15 Comments
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Doug Goodkin's avatar

I'm with the crowd here, applauding the shift. Feels like a proactive intention to build relationship and community which doesn't ignore the reactive reality of difficult relationships, but moves it all into a larger field that we all can relate to and benefit from! Well done!

Rosana Francescato's avatar

Thanks for the shout-out, Kerala! The reason I interact with your posts is that they're so well written, so well thought out, and so relevant. I say that as someone who's married but never had children (though I'm interested in our society, and part of that is how we raise children, so ...). I relate to so much of what you say, and I love the new name and direction for your Substack! This topic is constantly on my mind, too: how we stop relying so much on marriage for EVERYTHING and build more community. Look forward to reading more of your inspiring work.

Kerala Goodkin's avatar

Thanks so much, Rosana. I've always appreciated your perspective and thoughtful comments & posts!

Jonathan Kimball's avatar

Count me in. I'm a man in a straight marriage to a disabled wife. We have our challenges, and I deeply appreciate your perspective. One thing I've learned over the 15 years of my wife's declining health is the importance of other relationships. I would not have survived without a network of loving, supportive friends.

Kerala Goodkin's avatar

Such intensive caretaking is so difficult, even with a network of friends, but I'm so glad you've been able to build and maintain this network. We all need these kinds of networks in our lives. Best of luck in your journey, and thank you for accompanying me on mine!

Linda Weston's avatar

Love the new name, and the sun in the logo, too. :)

Jude's avatar

I like the new name... but, as someone who wasn't married to the father of my son (though I was divorced already), I think your writing is really relevant to anyone in a monogamous straight relationship, not only marriage. I wouldn't want anyone to think what you have to say isn't for them just because they don't have a ring on their finger. It makes it logistically easier to separate but the mental stuff is still all there. Anyway I will be carrying on reading 🥰

Kerala Goodkin's avatar

I appreciate and understand this perspective! It's often astonishing to me who finds my writing relevant. Some of my most engaged readers have been married gay men. I absolutely struggle with the balance between being clear on who my audience is and not wanting to alienate anyone. (Or most people. I'm totally fine if incels feel alienated by my stories...) I'm glad you will be carrying on, and I very much appreciate your readership!

Chris Prosser's avatar

I am so down for this rename and trajectory. I just signed up for a 16 week class/group therapy to explore it all in more detail. As someone with chronic illness I dream of a richer interdependent community and am actively trying to work in that direction. It’s hard though. So I’m excited to have another voice join the conversation.

Kerala Goodkin's avatar

Yay! And I'd love to hear how that class goes! It sounds potentially wonderful and enriching.

Erica Lucast Stonestreet's avatar

I love the new name! And, tbh, the sun graphic. 😊

Mary Austin (she/her)'s avatar

I like the new name! Very fun!

STEPHANIE BOWEN's avatar

Love it!

Tucker Lieberman's avatar

The message shifts over time because the energy is still real! Excited to see what comes in this new chapter.

Kerala Goodkin's avatar

Well said, and thank you, Tucker!