42 Comments
User's avatar
eden's avatar

having a bad day and this made me cry, but I feel better now. you write beautifully

Valerie's avatar

sending you so much love

Ramya Yandava's avatar

Love this line: "All of this isn’t to say it gets better, but the lightness of it making sense is why you float." I definitely relate to the moments you described here, with having big feelings and with trying to shrink yourself because of the world and other people. As I've gotten older I've been learning not to do that so much, and this is a great reminder of the pleasure you can get in doing "a starfish" instead.

maddie's avatar

jaw is on the floor. im going to be coming back to this for a long time.

Valerie's avatar

❤️❤️❤️

strategist’s field notes's avatar

This is the type of piece you revisit to feel grounded so you can find a bit of strength to venture back into the world.

Valerie's avatar

❤️ thank you

duha's avatar

submit this to something greater than substack this is awesome

Valerie's avatar

haha i’m working on an essay collection 🙂‍↕️

Matthew Prebeg's avatar

You’re amazing

Nadav's avatar

Proud of you twin, keep killing em in Amsterdam and we'll keep reading obits

Meaghan Ward's avatar

You write quite beautifully.

Mia's avatar

I love this :( ❤️ so talented

Valerie's avatar

I love you Mia!!

Caroline Beuley's avatar

wow I love this reflection on all your past lives!! made me think about all the selves that have led me to where I am now

Valerie's avatar

thank you Caroline ❤️❤️ means so much

Brooke's avatar

This made me cry but in a good way. 🫶

KC's avatar

Been having such a rough week and making sense of it is why I am floating. Valerie- I stay your fan. Needed the reminder that this too shall pass. <3,

Valerie's avatar

Here with you & for you ❤️

Anastasia Krogh's avatar

this was such a beautiful read, definitely needed to read the last sentences ❤️

Valerie's avatar

Thank you so much for reading ❤️

Musings Mode's avatar

Beautiful 🤍

hasan's avatar

this is so insane, you're so talented omg.