Feeling the Shifts

Outdoor Season Winding Down

The start to October has been BEAUTIFUL in West Michigan. 
Sunny days. Cooler nights. Clear skies. Other than our bout of strong east winds? My kind of weather. 

As I snuggle back into my favorite sweatshirt, I can’t help but notice the tinge of color appearing in the leaves. With our sunsets now occurring just after 7:00 P.M.?! It’s impossible to ignore the transitions happening all around us.

I’m grateful for another wonderful season of outdoor yoga. Thank you ALL who joined me on decks, lawns, and rooftops! 🙏🏽

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“i will never have 
this version of me again
let me slow down 
and be with her

- always evolving”

~ Rupi Kaur

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Hello friends!

Today, I want to talk about this idea of “always evolving.”  (If you missed the Rupi Kaur quotation just above, give it another go.) 

I recently had the joy of sharing time with friends we don’t get to see very often. This particular connection goes WAY back (to the mid 1970’s) in my husband’s family. And, because our friends live in Germany, in person time together is infrequent and always special. 

First, I want to honor, and celebrate, the longevity of this friendship. This has taken some effort, and I am thankful for the depth of connection fostered over the decades.  I always learn something new when the reminiscing takes place. All that history? It adds depth and richness that cannot be replaced. ♥️

Beyond that? We currently have fun together. We enjoy sharing time outdoors, good food, intellectual conversation, a glass of wine . . . personally? I laugh a lot when we’re together. 😀

I also want to acknowledge that this relationship presents me with some challenges. This particular visit got me very curious about the “why” behind my reactivity that exists in this friendship. 

Turns out, the dynamics that challenge me? 
Those are the ones that mirror aspects of MYSELF I don’t enjoy. 

Does that make sense? 
Have you had this moment of awareness as well? 

The behavior from someone else that irks you, or frustrates you, or bunches you up is recognizable because it is something you see in yourself? 

Maybe it's particularly evident because you have done a lot of work around your own behaviors in a real effort to evolve? 

Without delving into the minutia, I’ll summarize by saying I have an increased understanding about my edge around the need to “be right.”

I used to think of this as a form of stubbornness. Now, I understand it differently. 

Needing to be right seems to stem from insecurities and/or fears. 

Not being able to hear a difference of opinion, let alone a factual statement, that another is offering into the conversation? An unwillingness to accept a different idea or come to a new understanding? 

This puts me on edge. 

So, I come away with an increased understanding about the person I want to be.
Especially in this time. 🙏🏽

Here’s to slowing down. 
Knowing ourselves. 
Loving ourselves. 
And always evolving. 

Love and light,

~ m