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Woody Allen said "a relationship is like a shark, it has to keep moving or it dies." I think the same is true about life. The messy middles are between the highs and lows of life, showing we are moving, growing, maturing. I was blessed by this article! Peace.

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Thank you, Bill! I love that idea.

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Feb 22, 2022Liked by Katie Hawkins-Gaar, Rebecca Coates

As someone who also writes about her life, I really felt this, particularly when you wrote about experiencing things without thinking about how to turn that into writing. I found that acutely difficult when I was a writer and full time social media influencer! Stepping back from social media really allowed me to relax a bit and take a breather before converting experiences into content; maybe the wounds have kind of scabbed over, rather than completely healed, by the time I write about them now.

Thank you for writing this!

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It’s so funny, as I was writing this I was thinking about how hard it must be for social media influencers to manage. Thank you for sharing your perspective!

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Mar 18, 2022Liked by Katie Hawkins-Gaar

The messy middle is a really great way to put it. I'm very new to this overwhelming grief. 67 days to be exact- so maybe I'm more at the beginning than the middle. But I keep moving through each day missing a huge chunk of my heart. I'm not a believer of everything happens for a reason, but I do believe people come into your life for a reason and I'm grateful to have found you and your perspective. Thanks for that.

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Oh Lissa. 67 days is so early. There's plenty of messy middle to come. I hope you can be gentle with yourself in the meantime. Thank you for the kind words! Sending love. xo

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Thank you for sharing this. I can relate regarding grief going on. I also started a newsletter this year, mostly to write about the grief of losing two parents in less than a month, and now getting ready to become a mom myself. Love your words.

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Oh, Carolina, that is a lot of grief—and change—to carry. I'm glad you're writing about it all. I've found that writing has helped me tremendously to better understand my grief and to better navigate times of transition. Sending you lots of love as you become a mom! xo

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I absolutely loved this. That messy middle is what makes us so uniquely human. And why I chose to delete instagram...it's ironic that we live in the messy middle for so much of our lives, but it is quite possibly the least talked about part of our lives. Thank you for writing!

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Aw, thank YOU for reading, Marisa!

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Feb 23, 2022·edited Feb 23, 2022Liked by Katie Hawkins-Gaar

I really appreciated this piece. While I don't often write about my personal experiences in my newsletter this week, I am sharing some intensely personal stuff and have found it freeing. These events that shock and sadden us are also opportunities for growth and introspection. Keep hanging out in the messy middle!

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Thanks, Anna! Congrats on delving into those personal topics. You're right, it can be a surprisingly freeing thing to do!

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Feb 23, 2022Liked by Katie Hawkins-Gaar

I think about my "journey" the last 10 years or so....Messy! Unexpected! Unpredictable, sadly, painful. I say this because as I walked this unknown path. One step at a time. I could hear myself saying..... I NEVER ever expected life to be so painful. I never even dreamed this could happen! When grief consumes us, we must SIT in it, with it and eventually make friends with it. Then the healing comes, slow, gently, it doesn't rush us. We become more compassionate, more aware of how precious and fragile life is. Once you practice Self LOVE, that whole new girl emerges within and we embrace the light once again~ xoxo leelee

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Absolutely! Out of the mess comes light. I love that.

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I loved this. I too am writing in the messy middle (of motherhood) and sometimes wonder if it is wrong to do so. But I think it is the middle, the uncertainty, that people relate to because it helps them feel seen. Not clean edges, no being tied up with string.

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You're absolutely right. Thanks, Cindy!

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This is brilliant. And freeing. Thank you.

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Thank YOU, Karen!

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Feb 22, 2022Liked by Katie Hawkins-Gaar

Beautiful! Thank you so much for writing this! I'm in a major messy middle, myself -- trying to grieve, cope, and build a new life because my wonderful husband died unexpectedly almost a year ago. I think I'm going to make a nice sign that says "You're living in the messy middle and that's ok" to remind myself...

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Feb 22, 2022·edited Feb 22, 2022Author

Oh Kayla, I am so sorry for your massive loss. A year is no time at all. You are in the messy middle and I’m so glad you’ve giving yourself grace. xo

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Thank you!

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