Steven, your relationships and your contribution in life are way too big for any structure to hold or define them. I'm grateful WOP brought us connected us and even more grateful we will journey forward together.
My fellow Idahoan and friend. I never imagined I would one day be crashing in your guest house after along drive and an hours of a great in person conversation. Every chat we have ever had makes me a better husband, father, and man. It has been so good to have someone like you in my life. I look forward to seeing where on this journey we continue to go. Thank you.
...layoffs like this are one of the cruelest forms of new tech think...having had a similar experience at a previous employer i send all the heart to you brother...i'm not sure why we are so cruel to each other when it comes to ending work...my mind couldn't get over the fact that for 2 years and thousands of hours the person in front of me had "acted" as a mentor and a peer (then they wouldn't look me in the eye or give me feedback as they said my services are no longer needed)...my brain didn't know what to make of the incongruence...but as you know, this is always 100pct their loss...and eventually my brain and spirit settled on to better places, spaces and communities...great read, reaction and reframe...
How I know that thousand yard stare straight through my soul as if I wasn't there... Thank you my friend. Meeting you was an absolute highlight of my time online. Not just WoP but since the dial up days. I still owe you a big ol bag of bird seed and will deliver it the next time I'm in the Town.
I worried it was your family. I had just assumed it was your choice, and your decision (as a proud and eager member of writing group 10). So this is a shock, to say the least. I'm still digesting.
Until then Allie says so much of what I echo.
I look forward to your leadership and insights. And your writing.
And know that the relationship between my son and myself was forever changed by your photography class, as was the way I further appreciated the last months with my mother in Goa - a better quality of memory.
Having you and your son be apart of that group was the delight of a lifetime. I'm honored to have made a difference with your family Karena. Your presence has always been elevating for me. I appreciate you more than I can put into words right now. I look forward to the day I get take some photos with you in person! Until then, my best to you and your family. Hope to see you soon.
Your presence is sorely missed, Steven. But I'm very relieved to hear you and your family are well. "Severing another soul from one's life begins a cemetery at one’s center. Only forgiveness frees us from the rotting corpses we keep in caskets at our cores." Haunting and generous and beautiful, my friend.
Alissa I won the lottery when we got the chance to finally work together if even only for a moment. I'm grateful we got to connect. As always I look forward to reading you and will catch up when I finish Signs Preceding the End of the World. If I ever join a book club I hope you are in it.
I was hoping the rationale behind the headline would be, “now that I’ve published a hundred pieces, I must put the mantle on myself to go find new ground.”
But this is strange news from an organization I really like (cohort 11), which is disappointing. And yet, your grace and thoughtfulness here abounds, and is inspiring. We should all aspire to love secret accusers in this way.
You brought a lot of love and dedication to the community, Steven. This made me sad. Although it may not be clear today, I’m confident you’ll look back at this as an act of grace some day that led you somewhere better. God’s got the rope.
Thank you for those kind words. Wherever you are in the world know there's a drink at my table waiting for you and a conversation I feel like we could continue for the rest of our lives. God bless you man. Hit me up anytime.
Let me just say when I saw this short, sweet message, I thought about all the essay of yours. I thought about all the beautiful imagery you've shared. I thought about that call in from the pool in Miami and thought to myself wow I'm a pretty lucky person to have met Eric Ho. Thank you for the truth and light that you've brought to the world by being yourself openly and accessibly. One of these days I will jump the pond and we will have to meet. My best to you!
This is quite saddening to read Steven. Man, I'm pretty gutted.
I don't have any context, but I feel obliged to remind you that you are a wonderful person. Sometimes I think we all forget that about ourselves. Please remember that.
Since I won't be seeing you in WOP anymore, I'll just have to swing by Idaho and say hello!
I looked up my notes on my first impression with you at a WOP live session. April 27, 2023
- Zirconium-housed Schmidt Pen P48
- Spanish: Easy -> Facil (Facilitate)
- releasing your mind to facilitate your mind
- rocking a PPL hoodie
It was a breakout room that unlocked a lot of writing for me. And ever since, conversations with you continue to unlock many things. Write more, read more, take more photos, USE more photos for Substack, post YouTube videos. Triple threat trifecta. Making wonderful things with friends. You've helped ignite so much of that. You were only formally my writing group mentor once but I continue to look up to you as such.
I was so looking forward to being on cohort with you again this time around. And the after parties. You always made people feel special when they end up in the same breakout room as yours. I always strive to give out that same energy.
Still planning to fly over to see you. And will stay in touch in the meantime.
Power to you, Steven. Thank you for dropping the veil and letting us know your missing presence was not by choice. I was really looking forward to learning from you this round, but I can still do that here. My pastor often talks about how the “breaking of bones” only resurrects our Spirit, preparing us as we mend to conquer mightier realms, showing just how much He loves us (in the thick of the deepest challenges). I’m super-excited for you. Thank you for teaching us what forgiveness is, IRL.
