A Quarter Passed — What We Forget While Chasing More
A moment to slow down, reflect on the journey, and highlight the voices that made this month meaningful.
A full quarter of the year has already flown by. I give thanks to God.
Time moves so fast, and sometimes, you feel like you haven’t accomplished a thing. And yet, we’ve done so much. We have lived, experimented, and pushed through. We live in an era that rushes us. We often feel like there’s so much to do that the time we’re given isn’t enough.
It is enough.
We just need to slow down and take the time to actually look at our lives. To become aware of our actions and our daily rhythm. Just a small reminder.
So much has happened in my life up until now. My dental issues are halfway resolved. There are still major steps ahead, but even so, the pain is gone. I’ve also been spending a lot more time reflecting on myself and what I should truly dedicate my life to.
I’ve just started my second audiobook of the year: The Richest Man in Babylon, on personal finance. It’s an excellent book; I highly recommend it.
As for my publication, The Mirror Room, I’ve decided to replace the Wednesday reminder with some of my poetry. I’m continuing to learn, improve, and engage more deeply with the community.
Over the past few weeks, I was so focused on getting my first paid subscriber that I started shifting my style and following certain strategies... to the point where I almost forgot why I created this publication in the first place.
The right word would probably be: neglect.
I created The Mirror Room to help me understand life and my own inner workings—what lies behind our feelings and reactions—in search of a bit of clarity. And with that clarity, the power to consciously be who we want to be.
Even though I draw from my own observations and personal experiences, I share these reflections and poems to allow my readers to look at themselves and find, in turn, a little more clarity in their own lives.
I’m staying true to that intention. I will continue to refine myself and my writing, and I know that my supporters will find me in due time.
That’s it for this little update—a look behind the scenes of this past month.
Now, on to the recommendations.
Writing online can be frustrating. You sometimes feel isolated, and at some point, you might feel like no one is actually reading what you publish. It’s natural; even if we aren’t chasing fame, it’s a human need to draw at least some attention to our work—to feel that it matters to at least one person.
And it does matter. And we aren’t alone. We can support one another and discover fantastic worlds through each other’s words.
For lovers of poetry, life reflections, and personal growth, I had the chance to work with an incredible talent this month: Bear Sage. Her writing explores deep subjects like grief, identity, emotional healing, and personal growth.
Poetry, philosophical reflections… I see her as an educator. She often shares insights into Asian cultures as well as literary concepts regarding poetry. For the poetry community, she has created a true home for anyone wanting to share their voice: Dorie Snow/雪多丽.
Dark poetry, personal essays, and emotional storytelling. She writes to understand and chase away inner ghosts. Her words are powerful—sometimes unsettling because they speak the truth: theinkspilled.
When I noticed this man hadn’t reached 500 subscribers yet, I was stunned. He is a kind soul, engaging and very friendly. His poetry is powerful, like little medicines for the soul: THE STRANGER.
She explores the deep self and the concepts that affect our lives without us even realizing it. One post that truly stayed with me this past month was ‘The Tragedy of Feeling Valuable Only When You Are Useful.’ With her, inner experience becomes a language to be understood and learned: Sara da Encarnação.
If you’re new to Substack and looking for advice on how to grow your page, here are some people who can guide you:
I highly recommend the publication Write - Build - Scale. If you’re viewing my page on a computer, I learned this layout from their ‘365 lessons we’ve learned over 365 days on Substack’ series. They cover everything: mindset, structure, engagement, your identity as an author, authority, and more.
He’s always sharing tips and advice on how to grow your page and monetize your newsletter. He also creates space for others to connect and expand their publications. There are many creators out there helping others find their footing and grow on Substack—his content, in particular, is incredibly useful if you’re trying to understand how the platform works and how to scale your own page: David McIlroy
She writes about the importance of choosing peace over constant performance, reminding us that we are ‘not behind’ and ‘not failing’ when we simply need space. For her, writing is a path to the self, and she offers great advice along the way: Nabanita.
One of the most engaged people on Substack , alongside HVR and Mack Devlin. These guys are like engagement engines—they interact constantly and encourage us to connect with one another. He’s a great person with a wonderful sense of humor, and he also shares writing insights on how to make your work more impactful, or how to make a line or an ending really hit home: Stefan Pasek.
Her pieces are short—usually a minute’s read or even less—but they are powerful and motivating. I see them as that first cup of coffee or tea in the morning, something to warm the heart and prepare you for a long day ahead. She helps us remember what truly matters—or at least, what should: Laura.
There are many more names I could mention, but I’ll stop at these 10 recommendations for this month. If some of them are new to you, I highly recommend visiting their pages and following their journeys.
Before I go, I want to give a few honorable mentions. These are the people who constantly support this space—the names that show up in my notifications again and again every time I post. They are excellent writers and poets, and as readers, they are just as precious. It’s a gift to have them by your side.
Aaliya
Sattie R
feelingsundefined
AsukaHotaru
John Sheils
Lumi
Jackie Ko
PancakeSushi
Dipti Vyas
Charisse Joy Melegrito
Amit The Storyteller
Storm Whisperer
The Mirror Room now has 275 members. I am so grateful, and all of this is possible thanks to the help of so many of you—the recommendations, the mutual support.
I am thankful for the trust you place in me, and I will continue to honor it every day that God gives me the chance to wake up, in every text and every poem.
I won’t hide anymore. I’m going to show up, and I hope it brings comfort, strength, motivation, and clarity to some of you.
Let’s keep moving forward together, friends, under the banner of writing.
See you at the end of April for more recommendations!
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With clarity,
The Mirror Room
Odel A.
There’s something very honest in this. I don’t know if it’s neglect so much as pressure. The moment we introduce goals, especially visible ones like subscribers, the structure around us starts to reorganize how we write, often without us noticing it happening.
Returning to intention isn’t just a personal decision, it’s a way of resisting that pressure consciously. What you’re describing feels less like losing your direction and more like becoming aware of what tries to shape it. Which in many ways is far more difficult.
This endorsement means a great deal to me Odel! Waiting to read more of your work. 🙏🏾