Softly spoken, but wildly felt.
Notes from a highly sensitive introvert in a world that never stops communicating.
Welcome to my little corner of Substack: Softly Spoken.
I grew up quiet. Observant. A far better listener than speaker and often felt outcast because of it. My family is full of professional communicators. Speaking came more naturally to them. Me? Not so much. I’m constantly being asked to repeat myself or, simply ignored because I don’t realize how soft my voice is. I hate public speaking. And growing up, I had to take speech therapy just to get my R’s and W’s right.
Discovering I was a highly sensitive introvert was a revelation. It was a relief to realize there was never anything wrong with me. I just didn’t operate like my family or fit the extroverted ideals our society tends to favor.
Maybe that’s why I was always lost in a book. Why I was never without a journal. Writing made sense. Words on a page felt natural, comfortable, fulfilling. There’s something beautiful and vulnerable about connecting through simple sentences and paragraphs.
Writing is my therapy. My activation. I find comfort in a quiet coffee shop, staring at a blank page, tackling my ever-growing TBR list with lo-fi in the background. I love the community of readers and writers. There’s peace in the stories I read, clarity in the words I absorb. Even just scrolling through posts here, I can tell this is my kind of space.
I believe in the power of words. They shape emotions, build communities, and forge connections. They have the power to inspire, to break, to heal, to awaken. They bridge the gap between what we feel and what we struggle to express. They can help us make sense of the depth and chaos of being human.
So it’s not all that surprising that I shaped my career as a copywriter. That I somehow found myself working (struggling, surviving, unfolding) in the extrovert-heavy world of communications as an introvert.
Somewhere along the way, I turned the “Oh, she’s just quiet” into my gift. I realized my introversion was an asset, allowing me to listen deeply, think intuitively, and communicate authentically.
I created Softly Spoken to share my journey and connect with others who feel the same way. In my own era of uncertainty, I feel the pull to offer other highly sensitive, quietly spoken women a place of belonging. A place where softness is not something to hide or fix, but something to flex.
The “shy,” quiet, anxious girlies who replay conversations in their heads, wishing they had said this instead of that. Who write out what they want to say on a Post-it note before making a phone call. Who need three business days to recharge after one social hangout.
I want this space to feel like a cozy book club where we can sit quietly and read together, share words and art, and talk about our thoughts and reflections… IF WE WANT TO. Not because we’re asked to.
I’m starting this newsletter to explore the intersection of succeeding, pursuing, creating, and feeling. To EMBRACE and emerge from this murky liminal phase of my life.
Softly Spoken is a reminder that strength doesn’t always have to be bold or loud. It can be quiet. It can also be angry. And wildly unapologetic. For introverts, thriving isn’t about becoming someone else—it’s about flourishing by honoring our unique way of BE-ing.
I hope this space becomes a thought-provoking, fun, and cozy safe haven for vulnerability all the small, beautiful pleasures of being alive. A space for me to share my musings and the things that light up my heart. A space to talk about how fucking hard it is to make money and find a job these days, how beautiful and impossible it feels to be a woman, and how I navigate life as an introvert in a world that constantly asks me to speak up.
I’m on a journey of embracing myself more and more—choosing how I get to show up in the world and letting my words speak for me. To share my voice in the way that soothes me.
Whether it’s bits of experience & advice on how to thrive in a loud world, book recommendations, musings on womanhood/work/creativity, tips on freelancing, spirituality, art love, networking for introverts, my favorite ways to spend a Sunday, or a peek at what’s on my camera roll. Part advice, part reflection, part whatever the fuck I want it to be.
If ANY of this resonates with you, I’d love to have you in this community! All posts are currently open to all subscribers. Right now, my focus is on building a community and creating the kind of content that feels good to share.
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I’m so excited! Whether you’re here for the ideas, the reflections, or just a glimpse into my world, I hope you find something that resonates with you.