Dearest reader,
I come to you today from the North where it is rainy but beautiful. I just finished teaching the most amazing cohort of The Shapes of Our Offerings and am already feeling sad it’s over. You are welcome to hop in and buy the recording of class. The whole course will be automatically delivered to you and you’re welcome to email me any questions that come up while you attend it in a self paced way.
I am gathering my favorite quilt books to teach A Quilt in a Weekend June 29 and 30, putting the finishing touches on a new co-working space for writers, waiting to hear back about interest in my next book, and tending to the tiny things in my day to day.
Tomorrow the first resident arrives for the summer and I couldn’t be more excited for the great experiment to begin. If you’re in the Leelanau Peninsula area we’ll be headed to The Odawa People: History, Culture, and Peacemaking with Joanne Cook on Monday at the Leland Library at 10am with a beach hang after
As the world continues to be a hard, brittle, desolate place I also see the miracles all around me. May you as well.
IN TODAY’S YES YES ADVICE COLUMN
🪽 How changing my name affected my business
🪐 Permission to pivot
🫙 The everlasting magic of queerness
🫖 We never have to choose one thing
I am not a therapist and I have no training in advice giving. I am an artist, a writer, and a teacher of creative practice with a devotion to how we live. These are my opinions, my best shot at hope, and what I know from 36 years on the planet. As always, may you hold a gentle spirit while reading, take what you like, and leave the rest. Let’s dive in!
Hi Cody! I’ve followed your journey for years and always took great inspiration from your practices. When you recently announced your name change, I think it stirred something for me underneath the surface. I’ve found myself writing again and stumbled upon a name that gave me this huge spark of euphoria— Stevie. Where I’m at with my pronouns, my breasts, my hair, my every thought… something about this name really encapsulated everything I’ve been experiencing. Now, I don’t dislike my given name what so ever. Perhaps I feel some detachment from it but not the full knife to the chest sensation when I hear it. My question is— can I go by both? Or maybe start by both? I worry about confusing people, but I myself am feeling confused. This name resonates with me on every level but I’m not quite ready to leave my old one behind. Do you have any advice?
Queerly, Madison/Stevie (they/she)
Dearest Stevie,
I will begin by addressing you by your chosen euphoric title because this is how I learned to be Cody. I learned by telling people I loved the name, having them call me that, and feeling the chills in my body because my body always knows before I do. It has not been a simple transition professionally or personally, but it has been one of great joy and expansion.