25 Comments
User's avatar
Simon D.'s avatar

Awesome post—and thanks for the curated list of writers. Honestly feel like the “Reads” tab on everyone’s profile could use a few custom sentences exactly like what you did here.

My mission is to start a movement, community, *something* around tech addiction and sobriety. So many of us are “addicted” to our phones and apps, but we’re stuck in this weird limbo where we talk about it in a half-joking way… while secretly feeling stuck, embarrassed, and wishing for a fresh perspective or even a new identity around it.

To use an analogy, it feels like we’re back in the 1960s—except the vice isn’t smoking, it’s tech. The ’60s were when evidence about the long-term (and short-term) impacts of smoking really started to emerge. And at the same time, society collectively realized it wasn’t as simple as “just stop.” It took decades for smoking rates to actually fall.

That’s the limbo I think we’re in right now with tech. And it feels about time it was addressed properly.

Michelle Ray's avatar

Thank you, Simon D.! Your mission is so important. It is embarrassing to think that I let my phone hijack my brain at least a few times a day! So I think your mission is essential. Everyone who responded to my note was featured in the post, and a few more I always read, but I could have spent all day featuring Substacks that have worthy missions. I look forward to diving into your content!

Moorea Maguire's avatar

I loved how you weaved together our missions into the greater purpose of the common good. This was inspiring.

And thank you so much for the shout-out.

Michelle Ray's avatar

You’re welcome! You really help people with your Substack, and I hope more people find you.

Moorea Maguire's avatar

Appreciate you, Michelle.

Sam’s Spaghetti's avatar

I don’t know that we always understand the impact we have at first. It takes time and trust in your mission. Your authentic voice will land you in the right place.

Katerina Schmitt's avatar

Such an important question that connects the purpose to our WHY. I wanted to create a blog that is playful and creative in nature using a bee hive as a metaphor to explore trauma education in a gentle and relatable way.💝

Adrian Landin's avatar

This is fantastic, Michelle. And couldn't have come at a better time. Thank you for including me in it.

Michelle Ray's avatar

You're welcome. You have a unique opportunity to connect people through your genuine love of travel and your motivation to bring them together.

Marlana's avatar

Thank you for this. Reading your piece made me pause and really think about my own mission here how I’m showing up, what I’m creating, and why community matters so much in this space. I write to connect, to question, to expose, and to hold space for voices that might otherwise go unheard. This post reminded me why that work matters.✨

Michèle Breton's avatar

Very well written! Thanks! ✨

Optimism from Darkness's avatar

My mission is to share my pain with those who relate so they can find solace and know they are not alone. To bring us together and to lift your spirits. Even from darkness, there is hope.

Michelle Ray's avatar

This is so important, community and connection are such simple solutions, but often the hardest to enact in our lives.

Marko Schmitt's avatar

That was a great piece that really made me think about the value of making art and sharing with a community. And the curated list of interesting people who are looking at this as well is fantastic. I can't wait to delve deeper into this. But I just wanted to say thanks, what a cool post.

Michelle Ray's avatar

Thanks for reading, Marko! I like turning notes that get good engagement into posts because it shows me there is a deeper interest, and the timing of my post worked out pretty well, kind of an antidote to the insanity in Minnesota.

Elias | Go Unpacked's avatar

Thanks for including me, Michelle. It’s such a relief to hear the current climate framed in a way that highlights the importance of individual stories. It’s easy to feel helpless — like a passive observer — especially watching America unravel from abroad.

And the part about teachers sitting around crafting a mission statement? That was me. I was in those workshops, weighing every word over and over. It was hard, annoying, even painful at times. But in the end, it was grounding and deeply satisfying to have something we could return to. Something that held the essence of our purpose. It's worth the time and effort.

Michelle Ray's avatar

You're welcome! I think your purpose on Substack is really important because some people just assume they would never live abroad or even travel abroad, but you make the process transparent and doable. I have a friend who is considering moving to Panama with her family. I'm going send her your Substack!

Elias | Go Unpacked's avatar

Thanks, Michelle! I always appreciate the collaboration. Cheers,

CocotteMinute's avatar

Thank you for highlighting these small, unique voices, each contributing to the richness of our symphony...

I write here to connect with the world.

To share my rebellions and my passions.

To expose lies, to relay information and thoughts that can help.

Tto offer moments of beauty, and to meet wonderful people. ( a wink to @Mooreamaguire 😊 ! )

Michelle Ray's avatar

Thank you! I love the idea of sharing your rebellions and passions. We need go hear both, people just putting their whole hearts out there.

CocotteMinute's avatar

Thanks to you ! I would feel uncomplete if I couldn’t share both, and I think both are necessary…

Erin Pyper, MSW's avatar

Thank you for sharing my work and every writer’s work. I am also excited to read their content soon.

Michelle Ray's avatar

Your welcome! I believe in your mission and love that you are so dedicated to it!

User's avatar
Comment deleted
Jan 27
Comment deleted
Michelle Ray's avatar

You're more of a mission-in-action type.