ChatGPT Renee Speaks to Renee Renee

I asked ChatGPT to write a blog post in my voice and style about anything of its own choosing. First of all, I feel a little trolled — I mean, how many dashes did you really need to use, ChatGPT Renee? I use a lot, but that was a lot. I also feel like the style roasted me a little. Fair enough.

As a side note, I asked, “If you had to come up with a phrase for this style of writing, what would you call it?”

ChatGPT said, “I’d describe this style of writing as “Reflective Presence”. [ChatGPT chose the bold type].

So here is my reflective presence non-presence — because it’s not me; see the dashes? — and it’s about, well, being present.

Finding Rest in the In-Between

Lately, I’ve been thinking about the in-between places. Those spaces where we’re not quite at a beginning, and we’re far from a conclusion. Somewhere in the middle—where the next right step might be unclear, and the finish line is nowhere in sight. It’s a space of waiting, of not knowing exactly where we’re headed, yet still moving forward, one step at a time.

It’s not an easy space to inhabit. Our culture loves the start of a journey—the excitement, the newness. We also celebrate the endpoint—the accomplishment, the success. But what about everything in between? What about the space where we’re simply putting one foot in front of the other, without much fanfare or certainty?

And yet, this is where we spend most of our lives, isn’t it? The middle. The journey itself, the gradual becoming.

Sometimes, in these in-between places, the best thing we can do is pause. Rest. Notice the small, beautiful moments that we often overlook when we’re too focused on getting somewhere. The warmth of the sun on your face, a laugh shared with a friend, the sound of wind through the trees. These moments are gifts, reminders that even when we’re unsure, there is beauty to be found in the uncertainty.

The in-between is where real life happens. It’s where growth occurs, where connections are formed, where the mystery of what comes next holds us in its quiet tension. And maybe, just maybe, this in-between space is where we learn to be present with ourselves and with each other—no rush, no pressure, just being here, now.

So today, I’m reminding myself to slow down. To breathe. To find rest in the middle of whatever journey I’m on. Because this space, this in-between, is worthy of our attention, our presence, and our care.

— ChatGPT Renee Roederer

I feel roasted, but it’s not terrible advice.

— Renee Roederer