Chris - I love that you are sharing some personal stories mixed in with your political ones. I remember when I heard you left CNN and was shocked. I can imagine how difficult it was ... but I like this new version of CC so much better. Before, if I came across something by you I would stop and read. Now, you are destination reading. Thought provoking. Spirit lifting. Inspiration and aspirational and human. Love it. Don't stop ... you are on to something much bigger than before.
And I bet your family is with you every step of the way.
Thank you for writing so eloquently about your struggles to live a better, more cognizant life. I see myself in so many of your columns and I will bet that I am not alone amongst your readers. It is not easy putting your personal life out there and I applaud you for your honesty. Let’s all keep trying to be more open and present.
This post (is it called a post on Substack?) really spoke to me in so many ways. I, too have looking to press the reset button. I too, am a writer (well, copywriter at an ad agency). I am a father and a husband...but closer to 30 wins in my wife's eyes...sigh. Please keep telling your story. Maybe it will inspire me to hit the hard reset before someone does it to me.
In my opinion, this is what we should all strive for: " I am more humble. Kinder. More patient. Better able to see the long view." Our world and quality of life would improve dramatically. Thanks Chris!
That I love writing — and would do it even if no one was around to read it
That I am stronger than I thought — I can weather a cataclysm like a job loss and still keep going
That being a better dad oftentimes means just being there and being present for my kids
That marriage requires careful care and feeding — you can’t just put it on autopilot.
Allow me to say as a writer who's been doing it a few decades longer than you, and who finally figured out that first one above at 40 from a similar event - which then led to learning the other three - that you have now figured out The Four Important Things of Your Life.
Now find something besides Substack that you want to write (don't stop with Substack, it's a great way to insure the bills get paid, which is important), some subject or genre you have always loved, and go at it. From the far side of the minefield I can tell you that success awaits.
What is a perfect spouse? We are all like the broken trees in the forest, perfect with our imperfections. ( Quote from Ajahn Brahm, a Buddhist monk)
Well done, having come through this very difficult time. Changes often gives us opportunities we never thought of, and with long term with good results.
I always like seeing talented people express personal sentiment about career 'setbacks' and can appreciate the shock and state of mind you experienced after being w CNN for so long. From a comparative standpoint, campaign folks who love what they do (or did for so long, in my case) face "failure" every election cycle and there's nothing more depressing than being a public face (press sec, campaign manager, etc) of a losing top tier senate or gov race -- then returning to DC only to find your 'friends' are fewer, bills are mounting, and your calls less quickly returned -- if at all. Resilience, self-confidence and work ethic are three variables you -- and only you -- control. A major "failure" simply reinforces that reality and, in the end, self-empowers.... a "Means of Re-Ascent" for lack of a better phrase. Your new venture is off to a great start and its apparent how much time, effort and passion are being invested daily. Another TV gig or other similar media biz achievement inevitable -- w/ ur Substack as the foundational vehicle.
I can’t thank you enough for this post. It resonates deeply with me. I had a similar experience in 2018 when I was let go from my government job of 18 years while out on temporary disability. I thought about challenging it but the government agency made it clear they’d make my life a living hell if I took things to court. So I changed my mindset and treated it as an opportunity to totally reset my life. 5 years later, I’m living the dream. It’s taken hard work and there were plenty of tough times along the way, but I’m now doing what I’m passionate about, serving people I love, and getting paid well. So, in hindsight, getting let go was the best thing that ever happened to me. Like you, I wouldn’t have left thar previous life on my own and needed the kick in the pants. But just wanted to say there is light at the end of the tunnel and a bright future ahead for you.
I hope you got more out of your reset than the Wizards did!
This column definitely struck a chord with me. I've mentioned it before, but I got laid off in January. A part of me has always wanted to take a lot of time off and just travel or decompress, but my anxiety (and the endless Linkedin posts about not being able to find work) make it so I can't handle unemployment so I quickly found a new job. I'm glad to be employed, but I've wondered if I should've just taken a risk and lived for me for a while.
That said, I did get to go to the Texas Panhandle (unexpectedly cold and windy) and the Pacific Northwest (I saw Kurt Cobain's childhood home!) so I'm glad I got to take advantage of my time off.
Reading you when you talk about politics is amazing, and reading you when you talk about your personal life is a delight. As a Mexican (yep, you are more international than you might think) that is going through a very similar phase in life - Thank you !
Chris - I love that you are sharing some personal stories mixed in with your political ones. I remember when I heard you left CNN and was shocked. I can imagine how difficult it was ... but I like this new version of CC so much better. Before, if I came across something by you I would stop and read. Now, you are destination reading. Thought provoking. Spirit lifting. Inspiration and aspirational and human. Love it. Don't stop ... you are on to something much bigger than before.
