Hello, Courageous Thrivers!

(Have I called you that before?)

It’s a new description of you that we’re playing with as we work on copy for our website (nope it’s not ready today as hoped. This month though for sure!).

You might wonder why we call you courageous.

There are at least two reasons.

First, because if you’re reading this, it’s pretty likely that you’re doing work to dissolve and dismantle systems and structures that cause harm.

The courage it takes to do what you do may be obvious — like when you participate in civil disobedience.

Or not so obvious — like when you choose to honor your child’s need to walk slowly to preschool even though you have a to-do list that’s longer than your arm.

But we know you’re taking actions that challenge the status quo.

Second, because if you’re reading this, we guess you’re also considering, or already practicing another counter-cultural choice.

You’re opening to the possibility that what you give is enough, and you can (perhaps must!) step back and recharge, have a laugh, cultivate deep pleasure in your life and nourish your soul and body — before all the crises have passed.

Not just when you’re on vacation. Now. Today.

That, too, takes courage.

 Zoom in - do you see her - the little fox leading the way?

Because it’s very likely that you have some deep conditioning and some trauma lodged in your cells that screams in terror when you think of relaxing.

It might show up sounding righteous (it’s notright for me to relax when X can’t; it’s selfish) or responsible (I can have fun once X is done) or in some other innocent disguise.

But that part of you is afraid. It believes that it is not safe for you to THRIVE.

And, especially if you live in religious or political spaces where perpetual sacrifice is glorified as what the good people do, you likely have external critics who will reinforce your fears by calling you selfish or making passive remarks designed to prevent you from enjoying that extravagant mid-day walk in the woods or the bouquet of flowers you bought yourself.

It may feel TERRIBLE to work so hard you’ve gone from 2 drinks a week to 2 (or more) a night to keep you going.

It may feel AWFUL to miss out on a concert with your Beloved because it had become just one more “to do” on the never-ending list and you thought if you just worked harder maybe you’d feel free to enjoy the next one.

Your conscious desire may be to silly-dance with your kid, or walk so slowly and quietly in nature that you feel wonder coming out your eyes.

But for your body; the stress and struggle - it’s familiar.

And familiar = safe.

It’s not true, of course.

I believe the safest path you can possibly follow is the one your heart longs to follow.

The one your Inner Wisdom calls you towards . . .

the one the Divine/the Universe keeps nudging you towards . . .

Not safe as in, free of pain, or risk, or challenge, but safe as in ALIVE.

Because NOT following that path is a slow suffocation. Which is death. Which is not exactly the definition of safe.

You will love better and be empowered to do what you came here as you take the courageous step of choosing to nurture rest, nourishment, and joy in your life.

Today is a New Moon. A good time for setting intentions.

(Regardless of whether you put stock in astrology or not, you’re a creature on this planet and your made of about 55-60% water, so you’re impacted by its cycles.)

Why not make use of this new slate to make a commitment to take one tiny step each day for the next 14 days that is what your heart wants?

Not as a means of ignoring the pain of the world, but as a means of reminding yourself of the both/and. There is immense pain AND immense beauty.

The beauty of the world can break your heart as much as the pain does, and it can also nourish it, and energize you, and give you creative ideas that you will never find if you keep pushing harder, suffering and sacrificing as a way of life.

Set a new intention to fully live.

Here’s to thriving and equity. Joy and justice.