Welcome to Being Where You Are.
A newsletter that started out about putting down roots and finding a sense of belonging, and now dips into travel, ideas, books, and conversations as well. All the best things, don’t you think?
I’m Annabel — a freelance writer and producer living in London. It feels sort of strange to call myself a writer after so long wanting to use that word and not feeling like I have the right to. But I am now! And it feels good, if a little financially precarious.
I started Being Where You Are as a way to find my voice and make sense of the ideas that were always rushing around in my head with nowhere to go. So, here we are and isn’t it fun?
Since March 2023, this has been my place to put pen to paper, finger to key, and get all these thoughts out in the open. Sometimes I don’t know what’s coming until I sit down on a Wednesday to write, but somehow, something always comes, and I guess that’s the magic of giving yourself a few hours to sit and think about something.
When I started, I needed the constraints of a theme to keep me focused, so I got the ball rolling with ideas for making yourself at home wherever you happen to be right now. I wrote about getting to know the trees in your area, learning to love your neighbours, and the joy of belongings.
As time has passed though, I’ve found myself loosening my grip, dipping my toes into new ponds, and allowing myself the freedom to write whatever I bloody well like. A few that I am particularly proud of are:
The Patron Saint of All Outsiders about the philosopher, Simone Weil.
The New Silicon Valley on Michael Gove’s expansion plan for Cambridge 2040.
Following the signs on finding a spiritual practice.
And A Trip to the Mirror World, inspired by Naomi Klein’s latest book, Doppelganger.
So I hope that you enjoy these little meanderings because I certainly enjoy writing them. And if you would like to become a paid subscriber and get access to additional fortnightly content — mainly in the form of interviews with creative people that I love and admire — then that would make me very happy indeed.
Lots of love,
Annabel
