I’m in southern CA so while it’s getting darker earlier, it’s not quite cooler. Soon though, and I’m so ready to put on a scarf and my boots!! If we are introducing ourselves, I’m Jes 🙋🏼♀️
Mama
Wife
Baker
Copywriter- publicist (this is a new one)
Raptor Rehabilitator
Hiker
Nature Admirer
Parent Coach
Baking & Cooking Teacher
Retired midwife & homeschooler
When I write that all out, here or if I’m trying to tell someone what I do for work, it seems like I’m scattered or don’t know what I really want to be when I grow up. I’m almost 50 🤣
But I did the Play exercises from the Joy Diet on Monday with my wayfinder friends and had to give myself a high five. All of these roles contribute to my life purpose and if they look scattered to the culture, then good. I don’t want to fit it!
The nuts I’m gathering are energy for a very exciting and high energy fall. I have some projects that I’ve been nursing to life for decades that are about to really flower and I want to show up for this phase fully present. I have an easy and well worn hostess with the mostest part that breezes through stressful social situations with lots of people and energy and I’ve asked her not to rsvp to my parties. The first one is my son’s wedding in just 3 days. I’m sitting deeply into my peace so I can feel through this next season whole and anchored.
This is the best list of stuff about someone I have ever seen! PLEASE for the love of all that is holy, don't grow up and don't ever streamline! xoxoxoxoxo
Thank you Ro! I can’t imagine being ABLE to grow up now. These last few years have required me to pull out all of my skills and I’m so grateful. When I reflected what I wrote in my Joy Diet answers and then asked if “I’m having fun” and if “Am I good at this game and liked the other players” etc. I sort of shocked myself by answering, fuck yes! I’m naturally a perfectionist and critical of my work. It makes me good at what I do but also doesn’t automatically make space for self-approval. Your comment gave me a whole body smile! So here we go. Countdown to wedding wonder and on into all the fall appointments and celebrations.
Eat & poop & drink a little wine & play a little cards & watch a little TV & have a little cuddle in front of the fire, then snuggle down into hibernation again. Add a couple of items to their to-do lists, and chipmunks have NAILED winter.
Beautiful piece of writing again, Ro. Your words help me to smell the autumn in your part of the world, and to be grateful for the springtime after a long winter in mine. Thank you. xx
In the Adelaide Hills in South Australia (the equivalent of heaven on Earth, in my biased opinion). Although I say 'Spring' loosely - it's still grey, drizzly and cold (for Australians!) here at present. The sun and warmth tend to bloom fully two months after the August blossoms appear. Then it's glorious until January, HOT through February, and glorious again until late May. Possibly not unlike southern California (please do tell me if I'm wrong!), although at opposite times of the year!
I’m in the valley so it gets very hot here about two months a year. The rest of the year the weather is dreamy so I feel like I can’t complain about it when it hot. This week should be the last blazer until next year. Fingers crossed!! I spent a lot of time as a youngster in Australia. I always say the very best day of my childhood was at the Currumbin Animal Sanctuary. I will go back at the first opportunity.
Dearest Ro, as always, your insights are timeless and timely simultaneously. Thank you for the gentle reminder that the upcoming season holds all things that are slow to simmer: from baking and cooking, to reflecting and writing, and onto stillness and silence. Your willingness to connect is needed and appreciated. 💜
Loving these reflections Ro. Your life is so incredibly rich and textured - there are so many 'yous' that are at play in any given day, you wear so many different hats and fill so many different roles - it looks to me that you're an expert manager of all of this - and I LOVE that you are taking time to continually return to your creativity, that you're making a DATE out of it, that you're weaving it into your life consciously - this is something very special.
I know a lot of creative people who have full lives, and creativity always seems to be the first thing to go. If it's not built into our vocation in some way, it often feels like there are a million and one reasons why it's not something we should be spending our time on - it takes from that which provides for others, it's not 'practical', it doesn't 'make money', there are so many other things we NEED to be doing.
But we forget that without this creativity, we do become like the chipmunk who are living just to survive, the magic of life disappears, and we let weeks, months and years pass - wondering how we 'lost ourselves.'
Capitalism is harsh, and truly, it does rob so many of us of the time, energy and resources to really EXPRESS in whatever feels pertinent to us - and so the fact that you're witnessing all of this, that you're present for ALL of your life AND you are committed to the PRACTICE of creativity - it's very inspiring.
Life feels kind of the opposite for me - It feels like things are ramping up. I've started a new project in my company, we're traveling again, we've been knocked out of our routine and it feels amazing and scary. I feel incredibly lucky that 'adventure' is part of my 'hard.'
