This is a recent essay I wrote for my Substack newsletter, Collecting Sunsets. Check out the preview below or read the whole story here.
What are you supposed to do when you reach the end? I suppose it depends on what we’re dealing with specifically and any number of contributing factors, doesn’t it? Whether or not you have truly arrived at a terminus is something that needs to be assessed on an individual basis. Sometimes it’s cut and dry. It is obvious that you can proceed no farther, or at least shouldn’t. And sometimes you can plainly see no harm in continuing on or have some existing knowledge that lets you know that this particular red light might technically still be green. Other times it’s as difficult to discern as anything else you’ll encounter on life’s journey.
I recently wrote a story for Perceptive Travel that is more or less my ode to the healing powers of the Oregon Coast and my sanctuary, Room 5 at the Old Wheeler Hotel. I’m pretty proud of this one. And as such, I invite you to click here to read it.
Hello friends. I’ve made kind of a big decision with regard to my career and writing moving forward. I respectfully request that you come with me on this.
It’s been a long year, and I’ve been writing about it a lot. The loss of Kara, our home, and everything else back in February has changed me, what I write, and how I write, considerably. And that’s made the writing I do for work often quite difficult. I still have a huge passion for and desire to write about the outdoors, travel, and food & drink. But in a different way than I have before, on a different schedule, and for other reasons.
Right now when I have a thought or grief that needs to work its way to the surface, there’s no other form of writing that I can get accomplished until I’ve settled my hash emotionally. Still, there are some days when nothing gets done until I work that shit out. All this has put me in kind of a bind with regard to work, life, health, and happiness.
Throughout all of this, many friends have reached out to me personally to express that they have received comfort or a newfound perspective in the writings/posts/essays related to grief that I was posting on my personal Facebook page. The thought that expressing my personal grief isn’t just helping me, but could potentially be helping or encouraging other people in any way is quite humbling and actually, fills me with hope and even a bit of a sense of purpose. But the thought of capitalizing on or benefiting personally from the cause of this grief, especially when it could be helping others, just doesn’t sit well with me.
I desperately want to continue my own healing and aid others with their grieving or processing, but also continue to make a living as a writer. And I think I might have a potential solution. I’ve been looking into an online platform for publishing content that would allow me to send work to people that subscribe to me by email. It’s called Substack, and it’s quite versatile. It would allow me to have paid subscribers, but to also post free content.
What I’m going to do is publish weekly stories or essays that will span the broad array of topics I’m passionate about. Outdoors, travel, grieving, humor, addiction, love, life, loss, and on down the line, all in my voice and without editorial boundaries or constraints.
And the vast majority of the writings that I think could potentially be helpful to other people, specifically, the topic of loss and grieving – will be completely free. Friends, family, or complete strangers will be able to read and share those with anybody they see fit, for free. Meanwhile, the rest of my work will be behind a $5-a-month paywall. I think that’s a win/win, and I feel really good about it. I can write what I want, when I want, potentially help or inspire others, and continue to make a living doing what I love.
So I’m asking you, my friends, colleagues, followers, and anyone else out there that might have an interest in my writing, to please subscribe. And please share this page with any and everyone else who you think might have an interest or potentially benefit from it as well. You can totally just sign up for the free stuff too – no judgment at all!
Moving forward, any writing I do that isn’t for another publication will be found exclusively on this new platform and not in the form of a Facebook post. Also know if you do subscribe, you can expect to eventually see all of those grief posts from this year again, as I build my page and put them out into the ether for public consumption. But you’ll also be getting the essays I didn’t share on Facebook and additional new non-grief writings as well. I hope you join me on this journey. Thank you.
Sure, everybody knows about Bend. It might just be the most “Oregon” place in Oregon. Between that rugged and alluring landscape, year-round outdoor activities, and dining and lodging options that range from rustic to royal, it’s a deservedly well-known destination. But have you been in the last 5 years? The last year? Heck, the last 6 months? Bend is a town with a seemingly never-ending procession of new and inventive things to eat and drink, places to stay, and things to do. With that in mind, here’s a sample itinerary to help you experience just some of what might be new to you. Click here to read the story.
Hi friends. This is not outdoor or travel-related in any way. And posting this here is a little uncomfortable, but unfortunately necessary. I suffered the worst personal loss of my life a few days ago and things are going to be rough for a while. Thislink has the details for those that are interested.
This is hopefully the first of many video projects that I’ll be doing for Cannon Beach. Produced by the fine folks at Morrisey Productions, this video details the hiking options at the iconic Ecola State Park. Please note that as of February 2022, the park is still temporarily closed to repair a sinkhole on Ecola Park Road. So please check before you go. Until the reopening, check this out!
“There’s a ton of buried treasure in Southern Idaho, but not the kind you might think. From the road or on foot, the Hagerman and Twin Falls areas look like, well, a mostly flat and semi-arid landscape. But don’t be fooled. In addition to the renowned Snake River Canyon and Shoshone Falls, Southern Idaho’s “Magic Valley” is home to a number of deep, fertile gorges and smaller spring-fed box canyons that, due to the region’s relatively flat topography, are all but imperceptible to the eye until you’re just feet away from them. But if you know where they are and how to access them, their rewards are many. With that in mind, here’s a primer to help you seek out Southern Idaho’s buried treasures.” Click hereto read the full story.
Adam Sawyer 