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TP's avatar

In one paragraph, you have discovered and achieved what some take lifetimes to learn. Or sometimes never do… You are ALIVE. You actually get this thing called life. You love. You see. You hear. You LIVE.

You are you. And that is enough. More than enough. Max has found the boringest girl around. You both are boringly perfect.

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Jenny Clark's avatar

Sometimes you gotta go through some shit to realize what it’s all about! Thank you for the support as always 💕

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Rebecca Cooley's avatar

I absolutely loved this and can so relate. Sometimes the bills are tough, but I’m grateful every day too. I’m trying to eat more protein and greens too, lol! And I’m grateful everyday! I’m trying to let that be enough. Thank you for putting all this so simply and so beautifully!

Today I got to lie in the grass in the park with a dear friend…the sun was shining, and the wind was blowing through the trees…it was a little moment of heaven, and I’m so grateful for it and for Substack writers like you! Many thanks! ❤️💕💖

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Jenny Clark's avatar

Ah I love that! 🥲💕

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Jabria Williams's avatar

Heavy on "in one paragraph" !

Her "boring life" is filled with some much live and love! What more could someone ask for.

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Amy Aliazzo's avatar

Wow, I LOVE this. 💗 Why do we need to be busy/have drama/etc. to be considered as having a full life? Sometimes when people ask how I am, I feel like I'm supposed to come up with some sort of exciting story, and it's like - I'm just working, cuddling my pets, etc., and I'm happy! Why can't that be enough? Thank you so much for writing this and making me feel so validated!

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Jenny Clark's avatar

Yes! That is exactly where this came from. I’m so glad it resonates 😊

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Jabria Williams's avatar

Bc it is enough! Doing the simple things that make you happy is sometimes the one thing we take for granted.

I get to read? I get to go to my internship, I get to talk with my friends on FT about nothing. That is more than enough!!

Totally agree <3

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Amy Aliazzo's avatar

OMG, there is NOTHING better than reading and talking on FT about nothing! 🙌 The simple stuff is THEBEST! I hope I can think of this exchange in the future when situations come up that make me feel otherwise. ♥

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Reet Lonari's avatar

This is my favourite thing I’ve read on here so far!! I loved it just how I love my boring life too ❤️

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Jenny Clark's avatar

Ah thank you so much 🥲

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Lahari's avatar

this is so beautiful in the simplest way and has inspired me to write poetry again. and oh man, i relate so much to getting overwhelmed by the constant information overload from our phones!! lovely writing Jenny, keep it coming <3

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Jenny Clark's avatar

Ah thank you so much Lahari! I forgot how cathartic writing poetry can be

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Jabria Williams's avatar

And please post your poetry! So we all can enjoy even more amazing reads!

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cupcake's avatar

when i’m bored and people ask “how’re you doing?” and i say “oh i’m bored”, their sad reactions always confuse me because i don’t see boredom as bad or a state to fix.

i see boredom as “being”, that state where i can just be. Life is boring 😂, even after all the fun and excitement and thrills we still come back to a state of… boredom? and i enjoy it with relish most days.

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Jenny Clark's avatar

Saaaaame. Like don’t pity me. All I’ve ever wanted is to be off the hamster wheel

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cupcake's avatar

precisely 😃

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Kathleen's avatar

This was so good. Love and boring go hand in hand imo.

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Jenny Clark's avatar

That’s what I’m learning 💕

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Elizabeth | Space Breathwork's avatar

Yes! Stepping out of the cycle of MORE, BIGGER, BETTER and into ENOUGH is nearly impossible. Thank you for the reminder as I forget this from time to time. I find it easier to remember when I stay off my phone and exist in my own life rather than when I’m a voyeur into someone else’s amazingly perfect life online.

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Jenny Clark's avatar

Yes the phone thing is huge. It promotes the culture of capitalism.

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Elizabeth | Space Breathwork's avatar

I'll admit that I got sucked into the hustle culture and energetics of business and all that stuff and it kept me pushing until I burnt out. Unlearning that and learning new strategies is how I eventually got to where I am now. So I think it all happens in a cycle.

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Jenny Clark's avatar

Totally! I’ve been on a similar journey. And I think the real ticket is not to stop trying to achieve altogether but realizing that there isn’t some destination where suddenly the grief of being alive won’t exist anymore bc you have enough money or stuff. A simple authentic life, the one happening right now IS enough. And we still have to navigate the pain and suffering around us that is so prevalent in this world. There’s both joy and pain in the mundane but that’s just life.

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Elizabeth | Space Breathwork's avatar

Exactly. And growth looks different for everyone, it isn’t only the hustle/growth/self improvement stuff we see online. For me it was also about developing hobbies and interests that didn’t necessarily result in a “profit” but were for enjoyment. I felt immense growth from that, but it isn’t exactly “marketable”

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ifeanyi's avatar

this is beautiful and incredibly poetic. and it’s one of the best conveyances of emotion through writing i’ve read. thank you.

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Jenny Clark's avatar

Wow that is probably one of the kindest compliments I’ve received, thank you so much 🙏

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evangeline's avatar

Maybe God is just holding up bad things slash people so you don’t have to face them. Boring is better than chaotic

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Anisa Marshall's avatar

Wow this really drew me in. I glanced at the first few words whilst standing, about to go to the other room, then perched on the edge of my breakfast stool, then finally fully on the seat, fully engrossed and committed and all in. This is so beautiful this could be the opening paragraph to a novel that I would buy and eagerly devour. So simple and so powerful and I love that no matter what shiny things fall into your peripheral vision, you have your eyes the prize (life) and know that you are enough. Reading it makes us feel as if we are too. I love this. More please...

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Jenny Clark's avatar

I’ve had that experience with a few of my favorite writers so I’m absolutely honored that it had that effect on you. Thanks for the kind words 🥲

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Your Brilliant Biofield's avatar

*the book* don’t skip that “opening paragraph to a novel”part, becuase Anisa has got it right.

But, the beauty of this does stand alone as well, right in my heart.

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Jenny Clark's avatar

tysm 🥲

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ramblingrose's avatar

loveeee ur writing wld love if u cld read my latest post and tell me if u think it’s ok ahhh⭐️🥹❣️❣️

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Jenny Clark's avatar

Thank you!! I enjoyed your post. Felt like reading my own diary 🫶

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ramblingrose's avatar

thank u so much ahhh i love writing confessional memoir pieces💓💓💓

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Doc !!!'s avatar

wow, 3,461 likes, now thats impressive, your life might be boring but your famous on substack :)

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Wilder's avatar

Everyday my life gets more and more boring and I get more and more happy. I often say my life is “delightfully boring”. It truly is a delight that I get to experience calm moments and my loved ones everyday. And that’s all I need. It’s exciting enough when you look for the beauty that is always around you. Right now I’m enjoying the excitement of spring unfolding and the bees buzzing around and a new book as I feel the sun on my skin.

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Jenny Clark's avatar

🥹 I love this, it’s almost revolutionary to be at peace in the world we currently live in

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femalearchives's avatar

it reminds me of this deborah levy quote where she says 'it's enough to work long hours to pay the bills and rent a house in the sub and to not steer your high horse off the cliff on a tuesday. that is enough'. Beautiful!

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Jenny Clark's avatar

Ahhh yes thank you 🙏

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Nagaramama's avatar

Gorgeous

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Oghaleoghene's avatar

This is mind blowing. I'm in awe that someone can write like this. This is beautiful ♥️♥️

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Jenny Clark's avatar

Ahh thank you so much 😭

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