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Dec 13, 2022·edited Dec 14, 2022Liked by Michelle Jia

I moved every couple years growing up, then again when my husband and I were deciding where to live. Now we’ve lived in Utah eight years, longer than anywhere else. We have put down our bags, and yet now we’re itching for the wilds, wondering if we can be rooted while also reaching, wandering, traveling the world but still with a place to come home to. Thank you for this beautiful piece!

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Hi Elle! 😊 👋 I can understand the desire to roam. I think as long as you have faith that the place you call home will still be home (and I wonder what anchors that faith? another person? a community? a set of familiar haunts?) it can probably be done -- not that it won't change but that it will always accept you back with love. The one place I have in my life that feels like that, to me, is Detroit. And it's a different kind of "putting my bags down" -- because I don't live there, but always know I'll have a home there :-)

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Dec 2, 2022·edited Dec 2, 2022Liked by Michelle Jia

I was lucky enough to be in the audience at Danu. Blown away by your singing (your voice!) and essay and warm charisma. The first cover of 'Not' I've ever heard, and one I want to hear again and again. Toronto's lucky to have you here.

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Thank you so much Teodora! Thank you for being there, and I can't tell you how this comment warms my heart, coming from a fellow Torontonian <3 Thank you!

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What a heart stirring essay, Michelle ❤️

On a meta level, it’s really beautiful to see life and these essays folding back into each other:

“In My Feelings” describes you attending an event featuring another artist in Toronto, this essay opens with you reading that essay on stage of a Toronto show *you* are helping make happen ❤️

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Nov 30, 2022Liked by Michelle Jia

💕❤️💕❤️💕❤️💕❤️💕❤️🥰

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There she is 🫢

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Have you met Isabel? She also lives in Toronto

https://mindmine.substack.com/

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I have not! Thank you for pointing me to a potential friend.

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She’s great! We took the same writing class together

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