Did Glennon leave?
When I watched Glennon Doyle and Liz Gilbert talk yesterday I was reminded of the first time I heard about Glennon.
Liz mentioned her in a writing workshop I was volunteering in. She said, “oh if you haven’t heard of Glennon Doyle do yourself a favor and find her. She is doing incredible work. Hard work. Honest work.”
Later over lunch with some women in the workshop a lady told me to go back to Glennon’s old writing. Her early work.
“Why?” I asked.
She said, “It’s more fitting and in line with my beliefs and the Christian faith. Now the way she is going is questionable.”
I became immediately curious. Who was this woman?
I needed to know more. I didn’t go back to her old writing though, that sounded like the opposite of what I was interested in. I started with what she was writing at the time. I read Untamed.
Soon after I joined together rising and started listening to her podcast We Can Do Hard Things from the very beginning.
The first few episodes felt triggering to me as someone who has loved two parents with drug addictions.
I stopped listening for myself. I had a client at the time who was a recovering alcoholic and she felt it wasn’t right for her either. We both said how much we loved Glennon, but that we wouldn’t be listening to more.
Then my close friend asked me to be in her pod squad.
I said, “I don’t know her podcast isn’t really for me. It felt too triggering.”
She went on, “They have Abby on it now and it’s different. They are bringing other people on it too. It’s more balanced with the three of them. Go back. See how it feels.”
I dipped my toes in a few weeks later and haven’t missed an episode of We Can Do Hard Things since.
Seeing this viral letter some woman wrote about Glennon reminded me of that lady from the workshop. She believed she could be big and vulnerable and inspire, but only so much and only with constraint. Then there was a limit. Then it was too far.
What is it about the fear people have around a woman being strong, powerful, vulnerable, and taking up space? Too many people fear their light will outshine them. Their presence will make them invisible. Instead of being enamored by their brightness and inspired by it.
Do yourself a favor if you haven’t heard of Glennon and find her now. Check out the podcast, become a part of the pod squad, and you will thank yourself for it.
Love Always,
Danielle Mallett