It all started for me in high school, where an English teacher told me I was not a strong writer. At that point and time, that feedback didn’t trouble me. And then in college, that criticism was echoed…and it was then where my insecurity with the written word began.
I avoided writing in long-form at all costs, because of what those teachers/professors ingrained in my head. That’s how it begins for everyone, right? When people tell you time and time again you’re not good at something, you start to believe it.
As I got further into my career, I was required to write quite a lot. I hated it. Whereas no one in Corporate America disapproved of my writing, the voices from yesteryear were ever-present.
I remember speaking about this insecurity in therapy one time. And my therapist told me to write anyway. She instructed me to start journaling, to better express my feelings toward this issue and others as well.
Journaling was my safe place for several years. It was where I could write without any inhibitions or fear of being told my writing lacks. It was for my eyes only, and it helped me work through my inner shit-talker every time I would put pen to paper.
In the summer of 2018, my journal turned into a healing handbook. I had ended a relationship and writing through the grief was my therapy. And that’s when I had this crazy idea of pushing past my fear once and for all, by sharing my story…believing that there might be people out there who can relate and heal along with me.
My inner shit-talker convinced me this was a bad idea: “You suck at writing, why would you want to expose that to an audience?”, “No one gives a shit about your story, keep at the journal, it’s a safe space.”, and many other disempowering thoughts followed.
It took me months to silence those voices and pull the trigger. But I knew I couldn’t do it alone. So, I spent weeks observing other people’s stories on social media. I paid attention to posts where someone had something important to say. I started making a list of those people and little by little, I reached out, telling them about this idea, and if they would be interested in joining me.
The first person I reached out to was a fierce career woman, who was going through a divorce. Her honest journey inspired me, and I knew it would with others as well. (The Freak of Nurture)
Next, I contacted a hard-working mama of two, who was rooted in southern values, trying to navigate the vicious entertainment biz in Los Angeles. (The Phoenix)
Then came a fearless goddess who was in the midst of battling breast cancer. (The Feisty Warrior)
The busy social worker who strove to make the world a better place, while working out the stress of it all in the kitchen. (The Soulful Wonder Chef)
The insanely talented radio DJ who was in the depths of navigating her next career move. (Lotus Flower)
The senior citizen with this wealth of knowledge to share from her well-lived life. (The Queen of Ageless Wisdom)
The entrepreneurial mama of two who hustled like no other, and shared her technique to achieving and believing. (The Hustler)
A spicy chica who woke us all to what it’s like raising her bi-racial daughter in suburbia. (The Spice of Suburbia)
The millennials trying to find their footing, sharing their fears, goals, mental health struggles, and how burnout is real. (The Neurotic Urban Millennial, The Cynical Dreamer, The Scholarly Empath)
And one by one, they all agreed to join me, and trust me with their story. And it’s all of them who I am forever indebted to. If it were not for their belief and bravery, The Daily Feels would continue to be just an idea that never reached execution.
I remember the first few months being riddled with complete and utter fear. I had to work through so many insecurities with my writing. My words and the way I laid them out were not kept In a journal anymore, they were being presented to a larger group to read and critique. I was waiting for people to comment and echo the observations from those teachers back in the day. But they didn’t. Instead, I started to get compliments, and people couldn’t wait to read what I had to share next.
It was The Daily Feels and all our readers who allowed me to overcome my fear of writing. I started sharing more about my single life, solo-parenting my Autistic son, my therapy journey, and many other topics that I felt passionate about.
The Daily Feels healed me on so many levels. It was the best form of therapy I ever had, and all I had to do was face the fear, and open up my heart, instead of my wallet.
As I mentioned in the very first intro for The Daily Feels, this was a true passion project. A passion project where people poured their heart and soul on a page each month, in hopes their story would matter to those that read it…and they did. It’s just validation that stories fucking matter, especially when they fall upon those who need it most. I am proud of this community, and always will be.
But like most passion projects, my run has come to an end. Why you ask? Well, I promised myself when I run out of things to say and am no longer adding value to this amazing platform, I would step back.
So, stepping back I am. However, I will eagerly continue to follow all the blogger’s stories, for they reveal deep truths, are vulnerably human, and truly awe-inspiring. And doesn’t the world need more of that, Daily Feelers?
So, forge on you amazing storytellers, and keep making a difference. It’s appreciated more than you know.
Janis Gaudelli is The Founder of The Daily Feels. She started this passion project to reveal the magic behind storytelling, and how truth-based narratives bring people together in the most heart-warming of ways. Fascinated by soul, depth, intellect, raw truths and rebellion with a cause. Often captivated by the awe of nature: star gazing, moon manifesting, sunset chasing, waves crashing, crickets singing. Fiercely curious about the inner-workings of the human psyche… she professionally studies human behavior for a living. Forever proud and grateful for being a mom to the force that fuels her life: her 10-year-old son, and greatest professor, Kellan.