Let Us Begin
Linda Bonney writes for the emotionally courageous.
In these pages, you'll find honest explorations of the discomfort that sparks growth, the distractions that keep us numb, and the listening that builds authentic connection.
Through personal stories and sharp insights, I examine how we navigate our digital world while honoring our emotional needs. From unpacking the hidden labor of care to celebrating moments of genuine vulnerability, each essay invites you into a conversation about living with greater awareness.
Join me in questioning comfortable assumptions, finding strength in sensitivity, and embracing growth through life's necessary discomforts. Because the most meaningful conversations happen when we're brave enough to listen — to others and to ourselves.
I know with all my heart we were born to connect and are naturally social creatures.
Welcome
First, I want to dull down my frenzy and cut straight to the chase.
Within this publication, you will find:
Deep storytelling
Memoirs from Me and Others
Lives fuelled by proof
Creativity from a quiet non-achiever
Stories that stir up memories you may not have touched on in a while
Through this, my ultimate hope is that you will feel more human than before.
Because fitting in is a big deal in a grown-up world, apparently.
In our bones, we long to belong, even if we may drag our feet and protest along the way.
Breathe a little deeper, feel differently, and read with an increased growth radar.
Already keen? You can sign up now if you're numbed out already. Otherwise, I invite you to bear with me as you read on.
A quick snippet about me (as uncomfortable and awkward as that is)
You'll often find me buried in washing from my adventurous and seemingly dirty four children.
I live in Tasmania, Australia (not to be confused with Tanzania, as someone once did), which has some of the freshest and most mouthwatering water you will find anywhere in the world.
Oh, and the scenery isn't too bad either.
Avocado gives me heartburn. Weirdly so. My Dad has the same disturbance.
I've been producing and hosting my own podcasts since 2012, which has exposed me to 800+ episodes and thousands of hours of stories, conversations, and growth moments.
I've written three books in a series called Stories with a Sunday Roast (more on that below)
I once sang at sunrise on top of the mountain for a worldwide broadcast at the turn of the millennium.
I've hit rock bottom repeatedly and built mountains of growth stories on the other side.
I've never considered myself a writer and not considered myself very growth-worthy.
Until, suddenly, I was.
And I kept hearing it.
Over and over.
Like an itch multiplied by thousands of buzzing mosquitoes.
And, just like that, I bring you Conversations for Growth.
My commitment as a writer
Each week, I will take you on a story journey.
And here's what you can expect:
To feel less alone. Consider it done.
To think about life differently. Leave it with me.
To connect and communicate better. I'll make it happen.
To reveal part of you that holds great significance. Let me show you how.
To build your compassion and relate to others on a different level. It would be my utmost honour.
Conversations for Growth is symbiotic. And it's specifically written for you.
What I would love from you as I write
While you may think you've come here for a distraction from your life, there's more here than meets the eye.
This distraction helps you become clearer.
This distraction is clarified by sharing stories in parallel.
You see, these stories are unlike the other distractions we have in life. They are not shallow, short, attention-grabbing selfies that get lost in the algorithms of social media until the next time you pick up your phone.
Can we ever remember what we scrolled across today? Yesterday? Last week? Last year?
I hope that these stories leave a lasting impression.
Touch a part of you that has felt untouchable for a long time.
Bring back a sense of simple goodness amongst the not-so-simple bad.
Leave you with a warm and cosy feeling while also hitting some testing truths along the way.
As we race through the ever-changing aspects of time, space, and data in a relentless pursuit of a stable human connection, it's easy enough to pick up your phone, read, and do nothing more.
In a seemingly hurry to get back to conversations interrupted with pings and pongs and random thoughts about strangers on the internet.
In doing so, we distance ourselves from our loved ones and especially our sense of self.
In a nutshell, I would love for you to engage, connect, hit a love button, send me a message and communicate.
Have you signed up yet? As uncomfortable as it can be, I'm here to remind you to reach out with any hesitations below.
Why back this publication?
In a not so previous life, I wrote books for pocket change.
For just a little less than my annual Substack subscription.
It was similar to finding a tissue hidden in a pocket after a load of washing and having it disintegrate all over the place. Through the book-writing process, I washed away my sanity. Only to have the books disintegrate onto dusty bookshelves.
After failing forward and learning a lot from biting off way more than I could chew, I knew there had to be a better way.
By signing up as a founding member, you receive a much more digestible version of all my books so far. A blend of past and present highlights, plus more.
Rather than type more words, let me show you everything you'll get below.
No hidden surprises.
I would love you to join me as we start to feel again in a numbed out world.
I look forward to growing right beside you.
