A Reintroduction

A few things about me, and the future of this Newsletter.

Hello…again?

So it has been awhile. I haven’t been sitting idle…mostly not sitting idle. I have been focusing on myself, and I’ve had several big life changes happen over the last several years. Most of which has been bad for my mental health. First, I got a divorce (not good for the mental health), then I moved states (From Idaho to Oregon). As most of you know my mom passed in 2017. Which is very much not good for the mental health. Those are the three major things that have happened over the last several years.

Just to quickly reintroduce myself. My name is David Shorb, I’m a writer, photographer, activist, and general all around geek. I’m 46 (As of July 8th 2023), I have a young step-daughter, and my girlfriend that also doubles as wife number 1. It’s a long, long sorted tale I might write about someday.

My Divorce

Now, I could say a lot about my ex-wife. However, I won’t. Because, to be honest. This divorce happened because both of us were going in different directions. I was in a downward spiral, and she wanted someone that wasn’t in a severe major clinical depression. Compounded by ADHD and the fact that I just wanted to die.

These things happen, and they are what they are. The past is just that, the past. In order for a person to grow, they have to have the ability to see the past for what it is, and then move forward. I’ve always said that life is like a shark. You have to continue to move forward or you die.

Once I had time to myself, and allowed myself to fall apart. I could put myself back together. It was a process that allowed me to find my core self again. It was bad, but it was good. The universal constant of change and contradictions.

The Sort Of Big Move

So I’m prone to fits of spontaneity. This is one of those times. I felt like my time in my hometown was at an end. It didn’t feel like home anymore. I have no intention of going back. Except for the occasional visit to see family. My grandma still lives there, and she is staying with her daughter as she slips into the grips of Alzheimer’s. It’s something that makes my heart hurt thinking about it.

The other reason for my move is that I reconnected with an old flame. My first wife. I would say that if it didn’t work the first two times we were together, what would make the third time any different? Time, and wisdom are linked. We have both been through a lot since the last time we were together. She has had a kid, gone through some very hard medical issues. Her mother passed away in early March, and I reached out to give my sympathy and condolences.

We started talking again, and found that we had ground we could stand on and had a mutual understanding of each other that hasn’t ever really gone away. It’s that kind of connection that only happens maybe once or twice in a lifetime. It’s something we have always had with each other.

So after talking for about a month, I dropped everything, packed a bag, re-homed my cat, and left everything to go live in Oregon, and be with her. It’s a lot more complicated, and this is the cliff notes version. But it’s been a good move on my part. After all, I’m writing again.

Going Forward

So while I am still going to be writing and publishing on Medium. I’m going to also be doing something here as well. This is going to be where I share everything I’m not going to publish on Medium. I’m going to be more focused and intentional on Medium, that I will be more focused on LGBTQIA+ and the Politics that entails.

Here is going to be more like a place for everything else that I want to write about. I’m also going to be more of a presence on TikTok. With both prepared content and other more silly spontaneous types of content.

I plan on only doing one or two posts a week here. I don't want to overwhelm your inbox. I haven’t really decided what days yet. I’m still deciding on that. However, I am going to try a few different days and see which ones have the best response.

I Want To Interact With You!

So Substack has introduced some really awesome features over the last year or so. I want to take advantage of these features and interact with my readers. One of those features is going to be the new chat feature. I really want to hear what you think, and I want to get your perspective about the topics I’m writing about.

Notes is another feature I want to take advantage of to give more context about the subjects I write about. I have some ideas on how I am going to use that feature. So please stay tuned and check out all the changes that are going to coming soon.

Help Get The Word Out About Zen: The Art Of Observation

A Weekly Newsletter

Thank you for reading Zen: The Art Of Observation — your support allows me to keep doing this work.

If you enjoy Zen: The Art Of Observation, it would mean the world to me if you invited friends to subscribe and read with us. If you refer friends, you will receive benefits that give you special access to Zen, Or Something Like It.

How to participate

1. Share Zen: The Art Of Observation: When you use the referral link below, or the “Share” button on any post, you'll get credit for any new subscribers. Simply send the link in a text, email, or share it on social media with friends.

2. Earn benefits. When more friends use your referral link to subscribe (free or paid), you’ll save money and get free months. Just look below.

• Get a 1 month comp for 5 referrals

• Get a 3 month comp for 10 referrals

• Get a 6 month comp for 25 referrals

To learn more, check out Substack’s FAQ.

Thank you for helping get the word out about Zen, Or Something Like It!

Join my chat

A private space for us to converse and connect

Today I’m announcing a brand new addition to my Substack publication: the Zen, Or Something Like It subscriber chat.

This is a conversation space in the Substack app that I set up exclusively for my subscribers — kind of like a group chat or live hangout. I’ll post short prompts, thoughts, and updates that come my way, and you can jump into the discussion.

To join our chat, you’ll need to download the Substack app, now available for both iOS and Android. Chats are sent via the app, not email, so turn on push notifications so you don’t miss conversation as it happens.

---

How to get started

1. Download the app by clicking this link or the button below. Substack Chat is now available on both iOS and Android.

2. Open the app and tap the Chat icon. It looks like two bubbles in the bottom bar, and you’ll see a row for my chat inside.

3. That’s it! Jump into my thread to say hi, and if you have any issues, check out Substack’s FAQ.

It's Been Awhile....

Zen, Or Something Like it.

Copyright 2022 David Shorb Photography

I have been in the desert looking for the thing that I lost. Only to find that I hadn’t lost it. It only went to sleep for awhile because I had to have time to heal wounds that will never fully be gone. Then a Pandemic happened, then life happened.

I think that the first thing that happened that wounded me the deepest, was my mom’s passing in March of 2017. I’ve written about it before. Then, the pandemic happened, and then most recently, my marriage ended. I have always believed that everything happens for a reason. Do I think it’s some kind of divine plan. No, I don’t. However, It’s been my experience that life has a way of balancing itself. Especially if you fail to do it yourself.

I may not have lost my love of writing. I did pick up another passion during the pandemic. Photography has been a fantastic creative experience for me. I’ve really felt it’s helped to reawaken by creative self. It helped to remind me that I’m still a creative person, and that I need to honor that part of myself. Because it is a core part of who I am.

I’m hoping to post more frequently here, and over on Medium. I’m going to be diving back into writing on a more consistent basis. I’ve got several ideas I’m working on, and I’ve started working on my Lisa Goodwin series again. I’ve renamed it The Immortal Hunter series, and I’m publishing it to Kindle Vella. I am going all in on the full vision I’ve had for this story since I’ve first starting putting the idea to page. Kindle Vella allows me to serialize it, in the way that I’ve always imagined this series.

I’m finding myself again. It’s slow, and there are going to be speed bumps. Keep your eyes open and get ready for a lot of great content. I think I’m finding my point of Zen once again. Or at least something that feels and looks like it.

Also if you’re able too, please consider subscribing. I’ll be putting a lot of content behind the paywall. All the archives are behind the paywall now.