The Art of Holding Space
How do you best support the people you love? Is there a right way to let them know you’re proud of them—not for what they achieve, but simply for who they are? Is it enough to say, “I want to celebrate with you when you succeed and stand beside you when you’re disappointed?”
Lately, I’ve been thinking about this a lot. If you’ve been reading my letters for any amount of time—or if you know me at all—you know that I feel deeply. I’ve been told I’m *too much*, that my emotions are *too big*, that my feelings can overwhelm. One of the best parts of having multiple creative outlets is that I have places to channel these emotions, making them feel less consuming for me and, hopefully, less burdensome for those around me.
I’ve written about balance before, and this is another place where I struggle to find it—for better or worse. When I try to *be less*, life feels muted, like I’m only half-living. So, I tell people how I feel. I put my heart on the line—or, often, the butcher’s block. I know not everyone feels as deeply or cares as much, but I can only be me.
I’ve learned that when feelings aren’t reciprocated, it can hurt. But I’ve also learned that withholding my full self leaves me feeling disconnected, like I’m living a life that’s only partially mine. Being able to express myself through this company has changed my life. And through your support, you’ve done for me what I hope to do for those I love—you’ve celebrated my successes and stood by me through my failed attempts.
So now I wonder—can we simply tell the people we love these things? Or are they truths they have to discover on their own? That no matter what, they are loved. That they are part of something bigger—a family, a community, a force strong enough to hold them through anything.
Maybe this is like self-love. If we can fully love ourselves, perhaps the world, the people we long for, will reflect that love back to us. Maybe what we struggle with isn’t finding love in another but recognizing that love is already within us. That it’s what we’re made of. That it’s the only thing we truly have to offer.
So, as I continue to navigate how to show up for the people I love, I hope you’ll take a moment to do the same—to remind someone in your life that they are seen, supported, and loved, no matter what. And if no one has told you that lately, let me be the one to say it: you are enough, exactly as you are.
xx
Christina