I'm a subscriber and always read what you write. I would recommend that one week off in eight months is a prescription for trouble. Maybe consider scheduling in your breaks for the next few months? The algorithms would prefer you to never pause, but I think other subscribers along with me would like you around for longer and do not require you to work all the time.
Jermaine, your work has become important to me because you provide perspective I don't hear anywhere else.
Please take my thoughts as coming from a person who cares about you even though we have never met. If you and I were sitting together I would ask permission first, since my practice is to do that before giving advice.
You don't have to deserve rest because you have worked hard or achieved a goal. You are a human being and all people deserve to rest, whether that means to be still, or to move, or to play, or to space out and stare at the sky. Maybe rest is to be in touch with old friends or new, or to retreat from needing to be social, or to clean your physical or spiritual house, or not.
Please give yourself all the time you need to ask yourself, with the discipline you bring to asking tough questions, what feels like rejuvenation to me, and then do it for as long as you want. We, your readers, will still be here.
Thank you so much for what you do, I am reading your book currently and am deeply grateful that you wrote it. Sometimes we have to give ourselves a little grace. Peace.
I couldn’t appreciate and respect you more for being the example we all need……society and capitalism demands we become exhausted
Rest is so vital to our souls and bodies! Sleep is too but rest !! Feet in the green freshly mowed grass…whatever it is for you it is a beautiful thing to pause!!! I follow a beautiful soul who actually works with other black women to guide them as well as remind herself to learn to rest. I follow her to quietly learn how the oppression my white culture continues to instill on black people has kept “rest” a word for the privileged white people. I am thinking black men have not felt they could rest their body and their mind either.
As a retired high school history teacher, I deeply appreciate the time and effort you take to research mostly obscure historical sources to tie today to the past. Please take breaks more often in the future so that you can keep going, and I can keep reading!
your writing is something I didn’t know I had been missing from my life. Thank you so much for your dedication and enjoy some much deserved time to rest
Taking a break from writing and then unnecessary guilt makes you write an uplifting piece anyway. You scared me at first with the thought of losing your voice. But I totally understand you. I sat this morning on my backyard swing, after all the animals were released from their night cages and cared for. All my other chores beckoned, as they always do to a former country girl. But I said no. I'm gonna sit on my swing, cat on my lap and watch the birds on my feeder. 7 of them. Finches, mostly. Look at my pretty flowers, all in bloom, all the colors, ferns, petunias, etc..hanging baskets and pots crowd a table. Over the wall my crepe myrtle pairs with the neighbor's, pink and white. We all need this. Nature showing us the best parts of life. Take a week, take two. We will be here waiting, no worries.
Thank you for your work and the devotion you bring to it. Please, please rest. Flaming out would serve no one, especially you. Stay healthy. Try to relax as you rest. We will see you when you are ready.
I love your writing and read everything you post, but to be honest (and please don't take offense), I would LOVE it if you published less frequently. I follow many amazing writers on Substack, and I am frequently overwhelmed by the task of reading all their fantastic work. Of course, you need to do what you need to do to pay your bills, but sometimes slowing down and producing less is the revolutionary act. If it helps, you always have my permission to take breaks and rest.
I'm a subscriber and always read what you write. I would recommend that one week off in eight months is a prescription for trouble. Maybe consider scheduling in your breaks for the next few months? The algorithms would prefer you to never pause, but I think other subscribers along with me would like you around for longer and do not require you to work all the time.
Thanks for the great writing.
Commenting to say "ditto" 😝 This is my favorite publication and I want the author to take care of himself 🙏
Thank you, Jermaine, for your dedication. I hope this week proves restorative for you.
Jermaine, your work has become important to me because you provide perspective I don't hear anywhere else.
Please take my thoughts as coming from a person who cares about you even though we have never met. If you and I were sitting together I would ask permission first, since my practice is to do that before giving advice.
You don't have to deserve rest because you have worked hard or achieved a goal. You are a human being and all people deserve to rest, whether that means to be still, or to move, or to play, or to space out and stare at the sky. Maybe rest is to be in touch with old friends or new, or to retreat from needing to be social, or to clean your physical or spiritual house, or not.
Please give yourself all the time you need to ask yourself, with the discipline you bring to asking tough questions, what feels like rejuvenation to me, and then do it for as long as you want. We, your readers, will still be here.
How could you continue the practice of rest every week into the future?
And a well deserved break at that!
Thank you for your service to humanity.
This too is as important as all the work you do. Rest.
I hope you take some time to enjoy a pleasant summer breeze.
Jermaine, your output is as prodigious as it is inspiring. Thank you. And PLEASE make the most of your week of rest.
Thank you so much for what you do, I am reading your book currently and am deeply grateful that you wrote it. Sometimes we have to give ourselves a little grace. Peace.
I couldn’t appreciate and respect you more for being the example we all need……society and capitalism demands we become exhausted
Rest is so vital to our souls and bodies! Sleep is too but rest !! Feet in the green freshly mowed grass…whatever it is for you it is a beautiful thing to pause!!! I follow a beautiful soul who actually works with other black women to guide them as well as remind herself to learn to rest. I follow her to quietly learn how the oppression my white culture continues to instill on black people has kept “rest” a word for the privileged white people. I am thinking black men have not felt they could rest their body and their mind either.
May this week be what you need. 💫
This timeline breaks our hearts. Please take the time you need. We will be here when you get back. Praying for your renewal.
As a retired high school history teacher, I deeply appreciate the time and effort you take to research mostly obscure historical sources to tie today to the past. Please take breaks more often in the future so that you can keep going, and I can keep reading!
your writing is something I didn’t know I had been missing from my life. Thank you so much for your dedication and enjoy some much deserved time to rest
Taking a break from writing and then unnecessary guilt makes you write an uplifting piece anyway. You scared me at first with the thought of losing your voice. But I totally understand you. I sat this morning on my backyard swing, after all the animals were released from their night cages and cared for. All my other chores beckoned, as they always do to a former country girl. But I said no. I'm gonna sit on my swing, cat on my lap and watch the birds on my feeder. 7 of them. Finches, mostly. Look at my pretty flowers, all in bloom, all the colors, ferns, petunias, etc..hanging baskets and pots crowd a table. Over the wall my crepe myrtle pairs with the neighbor's, pink and white. We all need this. Nature showing us the best parts of life. Take a week, take two. We will be here waiting, no worries.
Jermaine please take the time you need to take care of your mental and physical health. We will be here when you return. God Bless.
Thank you for your work and the devotion you bring to it. Please, please rest. Flaming out would serve no one, especially you. Stay healthy. Try to relax as you rest. We will see you when you are ready.
I love your writing and read everything you post, but to be honest (and please don't take offense), I would LOVE it if you published less frequently. I follow many amazing writers on Substack, and I am frequently overwhelmed by the task of reading all their fantastic work. Of course, you need to do what you need to do to pay your bills, but sometimes slowing down and producing less is the revolutionary act. If it helps, you always have my permission to take breaks and rest.