Dara I'm glad our path if only glanced in the cosmos of the internet. I look forward to reading more of you. Your words have been a beautiful reminder that we are to conquer mightier realms with the love that doesn't start with us and wasn't made to end with us. Thank you.
Steven, you are one of my favorite experiences from WoP. Your encouragement, your energy, and your perspective and wisdom are unmatched. Some of my greatest writing over the past 2 years is directly related to either conversations with you or inspiration from reading your writing. I am forever grateful that fate caused us to join that community at the same time and am honored to be able to call you a friend. Your outlook on being pushed out is one of the most respectful and dignified attitudes and shows how incredible of a human you are. Keep your head up. We’re all in your corner. 💜
Rychelle, you are one of the greatest story tellers I know. It's been an honor to be your friend and collaborator. Having you in my corner I know I can get the belt. Thank you my friend. See you again soon, next time for much longer.
Hey Steven, I've been feeling your absence this Cohort and I really admire the classy way you wrote about this inexplicable parting of the ways. If you have no idea why it happened, how can any of us assess its meaning?
My instincts tell me, "C'est pire qu'un crime, c'est une faute."
In any case, your article transcends any finger-pointing and brings the eternal values that define you into the every day lives of all of us who avidly read your work.
Thank for this display of grace under pressure, my friend, it's inspiring.
Chris you have been an encouragement to me since the beginning of this thing. I remember how timid I was early on trying to explain what it was like to be a Spanish Mystic. Your embrace empowered me to clearly share what was important to me about my journey. Thank you.
Jeff I had the luck of the draw having you as a part of my group. I'm continuing to read you and look forward to seeing the force that you are come to the words you put in the world.
Steven, your relationships and your contribution in life are way too big for any structure to hold or define them. I'm grateful WOP brought us connected us and even more grateful we will journey forward together.
My fellow Idahoan and friend. I never imagined I would one day be crashing in your guest house after along drive and an hours of a great in person conversation. Every chat we have ever had makes me a better husband, father, and man. It has been so good to have someone like you in my life. I look forward to seeing where on this journey we continue to go. Thank you.
...layoffs like this are one of the cruelest forms of new tech think...having had a similar experience at a previous employer i send all the heart to you brother...i'm not sure why we are so cruel to each other when it comes to ending work...my mind couldn't get over the fact that for 2 years and thousands of hours the person in front of me had "acted" as a mentor and a peer (then they wouldn't look me in the eye or give me feedback as they said my services are no longer needed)...my brain didn't know what to make of the incongruence...but as you know, this is always 100pct their loss...and eventually my brain and spirit settled on to better places, spaces and communities...great read, reaction and reframe...
How I know that thousand yard stare straight through my soul as if I wasn't there... Thank you my friend. Meeting you was an absolute highlight of my time online. Not just WoP but since the dial up days. I still owe you a big ol bag of bird seed and will deliver it the next time I'm in the Town.
I worried it was your family. I had just assumed it was your choice, and your decision (as a proud and eager member of writing group 10). So this is a shock, to say the least. I'm still digesting.
Until then Allie says so much of what I echo.
I look forward to your leadership and insights. And your writing.
And know that the relationship between my son and myself was forever changed by your photography class, as was the way I further appreciated the last months with my mother in Goa - a better quality of memory.
You make a difference.
The rest we will figure out.
PS. Congratulations on 100 editions
Having you and your son be apart of that group was the delight of a lifetime. I'm honored to have made a difference with your family Karena. Your presence has always been elevating for me. I appreciate you more than I can put into words right now. I look forward to the day I get take some photos with you in person! Until then, my best to you and your family. Hope to see you soon.
Your presence is sorely missed, Steven. But I'm very relieved to hear you and your family are well. "Severing another soul from one's life begins a cemetery at one’s center. Only forgiveness frees us from the rotting corpses we keep in caskets at our cores." Haunting and generous and beautiful, my friend.
Alissa I won the lottery when we got the chance to finally work together if even only for a moment. I'm grateful we got to connect. As always I look forward to reading you and will catch up when I finish Signs Preceding the End of the World. If I ever join a book club I hope you are in it.
You've been an inspiration from the start. I can't wait to catch up with you about Signs, Saint Clare, and all things good in your world.
I was hoping the rationale behind the headline would be, “now that I’ve published a hundred pieces, I must put the mantle on myself to go find new ground.”
But this is strange news from an organization I really like (cohort 11), which is disappointing. And yet, your grace and thoughtfulness here abounds, and is inspiring. We should all aspire to love secret accusers in this way.
Thank you Alec. Your comment a compliment I'll take with me for the rest of my life. 🙏🏼
You brought a lot of love and dedication to the community, Steven. This made me sad. Although it may not be clear today, I’m confident you’ll look back at this as an act of grace some day that led you somewhere better. God’s got the rope.
