The Season of Climbing ~ Welcome Back

after a long hiatus

Win Phyo

May 20, 2024

Hi friend,

After nearly two years of hiatus, I come back to my newsletter Contemplations again.

It has been a long time coming and before I tell you about why I had such a long break and what you can expect in your inbox from now on, I want to say:

THANK YOU.

I am quite sure to bet that your life in the past two years have also been an interesting ride- full of both the ups and the downs, the peace and periods of fast momentum, of growing deeper roots, BUT -

You continued to stay subscribed to this newsletter. This act of loyalty and support, I am deeply grateful to you for staying.

Where have I been?

Shortly after ending last season of newsletter and podcasting, life took an unexpected turn.

After some years of persuasion from my sister and I, my mother finally left an abusive relationship with my dad. I experienced a heartbreak unlike any other romantic love encountered so far in witnessing the divorce of my parents in my adult life.

My mother moved in with me, taking with her nine cats and a rescued pigeon.

It was a steep learning curve to be an independent person, with a life filled with solitude to a life that took a different form ~

My boyfriend a few months prior got his visa and he made a big move from the US to the UK to be with me.

There we were: 3 humans, 9 cats and 1 pigeon in 1 relatively spacious but now feeling suddenly small, house. You do the math.

I won’t bore you with the details. But insert here moments of equal chaos, tears, anguish, confusion, happiness, love and laughter. We all had to grow out of our old skins pretty fast.

Where do we go from now?

Right in the middle of my parents ongoing divorce, naively or stubbornly or bravely (you decide), I made a decision to begin pursuing my dream of becoming a professional artist poet seriously.

I think my parents divorce and the changes I experienced made me realise that this life we have is short. I also no longer had my father’s fear driven thoughts beside me, but instead replaced by my mum’s infinite belief of possibilities.

So in the time you didn’t hear from me, I was doing my due diligence and much experimentation and learning to continue to grow as a creative person and as an entrepreneur.

This journey of pursuing my dreams have changed me significantly and I have grown much from the woman who started this newsletter back in 2021.

Welcome to the Season of Climbing

Just like the seasons of the year, my poetry is linked to the seasons of my life. The previous season I have named Season of Contemplations - a time of deep solitude, questions and searching.

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I look up at the heights above me and 
I feel my freedom knowing the winds and the rocky surface
Would give me the protection I need on this climb.

Now is the Season of Climbing, my friend. A season where we learn to revel in the very real, very practical, very unpredictable path of new beginnings.

In this season, we are not just dreaming, but doing.

We are not just resting, but resting intentionally to grow deeper roots.

We are not in solitude, but very much a part of a family, friends and community.

We climb steadily with enjoyment and hope, faith and laughter, and should we also grieve for a past long gone, we grieve with possibilities for a better future, undetermined but very real to us just like the ground beneath our feet.

Every Sunday, I will publish a short poem as written and spoken word - just long enough so you can enjoy it while you have a cup of hot drink (or water!) and take a moment of rest from your day.

Should it take your fancy, there will also be a short segment where I tell you about my week and what is happening in my studio. I decided to add this to my weekly archive because I think it can be quite comforting to know you are not alone in this climb and journeying along this game of life.

I hope we can continue to be on this path of contemplating and growing together.

Some housekeeping refreshers:

Firstly, check out this page if you have forgotten who I am.
I am using Substack to publish this newsletter. You will start receiving from right here in your inbox. Alternatively, you can check out Substack website or on the Substack app to read and listen to the full archives.
The audio file is also being broadcasted as a podcast so if you prefer, you can find it and follow on Apple Podcast and also on Spotify.