Season 1, episode 2 is here!

Hey there, my fellow wanderers!

It’s only Tuesday, and boy, does everything look dead! This week has already felt heavy for me all around: the world, parenting, partnering, friends, & family. And, just to add that little sprinkle of annoyance on the heaviness: the dogs were just bathed last week and already smell like they found some delightfully putrid cologne to roll in.

But last night, as I was (finally) clicking the last items off my to-do list, I got a reminder of what past-me wanted future-me to remember:

There are nine different actions that I have chosen to cultivate in myself. I focus on one action per week until I get through all nine and then they start over again. This week, as I was feeling the weight of it all, past-me gave me a little hug with a slight elbow jab, as if to say, “Yeah. Life gets heavy. But that is when you get to choose what you put back into it.”

Because isn’t that a big part of what art can do? Bring us hope that there is goodness and beauty, even when everything is hard and heavy and sad?

Since I have figured out podcasting, I will be adding in my backlog of past stories alongside new ones. And it seemed perfectly timed that the story I was set to release this week was my very first one: My Unicorn Hollow Origin Story: Believing in Unicorns Would Be Easier. In a time when Everything Looks Dead!, it’s a reminder to myself that the small things, the smallest lives, the smallest actions do matter, even in the face of enormous darkness.

If you’ve been here for any amount of time, you have already seen this (but I did add the fancy theme song to the beginning and ending to the podcast version!). But I hope maybe it can bring something new and hopeful to you this time around. And for those who are new here (hey there! I’m so excited you’ve joined us!), I hope it brings you some encouragement as well.

🦄 Kristin

What is something that is bringing you hope today? Oddly enough, for me this week, it’s teenagers. (I know, right?!) They sure make me want to scream and pull my hair out and throw things. But then they go and do things like reach out to peers who are hurting, offer an unsolicited word of encouragement to a sibling, or make dinner…

As I’m slowly getting into a rhythm with posting again after the holidays, I’m working my way back up to 2 new posts each week, each with a companion podcast episode. For this month, I may only get to one original post each week as I work on putting my backlog of stories up onto my podcast. So I hope any of you who are new here will get to enjoy these oldies-but-goodies!

You can also listen at: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, and Pocket Casts. It may take some time to update to these locations, so check back if you don’t see it! If there’s a different podcasting site you use, let me know and I’ll see what I can do!

The Unicorn Hollow Podcast is a listener-supported series of Unicorn Hollow. I’m so glad you’re here! It’s a true honor to share your time. If you’d like to see more of my writing, hop over and check out the rest of what’s available in the Hollow and subscribe to get it all!

If Unicorn Hollow speaks to you, I’d love your help in building this (occasionally snark-adjacent) little nook of hope where we all get to show up as our full, messy selves. You can do this by subscribing, liking, commenting, or sharing Unicorn Hollow with other hope-seekers. You can also safely and securely support me financially by buying me a coffee (or a tea!). Everything goes directly to support my family as I build up Unicorn Hollow. Thanks for being my unicorn!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit kkwildegiuliani.substack.com