It has been a painful, challenging, and highly transformative year so far. I’m not sure about what’s been happening in your life, but since COVID hit, our lives here have been turned upside down.
I’ve felt the full spectrum of every emotion since March. There are days when I feel at peace, trusting that everything will be okay…and then there are days when I feel like I’m barely hanging on, losing all patience and perspective.
September has always been one of my favorite months of the year. For me, it feels like a new beginning…a fresh start. The beginning of the fall season and a time to reset. It’s our wedding anniversary month and we usually spend some time on vacation during September, giving me even more time to get still, reflect, and reset.
However, September in 2020 feels much different than years past.
This year has caused us to not only reflect, but to transform.
It’s as if COVID has been our collective global wake up call to bring attention to what’s important and bring to light circumstances that need to be seen, heard, and healed.
I believe that we are at a pivotal point in our history. How we choose to move forward from here will define our future. With all that has come into light these past several months – racial injustices, gender and economic inequalities, and global warming – we’ve been forced to examine the impact we have on this planet and how we can make better decisions for all of humanity.
Personally, I’ve spent much of my time reflecting on ways to grow and expand. I’ve re-examined many outdated beliefs and thought patterns that have held me back or are no longer in alignment with the person I am becoming. I’ve spent less time on social media and more time nurturing my clients and working on my own personal development. {Side note: If you haven’t watched The Social Dilemma on Netflix yet I highly recommend it!}
On another positive note, since Matt has been furloughed from his job since March, we’ve spent more time together these past several months than ever before. This has given us the opportunity to explore our values and create new goals within our marriage. It’s caused us to acknowledge and focus on what we have rather than the things society tells us we “need.” And goodness, sometimes that pressure feels overwhelming…especially during our anniversary month when people seem to get more curious about our decision on having kids. I realize that I’ve been putting myself online for almost ten years now so it’s common for people to be curious, but it feels like such an invasive question for several reasons. But if you’re one of the curious, Matt and I have been married for 14 years and are child free by choice.
I think that 2020 has brought so much to the surface. While it may have invoked fear and uncertainty, which is totally understandable, I choose to view this as a positive sign. The old systems which were built upon toxic patriarchy, capitalism, and materialism have been brought to light and are making way for deep, conscious healing and sustainable change. Now more than ever we have the opportunity to gain clarity and identify deeply rooted toxicity and destructive patterns that have permeated much of our society.
The best way to move forward from here is to give yourself permission to go inward.
I believe that we are all capable of healing ourselves if we take the time to listen to what our body needs. Now is the time to ask yourself what keeps you from being fully alive? How do you want to live?
Going inward is imperative during such a highly charged, chaotic time.
Once we go inward and work on our personal healing – whether it be through dietary or lifestyle changes, changing destructive beliefs or behavioral patterns, or simply making time to get present and listen to our intuition – we begin working towards a collective transformation that can make way for true change.
And if 2020 has taught us anything, it’s that we all ache for much needed change.
Over the next few weeks I’m planning to share some changes that I’ve been working on to better serve you here, if that’s something that you’re interested in. I’ve spent the last five years developing a philosophy that I use in my health coaching practice without sharing too much information about it online. For me, my coaching practice and clients are sacred and sometimes messaging can feel watered-down or inauthentic through certain platforms online {ie: most social media sites}. However, given our current climate, I feel a strong need for deep connections and a community that feels safe and comforting. I’m looking forward to talking more about this soon..so stay tuned.
Be well. And vote.
