I've Been Sharing...
... my innermost thoughts. (Be kind!)
Usually, I’m at my most open and vulnerable right here in the Substack newsletter. But lately, I’ve written a few posts on Instagram that are like mini-essays. Maybe you can relate? (Didn’t have a perfect photo so literally just took this — haha.)
Personal
I wrote about the pain of missing my kids when they went to their dad’s for the weekend, the lingering “divorce pain” almost a decade later, and how anyone saying goodbye to a child for any period of time (God forbid, forever) is excruciating. I know many of you are dropping kids at college, cleaning up after grandchildren visits, or even sending the littles ones to their first day of pre-school. I feel you.
I TURNED IN MY NEXT NOVEL. What a relief!
I shared how I felt like such a failure after graduating from business school without a job — and then a bigger one when my goal of writing a novel didn’t work out (then). That’s why it meant so much to me to be featured by the HBS Alumni Bulletin. (Go, Section B!) I learned that making a difference in the world was most important of all. Sometimes it just takes us a while to find where we’re going.
Books
I’ve also shared a lot about books I love.
Want to know my top 25 books of all time that you absolutely 100% must read? I’m unveiling them in batches! I posted my first group last week which included the following. Stay tuned as I unveil all 25!!!
Inheritance by Dani Shapiro
I Feel Bad About My Neck by Nora Ephron
The Wedding People by Alison Espach - my Zibby’s Book Club pick last month!
Comfort Me With Apples by Ruth Reichl
Living Out Loud by Anna Quindlen
Nobody Will Tell You This But Me by Bess Kalb
I’ve Tried Being Nice by Ann Leary — my Zibby’s Book Club pick this month!
(You can buy them here and listen to them all on my podcast except Nora. Sad.) How many have you read?!?
Speaking of great books, I’ve combed through a zillion upcoming titles and narrowed it to less than 200 books that are my Most Anticipated Fall/Winter 2024/2025 books. I know that’s still a lot, but that was hard!! I already missed a bunch. Check out the list here!!
Yesterday I shared where to buy On Being Jewish Now and gave some suggestions, but hundreds of booksellers will be selling the book and we want you to buy it from anywhere and everywhere!! We love all our partner booksellers!
Giveaway
Remember there’s a HUGE GIVEAWAY going on right here! Refer friends to enter to win a hat, a sweatshirt, a Zibby Retreat spot, or a shelf at the bookshop!
Okay, that’s it for now. Enjoy Labor Day Weekend!! Go listen to my podcast!!!
Warmly,
Zibby
Zibby, knowing where you're going is an important achievement & being kind to yourself in the process is a huge feat! Congrats on finishing your latest novel! I just finished mine & am querying it now. As far as missing your kids when they're not with you, I feel your pain. Been there, done that! I dealt with similar issues. It used to rip my heart out when my kids left me. However, the love you share with them will keep y'all connected until forever (I'm sure you know that already). My kids are all grown up and married with kids of their own. It still hurts when they visit and leave, or when I visit and must leave to come home. In fact, tomorrow I leave for LAX to visit my daughter & her family in Port Hueneme, then I'll visit my daughter & her fam in San Diego. What I love to hear when I see them is, "Immi, love you!" and "Savtah, love you!" (there's nothing quite like it when I hear it in person and not on the phone). It's magic, such magic!!! May you enjoy your children as much as you can while they're with you and let them know you love them no matter where they are. There's sadness when they're not with you, but the joy increases when they return with warm hugs you crave. Wishing you much happiness & joy. B'hatzlacha (בהצלחה)
Being vulnerable is really our superpower! That's when others realize "me, too, me, too." Thank you Zibby for all that you do.