It’s not just you. Sometimes I wonder how it’s possible to live an entire lifetime, attuned to the suffering in and of the world. There’s a horrible contradiction in having the empathy to feel for humanity but then having to get on with my own little safe life. I think the actions you took on this day were small acts of courage.
I didn't realise I needed to hear that until you said it, Nicole, but thank you. Sometimes I'd like to take away my ability to feel so deeply, but then I remember that's what makes us human. Sending you love and moments of peace 💚💚
Thank you 🙏🏼 this perfectly articulated where my head is at: “ I don’t know if it’s a health thing, a hormonal thing, a living in the world thing, an overwhelm thing, a too much coffee thing, a not enough coffee thing, a mother thing, a human thing…”
You are not alone! I felt every word. I’ve so many half written posts and so much to say.... and yet I’ve been frozen and brain fog sucks!
I’m learning to be ok with the ‘pause’ to focus on self compassion and healing. Some seasons are just not easy.
We are constantly told we have to be productive to ‘be worthy’
You’ve showed up here and made me realise I can show up even if it is not to post perfect formed long posts, but just to connecting here, as sharing our journey is something...It matters.
Thank you so much. For sharing your story, it helps. 💕
Embracing the pause has been huge for me this year too, Dawn. Things aren't easy, and berating ourselves doesn't make it any easier. Like you, I'm finding that it takes a lot of unlearning to separate our worth from our productivity, but it's a lesson I wouldn't trade for anything. So glad to have you here. Sending you moments of peace amongst it all. xx
I have a green notebook that sits by my bed inside which each night before reading and then sleeping I list all the things I have done that day. Then I look back at my list and draw a ring around the 3 things I found most satisfying. Somehow this simple thing helps a lot in making peace with my day.
I love the idea of highlighting the things you found most satisfying, Helen. I don't know that I've ever heard it framed quite like that and I think it's brilliant. Such a simple, powerful way of reclaiming the day, no matter what it looked like. Thank you for sharing! 💚
Uncannily, Brooke, I had just such a day myself today.
And this is exactly how I, too, got myself to the end of the day. Letting go of everything that could be let go of, but finding a settled-ness in completing some jobs. Choosing to do some things simply because I knew it would tend to my unsettled spirit: exercise, outside time, hands in the earth, meditating with the kids.
And when the unsettled feeling remained, just keeping gently moving forward towards day’s end was, in the end, enough.
Tomorrow is a new day, a fresh start. I’m looking forward to it.
Thank you for your beautiful words tonight that lifted my spirit and reminded me that I am never so alone as it may sometimes feel I am.
I agree Lesley! It's finding that settledness in amongst the tension that proves so hard and so powerful. I love that there are so many of us putting our hands up here, saying "Me too". So powerful and I'm so glad you're here 💚💚
Absoloodle! You are not alone. I despair for the world but I also noticed the deep red of the ake-ake in amongst the green of the other trees this morning and I spent a gloriously messy yesterday with a friend making paste papers for our bookbinding and tomorrow I see a couple of my grandchildren and you just have to do what you can, donate if you can, talk, hope, pray if it helps, add your voice to the protests against the heart-breaking inhumanity of some people and rejoice in the overwhelming humanity of others and, to take the idea of tilting (that I love so much) in a slightly different direction, just lean into those "some days", knowing that they, too, shall pass.
Thanks as ever for your words, Brooke, and for all the other words that pour forth from the inhabitants of this awesome little corner of the internet xxx
As always, you give me lots to think about, Winsome! It's that tension in between despairing and doing what we can that takes so much energy, but reframing it to an exercise in tilting is brilliant. Thank you for sharing - I'll be chewing over that over the weekend 💚💚
Thank you for sharing your thoughts. Showing up as you are is enough. ❤️ I have heard these sentiments over and over lately. I think people are feeling overwhelmed and exhausted. The striving and pushing needs to stop. I want a gentler approach in my life. More play and joy. Easy breezy is my goal. 👍
There's definitely something in the air isn't there? So many of us feeling this tension and finding our way to enoughness. So glad you're finding that gentler approach, Blythe. 💚💚
Absolutely right the with you, my lovely: scattered brain, random drafts and ideas, and that feeling of not getting anywhere even though you're trying so hard to keep going. One moment at a time, though, that's all we can do. And a walk helps too, right? And tea. Always tea. ❤️
Beautiful writing Brooke, thank you. I feel like that too, some days = existential angst about the future of our world + perimenopause. I heard about SNOLL from Kiara Jewel Lingo this week: see, name, own, let go & let it float. Repeat xo
It’s not just you. Sometimes I wonder how it’s possible to live an entire lifetime, attuned to the suffering in and of the world. There’s a horrible contradiction in having the empathy to feel for humanity but then having to get on with my own little safe life. I think the actions you took on this day were small acts of courage.
I didn't realise I needed to hear that until you said it, Nicole, but thank you. Sometimes I'd like to take away my ability to feel so deeply, but then I remember that's what makes us human. Sending you love and moments of peace 💚💚
Love and peace to you, too, Brooke.
Thank you 🙏🏼 this perfectly articulated where my head is at: “ I don’t know if it’s a health thing, a hormonal thing, a living in the world thing, an overwhelm thing, a too much coffee thing, a not enough coffee thing, a mother thing, a human thing…”
It sucks that so many of us are going through it, but I have to admit, I find some comfort in knowing I'm not alone! 💚💚
Sometimes it helps to see a day as just a day. A parcel of time. To be used or squandered as we see fit.
