Hey, pumpkin.

Do you know how it feels to be completely understood? And I mean truly understood, not partially or involuntarily. Someone intentionally choosing to take their time to understand you.

It’s more than just being heard or seen; it’s the intimacy that comes with someone grasping the parts of you you thought were too complex, too scattered, or even too contradictory to hold.

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I’ve been thinking about those moments when you don’t even have to explain yourself fully, but the other person just… gets it. When the words don’t come out right, but their eyes or their nod lets you know they’ve caught the essence anyway. It’s like they’re saying, “I see you, beyond the words.” That’s the kind of connection that feels so rare, yet when it happens, it’s like nothing else. You feel safe, exposed but not vulnerable, because in that understanding, there’s acceptance. It’s a kind of love.

Maybe it’s in the way someone remembers the little details about your day or how they can finish your sentences, but it’s not about the surface things. It’s deeper than that—it’s how they know the places where you crack and crumble, and instead of pulling away, they stay. They stay and sit with you in that rawness, in the chaos of all you are. That’s what true intimacy is to me.

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And I think that’s what I’ve found with you all, here, in this space. Every time I write to you, I feel like I’m baring a little more of myself, peeling back the layers of who I am, what I feel, and what moves me. And with each newsletter, your responses, your engagement—they tell me I’m not alone in these feelings. Somehow, we’ve built a place where being understood isn’t a luxury, but a given. Isn’t that wild?

For so long, I thought the deeper parts of me would always be a puzzle. I thought I’d have to hide away the pieces that didn’t fit into the neat picture I tried to present to the world. But in here, with you, I’ve learned that it’s okay to be messy, to not make sense all the time. I’ve learned that understanding doesn’t come from perfection; it comes from being real, from showing up as we are.

And when you find people who understand you—whether in words or silences—it feels like you’ve been seen in the truest way possible. It’s not just about comfort; it’s about being known. That kind of intimacy can change everything. It can heal wounds you didn’t even realize you were carrying.

So, boo, as you read this today, I hope you know that you are understood. Here, in this space we’ve created together, you are heard, seen, and known. And I hope you find those people in your life who will sit with you in the messiness, who will understand the music beneath the noise, who will hold space for you when you’re trying to make sense of it all.

You’ve done that for me, without even knowing it. And for that, I’m endlessly grateful.

Don’t forget to stay jiggy, drink water and mind your business.

With all my love,

Your unofficial best friend, Joké💕