in myself are bearing fruit. And I want to savor it. Share it. Let it be enough.
I hope you enjoy what’s coming next, especially Garden Gossip No. 3, which drops June 19. This one’s called “Man Work.” It’s a written cinematic story from the frontlines of yard work, gender roles, and Southern nosiness. I promise it’ll make you laugh, nod, and maybe even go dig something up yourself. See you soon ;)
Thanks for reading, always.
With love,
Jess 🌿