Absolutely, June. A squandered day is sometimes exactly what we need. 💚
I’ve being having a lot of ‘some days’ since my Mum passed. Just trying to get through the day hoping the next will be better.
Thanks for sharing x
'Some days' are tough days. I'm so sorry for the loss of your mum, Sian, and am sending you so much love and care. 💚💚
Me too Sian, since my Dad died.
But I am trying to find peace in the ‘some days’ where nothing much happens... at least nothing earth shattering has happened.
At the moment, I’ll take a blah, kind of boring day over a ‘your world has changed forever’ day.
Sending you hugs 🤗
I'm so sorry for the loss of your Dad, Juanita. Sending so much love to you. Here's to quiet days and whatever it takes to navigate them 💚💚
You are not alone! I felt every word. I’ve so many half written posts and so much to say.... and yet I’ve been frozen and brain fog sucks!
I’m learning to be ok with the ‘pause’ to focus on self compassion and healing. Some seasons are just not easy.
We are constantly told we have to be productive to ‘be worthy’
You’ve showed up here and made me realise I can show up even if it is not to post perfect formed long posts, but just to connecting here, as sharing our journey is something...It matters.
Thank you so much. For sharing your story, it helps. 💕
Embracing the pause has been huge for me this year too, Dawn. Things aren't easy, and berating ourselves doesn't make it any easier. Like you, I'm finding that it takes a lot of unlearning to separate our worth from our productivity, but it's a lesson I wouldn't trade for anything. So glad to have you here. Sending you moments of peace amongst it all. xx
I think the practice of showing up is enough. Taking away the “should” always helps.
I have a green notebook that sits by my bed inside which each night before reading and then sleeping I list all the things I have done that day. Then I look back at my list and draw a ring around the 3 things I found most satisfying. Somehow this simple thing helps a lot in making peace with my day.
I love the idea of highlighting the things you found most satisfying, Helen. I don't know that I've ever heard it framed quite like that and I think it's brilliant. Such a simple, powerful way of reclaiming the day, no matter what it looked like. Thank you for sharing! 💚
Uncannily, Brooke, I had just such a day myself today.
And this is exactly how I, too, got myself to the end of the day. Letting go of everything that could be let go of, but finding a settled-ness in completing some jobs. Choosing to do some things simply because I knew it would tend to my unsettled spirit: exercise, outside time, hands in the earth, meditating with the kids.
And when the unsettled feeling remained, just keeping gently moving forward towards day’s end was, in the end, enough.
Tomorrow is a new day, a fresh start. I’m looking forward to it.
Thank you for your beautiful words tonight that lifted my spirit and reminded me that I am never so alone as it may sometimes feel I am.
Wishing you lightness...
I agree Lesley! It's finding that settledness in amongst the tension that proves so hard and so powerful. I love that there are so many of us putting our hands up here, saying "Me too". So powerful and I'm so glad you're here 💚💚
Absoloodle! You are not alone. I despair for the world but I also noticed the deep red of the ake-ake in amongst the green of the other trees this morning and I spent a gloriously messy yesterday with a friend making paste papers for our bookbinding and tomorrow I see a couple of my grandchildren and you just have to do what you can, donate if you can, talk, hope, pray if it helps, add your voice to the protests against the heart-breaking inhumanity of some people and rejoice in the overwhelming humanity of others and, to take the idea of tilting (that I love so much) in a slightly different direction, just lean into those "some days", knowing that they, too, shall pass.
Thanks as ever for your words, Brooke, and for all the other words that pour forth from the inhabitants of this awesome little corner of the internet xxx
As always, you give me lots to think about, Winsome! It's that tension in between despairing and doing what we can that takes so much energy, but reframing it to an exercise in tilting is brilliant. Thank you for sharing - I'll be chewing over that over the weekend 💚💚
Thank you for sharing your thoughts. Showing up as you are is enough. ❤️ I have heard these sentiments over and over lately. I think people are feeling overwhelmed and exhausted. The striving and pushing needs to stop. I want a gentler approach in my life. More play and joy. Easy breezy is my goal. 👍
There's definitely something in the air isn't there? So many of us feeling this tension and finding our way to enoughness. So glad you're finding that gentler approach, Blythe. 💚💚
Absolutely right the with you, my lovely: scattered brain, random drafts and ideas, and that feeling of not getting anywhere even though you're trying so hard to keep going. One moment at a time, though, that's all we can do. And a walk helps too, right? And tea. Always tea. ❤️
Yes! One moment, one action, one walk, one tea at a time. 💚💚💚
One moment in time. I think that’s the key. Bringing it back to mindfulness and presence. Bringing focus to those precious moments.
Beautiful writing Brooke, thank you. I feel like that too, some days = existential angst about the future of our world + perimenopause. I heard about SNOLL from Kiara Jewel Lingo this week: see, name, own, let go & let it float. Repeat xo
I LOVE that. SNOLL. I'm going to practise over the weekend. Thank you so much Natalie! xxxx
Resonated with this so much Brooke 💛✨
💚💚 thanks so much Mackenzie. So so glad you're here. x
Not. Alone. This was a great post and so very, very relevant and needed. Everywhere and for everyone
Oh thank you, Julianna! I'm so glad to have this space to share and even more glad to have you here 💚💚
Thank you, Brooke. Me too!
It’s very easy to let pressure take over in today’s society. Still, I know in my heart that just existing here makes us good enough. Sending love 💚
Receiving love and sending it right back to you, Julia. Thank you thank you thank you. 💚💚
Thanks Brooke.
Thanks so much Julie 💚💚
Beautiful and true
Thank you
💗
💚💚 Thank you Jiling! x