Thank you for those kind words. Wherever you are in the world know there's a drink at my table waiting for you and a conversation I feel like we could continue for the rest of our lives. God bless you man. Hit me up anytime.
You matter, Steven ❤️
Let me just say when I saw this short, sweet message, I thought about all the essay of yours. I thought about all the beautiful imagery you've shared. I thought about that call in from the pool in Miami and thought to myself wow I'm a pretty lucky person to have met Eric Ho. Thank you for the truth and light that you've brought to the world by being yourself openly and accessibly. One of these days I will jump the pond and we will have to meet. My best to you!
I'm reading all the comments others have left for you - and about you - on this post.
Every one of them encapsulates how much you matter.
That call from the pool in Miami - that was a year ago! Thanks for bringing back that memory.
You're a wonderful example of humility and humanity. I continue to learn from your example.
Send you lots of love from London!
And yes - we will meet up!
This is quite saddening to read Steven. Man, I'm pretty gutted.
I don't have any context, but I feel obliged to remind you that you are a wonderful person. Sometimes I think we all forget that about ourselves. Please remember that.
Since I won't be seeing you in WOP anymore, I'll just have to swing by Idaho and say hello!
I looked up my notes on my first impression with you at a WOP live session. April 27, 2023
- Zirconium-housed Schmidt Pen P48
- Spanish: Easy -> Facil (Facilitate)
- releasing your mind to facilitate your mind
- rocking a PPL hoodie
It was a breakout room that unlocked a lot of writing for me. And ever since, conversations with you continue to unlock many things. Write more, read more, take more photos, USE more photos for Substack, post YouTube videos. Triple threat trifecta. Making wonderful things with friends. You've helped ignite so much of that. You were only formally my writing group mentor once but I continue to look up to you as such.
I was so looking forward to being on cohort with you again this time around. And the after parties. You always made people feel special when they end up in the same breakout room as yours. I always strive to give out that same energy.
Still planning to fly over to see you. And will stay in touch in the meantime.
Excellent reflection Steven. Unconditional love is the value of values and in the image of God. To the next 100 posts.
To the next 100 and beyond. Lit up my face when I saw you texted me. Thank you Tom.
Power to you, Steven. Thank you for dropping the veil and letting us know your missing presence was not by choice. I was really looking forward to learning from you this round, but I can still do that here. My pastor often talks about how the “breaking of bones” only resurrects our Spirit, preparing us as we mend to conquer mightier realms, showing just how much He loves us (in the thick of the deepest challenges). I’m super-excited for you. Thank you for teaching us what forgiveness is, IRL.
Dara I'm glad our path if only glanced in the cosmos of the internet. I look forward to reading more of you. Your words have been a beautiful reminder that we are to conquer mightier realms with the love that doesn't start with us and wasn't made to end with us. Thank you.
Sometimes the training wheels pop right off before you think you're ready... you won't know how to really fly until they do.
Wheels are up and I'm moving through the altitudes. Thank you.
Steven, you are one of my favorite experiences from WoP. Your encouragement, your energy, and your perspective and wisdom are unmatched. Some of my greatest writing over the past 2 years is directly related to either conversations with you or inspiration from reading your writing. I am forever grateful that fate caused us to join that community at the same time and am honored to be able to call you a friend. Your outlook on being pushed out is one of the most respectful and dignified attitudes and shows how incredible of a human you are. Keep your head up. We’re all in your corner. 💜
Rychelle, you are one of the greatest story tellers I know. It's been an honor to be your friend and collaborator. Having you in my corner I know I can get the belt. Thank you my friend. See you again soon, next time for much longer.
Hey Steven, I've been feeling your absence this Cohort and I really admire the classy way you wrote about this inexplicable parting of the ways. If you have no idea why it happened, how can any of us assess its meaning?
My instincts tell me, "C'est pire qu'un crime, c'est une faute."
In any case, your article transcends any finger-pointing and brings the eternal values that define you into the every day lives of all of us who avidly read your work.
Thank for this display of grace under pressure, my friend, it's inspiring.
Chris you have been an encouragement to me since the beginning of this thing. I remember how timid I was early on trying to explain what it was like to be a Spanish Mystic. Your embrace empowered me to clearly share what was important to me about my journey. Thank you.
As I told you my friend, your friendship has been one of the highlights of this journey!
Happy we met, and happy you're handling all this very gracefully, admire you for that.
Un abrazo y a lo que sigue.
de la pobreza, riquezas. mil abrazos mi amigo y a lo que sigue
This is such a bummer, Steven. Heartened to see you being gracious and taking a high road.
Jeff I had the luck of the draw having you as a part of my group. I'm continuing to read you and look forward to seeing the force that you are come to the words you put in the world.