Greetings Reader!
If you have been here from the beginning, you will realize that I skipped a week on this newsletter. I could tell you that it was due to a ridiculously busy schedule - which is actually true.
But, honestly, it was due to a "crash and burn" moment I had in relation to this project.
Now, I am going to preface this by saying that I am absolutely open to feedback as long as it is constructive and grows out of a genuine desire to help me improve. What I am not open to is mean-spirited criticism that serves no purpose except to make the sender feel somehow powerful.
After the last newsletter, I received one of those nasty takedowns, and it blindsided me. My goal for Eating Adverbs and everything associated with it is to remain positive and uplifting - to give people a vision of how they might be able to shift perspective and improve their lives.
I admit, the dark energy spiraled me down - deeply - for days. I questioned if I should even continue to send out newsletters. I doubted my ability, my talent, my vision - myself.
But here I am again. I cannot allow one random stranger to derail me or to sabotage my happiness. I hope that you are all still with me here, and that you will continue to send me your insights, suggestions, and - yes - even critical feedback.
Just be nice, please.
TIME
The Rhythm of Return
Adverbs of time answer “when?” They express moments, durations, and sequences: now, later, soon, yesterday, eventually.
There’s a rhythm to recovery. There's a way of noticing when we need to pause, when we’re ready to begin again, and when we’ve outgrown the urgency we once carried.
This past week reminded me that return doesn’t need to be dramatic. It just needs to be chosen.
Some of the most meaningful solo rituals I’ve explored are rooted in this kind of rhythm, in the quiet courage of showing up again.
What part of your life is asking to be returned to? Maybe not rushed into, but gently reclaimed?
DEGREE
The Texture of Care
Adverbs of degree answer “to what extent?” They express intensity, limitation, and depth: simply, entirely, wholeheartedly.
Care has texture. It’s not just what we do but also how deeply we do it.
Whether it’s setting the table for one, editing a sentence until it feels and sounds just right, or choosing rest over reaction, I’ve come to believe that presence shows up along a spectrum. It's never quite linear, and never perfect . . . just intentional.
Where in your life are you showing up with care? What might shift if you turned the volume up? Not to 11, but maybe just a little?
(That's a small obscure movie reference for those who get it.)
MANNER
The Way We Choose
Adverbs of manner define the "quality of action" - whether something is done boldly, carefully, joyfully, or mindfully.
The way we move through the day matters.
There’s a difference between rushing and arriving; and for me, definitely a difference between multitasking and savoring.
I’ve been asking myself: What would it feel like to choose my rhythm, rather than letting those around me choose it for me?
This week, I’m reminded that the way we return matters just as much as the fact that we do it.
Is there a moment today you could move through with more intention? What would that look like?
PLACE
The Space That Shapes Us
Adverbs of place specify "location and direction": here, there, everywhere, or inwardly. They determine the spaces we occupy and explore.
This project has been shaped (and continues to be shaped) in many places: coffee shops, quiet rooms, hotel lobbies, solo dinners, shady parks. But more than that, it has been shaped by emotional spaces: doubt, clarity, curiosity, joy . . . maybe even a little fear and anxiety.
Place isn’t just geography, it’s also an internal landscape. I think about a quote from The Power of Myth by Joseph Campbell where he talks about the need for all of us to have a sacred space:
This is a place where you can simply experience and bring forth what you are and what you might be. This is the place of creative incubation. At first you may find that nothing happens there. But if you have a sacred place and use it, something eventually will happen.
This week, I’ve been thinking about spaces: physical, metaphysical and digital. They all hold us in some way and reflect us, perhaps urging us to "become."
Is there a space in your life that’s asking to be reimagined?
FREQUENCY
Still Here, Still Returning
Adverbs of frequency establish "pattern and habit," answering whether something happens always, sometimes, often, or consistently.
Song on Repeat
My friends know that I couldn't go too long without looping a song by my favorite composer, Stephen Sondheim. This week's song is
"I'm Still Here" from
Follies. I'm a bit of a purist, I suppose, so my 'go to' version is the original cast album with Yvonne de Carlo singing this anthem about survival.
Book I Keep Returning To
For reasons which should be obvious, this week I pulled one of my favorite books off the shelf and re-read it for inspiration. It's
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson. If you haven't read it, I highly suggest you give it a try - if for no other reason than the ability to feel empowered to let your emotions out fully and unapologetically.
Ritual
One of my favorite YouTube channels for yoga is
Yoga with Kassandra. On October 1, I started a 30-day yoga challenge. It's only 10 minutes every morning, but it's the first thing I do to start my day - a perfect blend of stretching and meditation.
What are your repetitions and rhythms this week?
The Pre-sale is coming!
Drumroll, Please!
This isn’t just a book launch. It’s a moment of truth.
After years of nurturing Table for One, Please and months of writing Eating Adverbs, I’ve partnered with a publishing model that lets me retain full creative control while still receiving professional support. It’s not traditional. It’s not self-publishing. It’s something in between that lets me build this book with integrity, intention, and community.
And that’s where you come in.
This Friday, the pre-sale opens. When you join the campaign, you’re not just buying a book, you’re helping bring Eating Adverbs to life. Your early support funds editing, design, and distribution, and depending on the tier you choose, you’ll also receive exclusive perks like workshops, behind-the-scenes access, and even one-on-one coaching.
But more than that, it sends a signal that solo joy matters, that intentional living matters, and that this kind of storytelling deserves space in the world.
If the ideas in Eating Adverbs have resonated with you, even in small ways, I’d love for you to be part of this launch. It's not just about being a reader, it's about becoming a founding voice in a movement that’s already changing lives.
I'll be sharing more details on launch day, but in the meantime you can check out the cool video that my publisher and I created:
Let’s build this together.
NEW OFFERING!
Living Your Adverbial Life Coaching
Inspired by the themes of Eating Adverbs, I’m now offering one-on-one coaching for anyone ready to live more intentionally, creatively, and joyfully on their own terms.
Whether you’re navigating change, craving clarity, or simply want to reclaim joy in your solo experiences, these sessions are designed to help you thrive.
Coaching tiers include:
- The Soon Session: a single 60-minute spark
- The Adverbial Reset: three sessions for focused transformation
- Living Adverbially: a full-spectrum journey over three months
- A La Carte Support: flexible half-hour check-ins
Curious? and let’s start with a free 20-minute discovery call. No pressure, just a chance to connect.
Let’s build your adverbial life one intentional moment at a time.
See you next week!
Adverbially Yours,
Tommy