Navigating my desire for expansion that's met equally with a body that has very real limits, and a mind that gets very much over-stimulated when routine is lost - it's a never ending growth opportunity.
Gathering knowledge through expanded zones of comfort and finding routine in the chaos - that's the season I'm in I think. I'm also making sure creativity is a daily date, meeting with God to make sure I don't get my feet TOO solidly planted in the soil, where I get stuck.
Hi my name is Tracy. I am. My favorite roles are wife, mother and seeker. I work at a medical university which is complicated but rewarding. I am on a lifetime journey to save the world and had to almost die to start the saving on the inside. I also am a person who is struggling with how to answer that box now.
As I spend my first year sitting every morning on my porch, I am actually seeing the seasons in a way I haven’t since childhood. The season change here is muted, subtle but nature speaks if you listen. Fall starts warm here in the Bay Area.
Fall has always been my favorite season. It is the beginning of school and holidays, it was the rhythm of my life. The ritual of it all. Memories of giants piles of multi colored leaves to leap into. The actual daily change of summer to fall has always been lost into the activities and event of it all. Though for a while it was Burning Man. So this is my first deep look.
I filled up my journal a few days ago prompting me to crack open my last one of the year. Another first, mornings pages. The last reminded me of my very first entry of the year which was Martha’s 100 Wishes exercise. Normally reviewing my one New Years resolution would be visiting a long dead commitment. But somehow multiplying my wishes multipled my wins and not my failures. Which has inspired me to bucket list some of the remaining ones. And surprisingly many of the fun activities are left!
So I guess I am like your chipmunk both busy with some nuts and enjoying the perfect moment of fall. Eureka!!!
Yes! “ Treasure these days, dear friend. Nothing is promised and everything is possible. That’s the promise of winter hibernation. A time of rest and creativity. A time to embrace a great pause and stillness. Solitude becomes our daily partner and the darkness of cold velvet night skies pull us to notice the constellations.”
I’m in southern CA so while it’s getting darker earlier, it’s not quite cooler. Soon though, and I’m so ready to put on a scarf and my boots!! If we are introducing ourselves, I’m Jes 🙋🏼♀️
Mama
Wife
Baker
Copywriter- publicist (this is a new one)
Raptor Rehabilitator
Hiker
Nature Admirer
Parent Coach
Baking & Cooking Teacher
Retired midwife & homeschooler
When I write that all out, here or if I’m trying to tell someone what I do for work, it seems like I’m scattered or don’t know what I really want to be when I grow up. I’m almost 50 🤣
But I did the Play exercises from the Joy Diet on Monday with my wayfinder friends and had to give myself a high five. All of these roles contribute to my life purpose and if they look scattered to the culture, then good. I don’t want to fit it!
The nuts I’m gathering are energy for a very exciting and high energy fall. I have some projects that I’ve been nursing to life for decades that are about to really flower and I want to show up for this phase fully present. I have an easy and well worn hostess with the mostest part that breezes through stressful social situations with lots of people and energy and I’ve asked her not to rsvp to my parties. The first one is my son’s wedding in just 3 days. I’m sitting deeply into my peace so I can feel through this next season whole and anchored.
This is the best list of stuff about someone I have ever seen! PLEASE for the love of all that is holy, don't grow up and don't ever streamline! xoxoxoxoxo
Thank you Ro! I can’t imagine being ABLE to grow up now. These last few years have required me to pull out all of my skills and I’m so grateful. When I reflected what I wrote in my Joy Diet answers and then asked if “I’m having fun” and if “Am I good at this game and liked the other players” etc. I sort of shocked myself by answering, fuck yes! I’m naturally a perfectionist and critical of my work. It makes me good at what I do but also doesn’t automatically make space for self-approval. Your comment gave me a whole body smile! So here we go. Countdown to wedding wonder and on into all the fall appointments and celebrations.
Jessica’s list could easily be twice as long, she is brilliant and magical. Love you Jessica!
Eat & poop & drink a little wine & play a little cards & watch a little TV & have a little cuddle in front of the fire, then snuggle down into hibernation again. Add a couple of items to their to-do lists, and chipmunks have NAILED winter.
Beautiful piece of writing again, Ro. Your words help me to smell the autumn in your part of the world, and to be grateful for the springtime after a long winter in mine. Thank you. xx
Where are you that it is spring, Gemma?
