“What happens when people open their hearts? They get better.” ― Haruki Murakami, Norwegian Wood

I’ve wanted to start a newsletter for some time (and podcast while I’m at it), but I didn’t know what to share. I’ve also contemplated starting another blog and even to find other sites where I can talk about everyday stuff. Then a few things happened.

First, we moved (and kept moving), and I started to miss having friends, particularly girlfriends. Second, I started to get into my appearance (hello, forties) and felt bad for my boyfriend as I shopped for Korean sheet masks that would make me look thirty again. And third, I started watching British period romances (again) and wistfully remembered the lost art of letter writing.

As an expat, it can be easy to make new friends, but I’m living in a town that doesn’t have much of an expat community. Now, I’m not opposed to making local friends, rather the opposite, but I’m discovering, like other times in my life, how difficult it is to make new friends.

Being coupled-up doesn’t help either. Oh, there is all manner of excuses. When you’re comfortable it can be challenging to start something new. You might want to branch out, but other people might not want to. There are compatibility and schedules to contend with – and I freak out when I have too many social engagements.

“You cannot swim for new horizons until you have courage to lose sight of the shore.” ―William Faulkner

It’s possible I haven’t lived anywhere long enough to make new friends yet. Even so, I’m going to take this opportunity and enthusiasm I have for this project and try something new. We’ll see how it goes! (I’m also considering putting a newsletter archive page here so folks can see what I’m writing about if they’re not sure what they’re getting into.)

I’m going to aim for a semimonthly email drop. I hope you’ll see it as a letter from a friend with no pressure to write back, but of course, I’d love to hear from you.

Interested?

Click the image or link below to go to my MailerLite newsletter sign up page.

https://tinyletter.com/lani

Thanks!

“You can choose courage, or you can choose comfort, but you cannot choose both.” ―Brené Brown

22 replies on “No Girl is an Island (a newsletter!)”

  2. Love the quotes you used for this post, Lani, and yes, making new friends can be rather difficult. Especially when one either moves a lot, or live in communities that are transient. Looking forward to your letters.

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    1. Thanks! The quotes were a last minute idea. It made me feel braver 😛

      I’m not sure how it is in the UAE, but Thailand has a tendency to be heavier in the male expat department especially off the beaten track.

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  3. Why not drop the newsletter here as well, or open another blog like you say? I keep my email as empty as possible but come here everyday. That Faulkner quote is a keeper

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    1. I might archive them here like I said, but I’m not sure I want to start a new blog. I like the intimacy of an email, but I’m going to see how it goes. As time goes by, I find myself less interested in ‘Thailand expat/travel stuff’ and more in mundane subjects that have to do with my day to day life.

      Yes, that quote. I loved it as soon as I saw it. Thanks for the suggestions!

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    1. Thanks. You should do a podcast. You really have so much information on your city, and are very niche. What are you waiting for? 🙂

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    1. Thanks Cindy! I was hoping you would. I’ve been wanting to connect with you in a more meaningful way.

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      1. Aww, that is so sweet. I think my hormones are out of whack (time of month? Aging? Just a hot mess in general? Lol) because this is making me tear up. I was just thinking that I hardly have any face-to-face connections with my friends lately and maybe people don’t like me anymore and online peeps is where it’s at 😛 Looking forward to your newsletter! ❤

        Liked by 1 person

    1. Yes, I agree it can be challenging and I was thinking of stay at home moms and also people who work at home – it can get harder, as in, we only go out when we have errands. Thanks, Katie! xo

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