Why Are You Here? (Substack, Life, All of It)
A Question That Must Be Answered
Some of us came to Substack to share stories.
Some came to start a business.
Some came because real-life connection was hard to come by- because of caregiving, disability, distance, grief, trauma… or just life being a whole damn mess.
Some of us came to teach.
To share what we know.
To offer a little light we earned the hard way.
And let’s be honest, some of us came just trying to feel less alone.
But here’s the thing I keep thinking about, especially lately:
Is this it?
Is this the place?
Is this your place?
And is it still serving the reason you came?
Because something has shifted.
People aren’t being seen the way they used to.
Notes disappear. Posts barely make a ripple.
You subscribe to someone, and their work vanishes from your feed.
Why?
The f***ing algorithm.
That’s why.
But this isn’t just about Substack.
It’s about every platform.
Every system.
Every space we pour ourselves into hoping to feel connection, meaning, momentum.
And the question underneath it all?
What are we doing with our time?
Because let me tell you - Life IS Short!
And I don’t mean that in a poetic, or stature kind of way.
I mean blink-of-an-eye short.
I’ve worked in healthcare for decades. I’ve seen lives change forever in seconds.
I’ve buried people I loved.
I’ve held hands and whispered prayers and seen what happens when we wait too long to live how we really want.
So what are “we” waiting for?
And listen - here’s another thing I’ve noticed, and I know you have too:
It’s all starting to feel… recycled!
Everywhere you look, someone’s teaching you how to write, how to market, how to grow.
Marketing advice. Coaching programs. Copy-and-paste strategies.
Courses on courses.
Coaches coaching coaches.
Marketers marketing to marketers.
It’s not that the guidance isn’t helpful. Sometimes it is!
But let’s be real-they’re a dime a dozen.
And after a while?
You start seeing the same headlines, same tricks, same formulas
Sometimes even the same damn note, just with the numbers changed.
(“30 things I learned…” becomes “20 things I learned…” but the content? Nearly identical.)
People copying each other, mimicking each other, sometimes lifting content entirely and repackaging it.
It’s not just uninspired.
It’s boring!
And it makes you wonder - Is this really where creativity lives?
Or are we all just stuck in a loop of trying to go viral instead of going deep?
➡️ You don’t need a dozen certifications or a picture-perfect funnel to stand out. You just need to follow your gut.
Let me say this gently but clearly:
What sets you apart, what really makes you magnetic, is when you follow your gut.
When you create from your soul.
When you speak your truth, not just strategy.
The most successful people I know?
They follow their heart and their intuition.
That’s what moves people.
That’s what lasts.
So if you’re overwhelmed?
If it all feels like noise?
You’re not crazy.
And you’re not alone.
This isn’t about quitting.
This is about clarifying!
Why are you here?
Are you here to connect?
To sell?
To share?
To learn?
To teach?
And is Substack, or whatever platform you’re on, the right place to do that?
Only YOU can answer that.
But it’s a question worth asking.
Because time is flying.
Because your life is precious.
Because being sick and miserable isn’t living.
Because healing matters.
Health matters.
Joy matters.
Because your reason for being here should mean something.
And if it doesn’t anymore?
That’s NOT failure.
That’s a sign to re-route.
Me?
I came here because I couldn’t get out much.
I was caregiving.
Tired.
Burned out.
But I still had something to say.
Still had something to teach.
Still wanted to connect.
I came here because I want to help people be well because I’ve seen what happens when we’re not.
And I don’t want to just exist.
I want to live!
And help others do the same.
So ask yourself - gently, honestly:
Why are you here?
And if it’s not the right place anymore…
You’re allowed to find a better one.
Just make sure that whatever you choose, it makes you feel alive.
Because this life?
It’s too damn short to live it disconnected from your joy.
I’d love to hear your take.
Why are you here?
Has the reason shifted over time?
Are you still connected to it?
Let’s talk about it. Drop your thoughts below or share this with someone who’s been asking the same questions.
Empowering you to be self-reliant with proven, holistic strategies that target the root cause - not just the symptoms- to transform your energy, clarity, and health. Real solutions, no nonsense- transforming health for you and your family.
Transform To Wellness- Kathleen Thorne RN, LMT (RN3252112/ MA54880)
🚑 Medical Disclaimer- The information is from personal experience and for educational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Never delay in seeking medical advice because of something you read, heard or watched. Thank you.
This has been a hard go the last couple of months. We look around and see all of these fabulous big accounts with so many likes, and all the small ones are getting pushed aside it seems. When a game is rigged, just being yourself doesn’t seem like enough. And no one can accuse me of not being myself!
The problem is making a Substack that everyone wants to read and share is easier than being real. Inconvenient truths are a hard sell. Pain points are probably a better angle. Stories about suffering always seem to fly off the shelves. I don’t really know what direction to go with things. Stagnation is worse than uncomfortable.
But in the end running from this problem is also losing. Hard to remember that growth at the roots is invisible, and digging up the plant definitely stops progress, maybe even kills it!
I’m here for multiple reasons. As a retired teacher part of me hopes to “teach” but it’s much more than that. I am fulfilling a need to create, express, learn, grow, and be heard and if others benefit from what I write, mission accomplished.