Staying Grounded

October’s Bounty

I have busted out my puffy coats. 
And, we are still enjoying some 70+ degree days here in West Michigan! ☀️

This past weekend we took some of our all-time-favorite-people out on the sailboat. It was a bit too windy and wavy on the big Lake, so we anchored in the cove instead. We ate amazing food (thank you Southerner!), listened to some tunes, talked and laughed, and laughed and talked some more. 

The flyover from the bald eagle and the deer swimming across the river? WOW!

---

“What is love? Gratitude. 
What is hidden in our chests? Laughter. 
What else? Compassion.”

~ Rumi

---

Hi friends!

Thank you. ♥️ SO many of you celebrated our three years together through this newsletter. I appreciate you being here. Always.

Amidst an extra busy time (FULL of goodness!), I want to create some spaciousness so I can be both quiet and still. I’m learning that that’s what I let go of, quite quickly, when I have a lot going on. 

And guess what? When I skip over, or cast off, my self-care routines and rituals, things start to . . . what’s the word? 🤷🏻‍♀️

Actually, I’m not sure there is a single word that encompasses what starts to slide  when I’m pushing a bit too much and letting go of my support systems? Let’s just say I notice the shifts happening in many places: my nutrition, my digestion, my sleep patterns, my reactivity . . . you get the idea. 😉

And here's the thing. I'm thankful for the tender warning signs that begin emerging. These little bells going off? They're letting me know it's time to tune in and pay closer attention to what's going in my body and my being. 

From there? It’s up to me. 

I can ignore the signs and signals. Pretend they are not happening or that they are no big deal. Continue on as if all is well. 

If I choose this path? I know the direction things are heading. 

My body is going to get louder in its protestations. 
Things will become more acute. 

Or, when I notice and hear those initial warning signs? I can tune into what’s happening within. Find a moment to pause. Rest into how I am feeling and what I need. 

I am deeply grateful for the robust toolkit I have for helping myself.  And, I'm blown away by the beautiful support system of love and community that is around me. 

I’m curious. 

• What self-care routines do you quickly let go of? 
• How readily do you tune into, and heed, the little warning bells in your own body and being?
• Do those quiet warning bells sometimes need to turn into 3 alarm fires before you pause and take care? 
• Do you value being busy and bustling about? 
• Do you allow yourself moments to pause?
• Do you have the tools to help yourself when you notice something is off? 
• Do you have people who are there for you when you reach out for support? 
• Are you able to be vulnerable enough to ask for support? 

These questions for ourselves emerge from a place of loving curiosity. 
With a soft, internal gaze. 

I know that my pace, my energy level, my desire for solitude, my amount of required stillness and rest? It’s what works for me. And it is most likely different than what works for my husband, my friends, my family. 

And guess what? That’s okay. 

We ALL deserve to live well. 
To have fulfillment. 
To be loved and to love ourselves. 

Here’s to being oh-so-compassionate with ourselves and all others.

♥️,
~ m

​P. S. NO YACHT CLUB YOGA on Saturday, November 2.