Hi Susan

I love your writing and I don't think being financially secure, or even financially loaded, makes anyone a bad person. I don't think anyone should have to apologise for being successful.

I hate to think that you would feel the need to second guess your writing, because the best writing is always honest and from the heart and uncensored (i think).

I love your writing and applaud your success and hope you pay no mind to trolls.

But, there is one bit I am less sure about. Sorry, got to be honest here . . .success stories that suggest anyone can do it if you can too . . .are more problematic. Because the truth is (and this is of course just my opinion) that not everyone CAN do something, just because someone else can. We are not all born on a level playing field or with the same level of intelligence. Some people just do not have the capacity to succeed in the way others do, and this could be for any number of reasons, not least a traumatised childhood. Not everyone has the capacity to claw their way out of poverty and it is nothing to do with them not having a good work ethic or not doing as they have been told.

Of course, the snarky comments you mention in relation to this type of article - the writer is damaging society by making too much money or playing political games - are ludicrous (to me) and unkind.

But there may be others who feel the basic premise of "I can do it so you can too" needs a bit more unpicking before accepting it as a definitive truth.

I don't like to judge anyone. We are all just human beings struggling as best we can in this thing called life.

It does not, of course, give anyone the right to troll or disrespect your own approach. But i can understand why someone would take issue with "i did it, so you can too".

I admire Michelle Teheux a lot and I suspect this is what she was saying too.

I hope i haven't caused offence.

I really do agree with you that you should be proud of all that you have achieved and feel able to write about it without judgment.

In kindness,

A 🙏💚