In the Adelaide Hills in South Australia (the equivalent of heaven on Earth, in my biased opinion). Although I say 'Spring' loosely - it's still grey, drizzly and cold (for Australians!) here at present. The sun and warmth tend to bloom fully two months after the August blossoms appear. Then it's glorious until January, HOT through February, and glorious again until late May. Possibly not unlike southern California (please do tell me if I'm wrong!), although at opposite times of the year!
I’m in the valley so it gets very hot here about two months a year. The rest of the year the weather is dreamy so I feel like I can’t complain about it when it hot. This week should be the last blazer until next year. Fingers crossed!! I spent a lot of time as a youngster in Australia. I always say the very best day of my childhood was at the Currumbin Animal Sanctuary. I will go back at the first opportunity.
"So, as I gather nuts in my face..." - I liked all of the words, but these 8 especially.
Also, fall is my FAVORITE. Make it colder! Make it darker! Ro - just know there is at least someone who is relishing in the cold darkness. oxo, Julie
Haha, thanks!
❤️❤️❤️
Dearest Ro, as always, your insights are timeless and timely simultaneously. Thank you for the gentle reminder that the upcoming season holds all things that are slow to simmer: from baking and cooking, to reflecting and writing, and onto stillness and silence. Your willingness to connect is needed and appreciated. 💜
Loving these reflections Ro. Your life is so incredibly rich and textured - there are so many 'yous' that are at play in any given day, you wear so many different hats and fill so many different roles - it looks to me that you're an expert manager of all of this - and I LOVE that you are taking time to continually return to your creativity, that you're making a DATE out of it, that you're weaving it into your life consciously - this is something very special.
I know a lot of creative people who have full lives, and creativity always seems to be the first thing to go. If it's not built into our vocation in some way, it often feels like there are a million and one reasons why it's not something we should be spending our time on - it takes from that which provides for others, it's not 'practical', it doesn't 'make money', there are so many other things we NEED to be doing.
But we forget that without this creativity, we do become like the chipmunk who are living just to survive, the magic of life disappears, and we let weeks, months and years pass - wondering how we 'lost ourselves.'
Capitalism is harsh, and truly, it does rob so many of us of the time, energy and resources to really EXPRESS in whatever feels pertinent to us - and so the fact that you're witnessing all of this, that you're present for ALL of your life AND you are committed to the PRACTICE of creativity - it's very inspiring.
Life feels kind of the opposite for me - It feels like things are ramping up. I've started a new project in my company, we're traveling again, we've been knocked out of our routine and it feels amazing and scary. I feel incredibly lucky that 'adventure' is part of my 'hard.'
Navigating my desire for expansion that's met equally with a body that has very real limits, and a mind that gets very much over-stimulated when routine is lost - it's a never ending growth opportunity.
Gathering knowledge through expanded zones of comfort and finding routine in the chaos - that's the season I'm in I think. I'm also making sure creativity is a daily date, meeting with God to make sure I don't get my feet TOO solidly planted in the soil, where I get stuck.
<3
Hi my name is Tracy. I am. My favorite roles are wife, mother and seeker. I work at a medical university which is complicated but rewarding. I am on a lifetime journey to save the world and had to almost die to start the saving on the inside. I also am a person who is struggling with how to answer that box now.
As I spend my first year sitting every morning on my porch, I am actually seeing the seasons in a way I haven’t since childhood. The season change here is muted, subtle but nature speaks if you listen. Fall starts warm here in the Bay Area.
Fall has always been my favorite season. It is the beginning of school and holidays, it was the rhythm of my life. The ritual of it all. Memories of giants piles of multi colored leaves to leap into. The actual daily change of summer to fall has always been lost into the activities and event of it all. Though for a while it was Burning Man. So this is my first deep look.
I filled up my journal a few days ago prompting me to crack open my last one of the year. Another first, mornings pages. The last reminded me of my very first entry of the year which was Martha’s 100 Wishes exercise. Normally reviewing my one New Years resolution would be visiting a long dead commitment. But somehow multiplying my wishes multipled my wins and not my failures. Which has inspired me to bucket list some of the remaining ones. And surprisingly many of the fun activities are left!
So I guess I am like your chipmunk both busy with some nuts and enjoying the perfect moment of fall. Eureka!!!
Hello my name is Tracy I am like a chipmunk.
Ps share any good soup or stew recipes
Yes! “ Treasure these days, dear friend. Nothing is promised and everything is possible. That’s the promise of winter hibernation. A time of rest and creativity. A time to embrace a great pause and stillness. Solitude becomes our daily partner and the darkness of cold velvet night skies pull us to notice the constellations.”
I feel the same way, a vessel for the truth. Not mine, I was open enough for them to land and stick.