about is this what you want?

hi, friend —

welcome to is this what you want?, a newsletter where i write through the mess and beauty of living. this space is part personal essay, part confessional, part love letter to the strange, tender rituals that keep us going.

here, i write about:

• body grief, chronic illness, and learning to live inside an unpredictable body

• heartbreak, love, and the complicated joy of being in relationship — with others, with myself, with the world

• rest, slowness, and resisting the grind of productivity culture

• my comfort hyper-fixations: books, music, recipes, and whatever else i’m obsessed with lately

• the small, sacred moments — dog walks with mayo and kaia, the golden hour on my windowsill, a fantastic cup of tea

i write from the body and from the heart, with honesty, curiosity, and care. this space is soft, raw, and real — a place where we can sit together in the questions.

🪷 about me

i’m christa — a writer, advocate, death and community care worker. my work rests at the intersection of care, grief, rest, and survival. i write through the lens of my lived experience as a disabled, neurodivergent, queer person of color.

this newsletter is one piece of my larger practice: building spaces for reflection, care, and honest conversation. you can find more of my work and offerings here:

• 🌿 website: christalei.me

💛 supporting my work

this newsletter is and will always be free — i believe in sharing my work widely and accessibly.

that said, this is also my only source of income. as a disabled and neurodivergent writer, i deeply appreciate the generosity of those who can support my work financially. instead of paid subscriptions through substack, i welcome contributions through my website:

👉 support my work at christalei.me

whether it’s a one-time gift, or ongoing weekly or monthly patronage — every bit helps me keep writing, resting, and building this space.

patronage comes with a few little gifts, including:

• first access to my new work

• invitations to special events, q&as, and supporter-only offerings

• more direct interaction and conversation with me

• and, of course, my endless gratitude

🌿 thank you for being here

whether you can support financially or not, you are part of this space — and i’m so grateful for that.

if something you read here resonates, feel free to share it, reply to it, or just quietly hold it close.

with care,
christa
is this what you want?
website: christalei.me