8 Comments

Lori, I love this perspective—giving yourself permission to rest and play instead of forcing reflection and planning is such a compassionate act. It’s a reminder that life unfolds in the everyday moments, not just the big milestones. Thank you for sharing this thoughtful shift in approach—it resonates deeply. 💛

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Jay, thanks! I’m so grateful for your perspective! 🩵 It’s amazing how we can find ways to be self-compassionate in all of our choices, as long as we’re tuned into what we need in that moment.

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Lori, thank you for engaging with this. It is really appreciated and expands my own perception of it. We can find many way, as long as we’re aware of it. How we interact, speak, listen, and touch—both with ourselves and others—shapes so much. Being mindful of which thoughts to follow and which to let go, while recognizing how external systemic influences have shaped our approach, can truly transform the way we navigate all choices and that we actually have them at all.

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This feels like such a fruitful discussion, Jay, so thank you for engaging, too! I agree, it is our awareness that helps us recognize and respond out of freedom. The external systemic influences still have their power, but I like to think that I’m operating so low to the ground that those influences hardly reach me, like rain that mainly evaporates before it falls all the way to earth.

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Lori, your decision to suspend your annual reflection and planning process is a refreshing reminder that rest is not a luxury but a necessity. It's a time for our minds and bodies to recharge, integrate new experiences, and prepare for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.

Your description of stirring a pot of soup, listening to the birds, and watching them fluff up to fend off the cold is a beautiful example of how we can find joy and meaning in the simple moments of our lives. It reminds us that we don't need to constantly strive or produce in order to be valuable or worthy.

Thank you for sharing 🩵

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Alex, thank you for your response! I’m prone to constantly striving, so it is not easy for me to let go of that conditioning and slow down, being present in each moment. But you’re right, it is a necessity and can lend so much potential to our lives. I appreciate you affirming these choices! 🩵

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Lori, This is so wise. You're right, planning will happen when it happens and that will be the perfect moment.

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Absolutely, Sandra! It’s an act of trust for me to let go of my preoccupation with the timing of it all, but I think it’s worth it. At the very least, I can say that I’m enjoying the other choices I’m making, whereas pushing myself to stick to my schedule was not enjoyable or adding to my life. I’ll take that as a sign to allow myself to make the change. 💚

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