And I bet your family is with you every step of the way.
Thank you for writing so eloquently about your struggles to live a better, more cognizant life. I see myself in so many of your columns and I will bet that I am not alone amongst your readers. It is not easy putting your personal life out there and I applaud you for your honesty. Let’s all keep trying to be more open and present.
This post (is it called a post on Substack?) really spoke to me in so many ways. I, too have looking to press the reset button. I too, am a writer (well, copywriter at an ad agency). I am a father and a husband...but closer to 30 wins in my wife's eyes...sigh. Please keep telling your story. Maybe it will inspire me to hit the hard reset before someone does it to me.
In my opinion, this is what we should all strive for: " I am more humble. Kinder. More patient. Better able to see the long view." Our world and quality of life would improve dramatically. Thanks Chris!
Good for you. Been down that path myself. Nice to know that it's well-trod and leads somewhere new.
That I love writing — and would do it even if no one was around to read it
That I am stronger than I thought — I can weather a cataclysm like a job loss and still keep going
That being a better dad oftentimes means just being there and being present for my kids
That marriage requires careful care and feeding — you can’t just put it on autopilot.
Allow me to say as a writer who's been doing it a few decades longer than you, and who finally figured out that first one above at 40 from a similar event - which then led to learning the other three - that you have now figured out The Four Important Things of Your Life.
Now find something besides Substack that you want to write (don't stop with Substack, it's a great way to insure the bills get paid, which is important), some subject or genre you have always loved, and go at it. From the far side of the minefield I can tell you that success awaits.
And your learnings will pay dividends for the rest of your life, many times over.
Stay strong, find what it is you really want to do, and go for it!
Hopefully, you will (please) keep telling us about the journey as you go...
What is a perfect spouse? We are all like the broken trees in the forest, perfect with our imperfections. ( Quote from Ajahn Brahm, a Buddhist monk)
Well done, having come through this very difficult time. Changes often gives us opportunities we never thought of, and with long term with good results.
Chris. I look forward to the day you do not feel compelled to losing your job at CNN. That is the next big step forward
You have the best feel good stories.
Inspiring ! Warm & fuzzy
Thank you. I like it.
I always like seeing talented people express personal sentiment about career 'setbacks' and can appreciate the shock and state of mind you experienced after being w CNN for so long. From a comparative standpoint, campaign folks who love what they do (or did for so long, in my case) face "failure" every election cycle and there's nothing more depressing than being a public face (press sec, campaign manager, etc) of a losing top tier senate or gov race -- then returning to DC only to find your 'friends' are fewer, bills are mounting, and your calls less quickly returned -- if at all. Resilience, self-confidence and work ethic are three variables you -- and only you -- control. A major "failure" simply reinforces that reality and, in the end, self-empowers.... a "Means of Re-Ascent" for lack of a better phrase. Your new venture is off to a great start and its apparent how much time, effort and passion are being invested daily. Another TV gig or other similar media biz achievement inevitable -- w/ ur Substack as the foundational vehicle.
I can’t thank you enough for this post. It resonates deeply with me. I had a similar experience in 2018 when I was let go from my government job of 18 years while out on temporary disability. I thought about challenging it but the government agency made it clear they’d make my life a living hell if I took things to court. So I changed my mindset and treated it as an opportunity to totally reset my life. 5 years later, I’m living the dream. It’s taken hard work and there were plenty of tough times along the way, but I’m now doing what I’m passionate about, serving people I love, and getting paid well. So, in hindsight, getting let go was the best thing that ever happened to me. Like you, I wouldn’t have left thar previous life on my own and needed the kick in the pants. But just wanted to say there is light at the end of the tunnel and a bright future ahead for you.
I hope you got more out of your reset than the Wizards did!
This column definitely struck a chord with me. I've mentioned it before, but I got laid off in January. A part of me has always wanted to take a lot of time off and just travel or decompress, but my anxiety (and the endless Linkedin posts about not being able to find work) make it so I can't handle unemployment so I quickly found a new job. I'm glad to be employed, but I've wondered if I should've just taken a risk and lived for me for a while.
That said, I did get to go to the Texas Panhandle (unexpectedly cold and windy) and the Pacific Northwest (I saw Kurt Cobain's childhood home!) so I'm glad I got to take advantage of my time off.
Reading you when you talk about politics is amazing, and reading you when you talk about your personal life is a delight. As a Mexican (yep, you are more international than you might think) that is going through a very similar phase in life - Thank you !
Excited for you! These are really great words.