1 year of Swimming Home 𓆟
Thank you to everyone who supports my creative endeavors and pours life into me!
As someone with ADHD, sticking with any creative project for a year straight is a huge accomplishment. Painting, playing bass, crafting jewelry and collaging are all creative pursuits in which I’ve indulged over the past 10 years — but they’ve been cyclical.
Swimming Home is the first time I’ve hit the gas and kept going.
Despite my tiredness,
despite my crankiness,
despite my demand avoidance.
Despite, sometimes, feeling like I’m screaming into the void.
In the year since I started Swimming Home:
꩜ I’m proud of how I’ve built a foundation for a climate-focused career in the future.
I needed somewhere to put this fervor for the earth and I’m happy to have a soft landing here. (I’m also happy that I have had a chance to write about environmental and social governance — and the DEI efforts of environmental orgs — in my day job.)
꩜ I’m proud oftThe range of content I’ve put out — and curated, through Grist and Common Dreams.
From climate news summaries for my REAL TALK columns, to art exploration via my FEEL GOOD FRIDAY moodboards, to personal essay writing in the paid subscribe COMPOST PILE posts, it’s all been a blast.
I’ve also put on my editor-in-chief hat by curating other news and feature stories from other outlets, republished under Creative Commons licenses.
Next year, I hope to up my fashion coverage. So far, I’m also proud of the writing I’ve done about the circular and gift economies, and the magic sparkle of thrifting.
꩜ I’m proud of everything I’ve done offline.
All the bus and train rides I’ve taken instead of Uber drives,
all the times I’ve saved pasta and pickle jars,
all the times I’ve helped raise the profile and scope of mutual aid efforts — and local community gatherings in general.
Especially, especially, especially after the 2024 presidential election, I’m really proud that I’ve already been contributing to the work that’s going to save America.
꩜ I’m proud of my personal growth, away from the Swimming Home space, too.
I’m happy to report that I’m a few days late commemorating the actual one-year anniversary of Swimming Home. I published my first post on Nov. 13, 2023: In times of grief, we need artists.
On Nov. 14, 2024, I was out of town for a conference, where I was co-moderator for a session on my current area of expertise.
I had a check-in today with my boss, where I told her the truth: That experience of being asked to be a thought leader, in a formal capacity, for a huge tech conference, along with my fellowship for the best and brightest BIPOC in my field, have helped to quell my imposter syndrome.
I imagine taking Swimming Home to new heights in the next 12 months will do so, as well.
Thank you for reading this far, and for reading in general.
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Lots of love,
Caroline C.
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