Why subscribe to read Mark’s Musings?
Comments from some Musing readers - what it means for them:
You wrote, “I don’t know if anything I do will change the world or anyone else’s world.” Actually, you do. Know. Sometime in March 2007, you and I had coffee. We talked about many things, and one of them was writing. You encouraged me to start a blog. On March 21 of that same year, I started my first blog, Recover Your Joy. Jan 2012, I moved to DareBoldly. I needed your encouragement to start that first blog and keep the momentum going. Your cheerleading kept me writing. And writing has changed my world and me. I know, from the many messages I’ve received, that many people have been impacted by what I write. In some small way, it changed them. I also know, from reading the comments other people write here, you’ve had the same experience many times of people writing in to tell you how what you wrote changed them. Just today, if you change anything, make it how you celebrate the amazing impact you’ve had on so many people’s lives just by turning up here every single day for over 20 years. You’ve created thousands of ripples in that ocean that keep rippling out as one person feels the ripple of your words and adds theirs to your ripple and yours to theirs. Thanks for the inspiration Mark – Louise Gallagher
It has become an enjoyable habit. It allows me the opportunity to either question my alignment with a long-standing dear friend or identify those differences that provoke an internal dialogue that most often tends to broaden my position on life. My Life!, JJ
What a privilege that from Melbourne, Australia - I can enjoy Musings, thoughts, emotions and Pearls of Wisdom - far from the other side of the world, to provoke thought, consider alternatives, smile, sometimes weep and just to look forward to something every day, MD, Melbourne, AUS
I don’t know how or why I stumbled onto Musings some 20 or so years ago, but I do know it helped me gain the courage to change jobs and companies at 50 when common sense suggested otherwise. It was a very good move for me, and I’ve been a devoted fan and eager editor ever since. Not all Musings resonate for me, but many are very good, and some are pure gold, RH, Calgary, AB
Hello Mark, I look forward to reading your musings first thing in the morning - your positivity brings a smile to face the day, and you always provide food for thought, even though I may not always agree with what you’ve written. Keep on writing, EC, Toronto, ON
Mark, your column starts my day like driving my TR6, always shifting forward 1,2, 3 and 4, not looking back! Thank you, LA, Yellowknife, NT
Mark, I believe, you know, I am a big fan and supporter of yours. You have demonstrated grit, creativity, and perseverance in writing a musing every day for the last 20 years. And this is in addition to your other publications. I wonder, when you wrote that first column, whether you thought you would be looking back on the sheer volume of words you have produced and kindly shared with us, each day, for 20 years. It is a testament to your determination, focus and discipline. You are a very talented and insightful writer. I enjoy your wordsmithing and phrasing… RT, White Rock, BC
Every day, an email comes across the Atlantic, landing in my box at my busiest time. I rarely miss the read! There is always something which makes me feel I haven’t wasted those precious workday minutes. Thank you, VJ, Paris
I do not want to write a novel here, but two words immediately come to mind - Optimism - yours, and Connection - for me. Reading your morning musings is a ritual, starting some 20 years ago. I may not agree with some passages, but I always enjoy the reading. Over the years, I have taken away many of your interesting points of view and woven them into the individual of who I am now. The latest; is February 19, 2023, "Change your lens - see what's right with the world.” Thank you for your dedication and continuous ideas, JKE
Your column gives me a pause in my day where I get to consider another point of view on a wide range of topics and emotions. To agree or not agree is not the point. It is the shift in (my) thinking that matters. Thank you for your daily contributions to my day, ADL
Your Musings often evoke sweet memories of my life, DM
Reading your words every morning is one of my daily rituals. I enjoy reading about your personal explorations, your questioning, your struggles, and your honest thoughts on big and small matters. The thing that keeps me engaged and reading day after day is your willingness to be vulnerable which gives us readers a glimpse into your real life…not a perfectly curated social media life. Keep on keeping it real, Mark!, NM
Not all friends enlighten, but the good ones lighten - a day, or the sky or your load - they always do. Mark’s decision to walk and talk each day to a disparate group of friends, family, business colleagues, romantic interests, and just plain folks can be viewed as either vanity or generosity. Musings began like this…a plan to get outside and walk each day, to turn off the phone, to connect with nature, to exercise body and brain. But he also imposes this daily discipline upon himself to exercise the craft of writing. Writers write. As Mark connected with nature, stilling his often-frenetic energy and absorbing the subtle shifts and nuances of nature, there is less observation of distractions and more musings. It is said that when a human being is deprived of one of the five basic senses, the others are heightened in a compensatory effort. Mark cannot smell. But he has a heightened sense of compassion, humour, awe, and inquisitiveness. That he chooses to share this with his musing pals is a daily treat. - KT, Vancouver
Never miss an update. Subscribe to get full access to Mark’s Musings.
You can upgrade or change your subscription at any time.
Paid subscribers can also revert to the free/basic option at any time. To make changes to your subscription, change your address etc., visit my Support FAQ page if you need further help to receive Musings, change your email address, or unsubscribe - and/or write to me directly, or you can submit a help request directly to Substack.
Never miss an update. Subscribe to get full access to Mark’s Musings. You can upgrade or change your subscription at any time.
Mark's Musings, a daily column - every morning, for over 20 years and still going strong ...
Why?
Why not?
How?
Every day, I have never missed one - for more than 21 years.
Readers come and go - and I’m not everyone’s taste - I write about experiences, observations and my opinion. Sometimes that’s current events commentary; sometimes, it’s politics, friends, family, colleagues or community subject matter.
Mostly, it’s about relationships between us, how we find our way through life, how we help one another, poke and prod one another, and hold ourselves accountable to some standard, some carving of our character in our mind’s eye, and our experiences.
I tell bits and pieces, short columns and long ones (rarely less than 500 words, often 1000-2000, and sometimes 2500+), and try to be sufficiently fair or harsh depending on the facts of a situation:
all ‘free subscribers get Musings sent to their inbox every morning’
paid subscribers get more - more writing, more features (watch for announcements as I create additional ‘sections’ within this publication.)
paid subscribers and kind donors get more than that; they get my profound thanks - in part because that shows me they value my writing and/or my work ethic, and their funds help keep this project going
there will, eventually (I keep saying that) be a book; the working title is ‘It Ain’t About You Sweetheart’
there is a ‘novel in the works too,’ which is taking much longer than expected - and what began as a novel derived from two of my short stories, the arc is looking more like a trilogy. I don’t have a firm target day for the first of those to be published - but you will hear about it here
What does a ‘paid subscription cost’?
There are four ways to go:
Monthly
Annual
Donor - as much as you want, but the substack system requires it is set a minimum number not less than the cost of an annual membership - but you can provide more, and I’ll be even more grateful!
Gifts; you can give a monthly or annual gift to someone - you pay for it initially, and if they wish to carry on, then they pay for it going forward or revert to a fee/basic subscription; gifts indicate to the recipient who gave it to them, or you can give someone Musings anonymously
