Life
Other People Are Using the World, Too
A weekend of Car Week annoyances sent me down a rabbit hole about consideration and perspective
Shannon Hilson
Writer of essays, reflections, and cultural commentary. Exploring creativity, inner life, and what it means to grow wiser on purpose.
Personal Development
The Lost Art of Learning Just Because You Want To
Why adults deserve an education built around curiosity instead of credentials
Life Lessons
6 Ways Your World Gets Smaller as You Age (and Why That's a Good Thing)
What I didn't expect to learn about getting older, paying attention, and figuring out what matters most
Creativity
Recognizing the Patterns in Your Own Creative Work
What creative patterns and nudges can reveal about the body of work you're cultivating
Artificial Intelligence
On AI, Blogging in 2026, and Other Creative Conundrums
This doesn't feel like it actually belongs on Substack, so I'll stick it here instead
Self Care
Freshly Dyed Hair, Clean Sheets, and Other Things That Make Life Better
Small acts of maintenance won't change your life overnight, but they can make everyday life a lot more enjoyable
Life Lessons
Googling an Ex Isn't Always About the Ex
Looking up someone from your past can tell you a surprising amount about people and about the younger version of yourself who knew them
Movies
8 Ways Labyrinth Somehow Prepared Me for Adult Life
David Bowie, goblins, impossible staircases, and a surprising amount of wisdom for navigating adulthood
Art
"Why Is All Your Art So Scary?"
The long answer to the question I've been hearing my entire life
Gardening
An Entirely Reasonable Interest in Cucumbers
Ten observations from the garden this summer (so far)
Short Fiction
The Dresses Waiting Upstairs
For years, two impossible gowns wait patiently for the woman who made them
Productivity
Don't Let Personal Projects Become "Someday" Projects
Practical ways to keep writing, making art, and creating for yourself even when work demands your attention