Welcome to Messy Work
A bi-weekly newsletter about the messy work—and beautiful art—of being human.
I’m Lucia, a freelance copywriter, part-time coach and full-time overthinker based in (sometimes sunny) South London. I started this newsletter to write about the messy work—and beautiful art—of being human.
Life a mess?
If you’ve ever felt like your life is a big old mess, you’re not alone.
There have been many times in my own life where nothing seems to go to plan—from hopeless dates to dramatic breakups, friendship fallouts to sitcom-worthy workplaces. Not to mention all the global turmoil happening in the background.
Amid the chaos, my type A personality has tried to cling to control. But often, the universe has other plans.
In 2020, it served me the biggest slice of chaos yet. Not only did the whole world go into lockdown, but I lost my lovely dad to COVID.
Grief taught me a big lesson: when things fall apart, you can’t put them back together again. At least, not in the same way they were before. Because life isn’t a jigsaw puzzle that fits neatly together. It’s a fluid, ever-evolving patchwork of experiences, some good, some bad.
And sifting through those experiences, to try to find some clarity, some peace, is messy work. But it’s all part of the beautiful, mysterious and, ultimately, rewarding art of being human.
Welcome to Wonderland
I’ve done a lot of sifting. Through being coached, reading, talking, listening, agonising, puzzling, meditating, travelling, creating, and finally, by training as a coach myself (meaning I now help others do the sifting).
The main thing I’ve learned? The messy work never ends.
A life well-lived is a continuous journey of reflection and enquiry. A bit like going down the rabbit hole into Wonderland, things continue to surprise us. No sooner have we learned one lesson than another will slap us around the face with a wet fish (to borrow a favourite expression of my dad’s). Perspectives tilt, paradigms bend, one door closes, another door opens.
To me, it’s all part of the fun. Perhaps life isn’t an art to perfect; it’s a process to enjoy.
I don’t have all the answers, but I do have a lot of questions…
After a decade writing for other people, it’s been a dream of mine to put my own voice out into the world (or at least, a handful of Substack subscribers, most likely including my mum—hi mum 👋).
My perfectionism has long held me back, but in the same way that life isn’t neat and tidy, these posts aren’t an attempt to be perfect. I don’t have all the answers. But I can ask the big questions. Like:
Why are we all so obsessed with looking like we’re not trying?
Exactly how long does it take to boil a runny egg? (jk…but if anyone knows, hmu)
Hopefully, we can try and answer them together.
If you’ve read this far, please stick around, have a read and muck on in. Comment, lament, laugh and share as you see fit. Here’s to the messy work 🍻
