Planning for a pandemic winter, my accidental hiatus, and updates!

Hello!

I’m back after an unplanned September hiatus! Life became so full that blogging just wasn’t an option and I had to come to terms with the fact that sometimes you just can’t do everything. I have to admit that I miss the luxury of being able to sit down and write out my thoughts, focus on one thing at a time, and make plans for the future of my business. But I’m also truly living in the moment in ways I wasn’t able to access before Nico was born. I continue to try to remind myself that we are living in a pandemic and it’s not fair to expect ourselves to move through life as if it’s not happening. Hustle culture is real and as good as it feels to be productive (as a result of the way we’ve been socialized), productivity is not the end all be all for a life well-lived.

Over the past month, I’ve spent many hours napping with my now 8-month-old son (because he doesn’t love sleeping at night time!), preparing our home to go on the market, searching for a new home closer to Asheville that is more accommodating of our larger family, and soaking in the last of the warmer weather. Our current house is now under contract and we’ve found a new house that seems perfect for us. This time of year always brings lots of change, doesn’t it?

I have a couple things I want to share with you today. First, I want to talk a little bit about preparing for the change in seasons (for those of us who are heading into winter specifically). Many of my clients have expressed concerns about their mental health as we move toward colder, darker, shorter days. The winter season can be challenging in “normal” times, but the difference now is that we have less support, feel more isolated, and have fewer places to gather together and socialize safely. I also want to note that seasonal depression (as well as pandemic depression) is very real. Please don’t hesitate to seek out support.

I’m encouraging all of my clients to create a plan for this winter. What can you schedule to look forward to? How can you embrace the season so you can feel present for it instead of wishing it away? I’m following my own advice and doing the same because I am certain this winter will feel different than others. I discovered this article about ways to approach the upcoming winter and it’s been a good resource for me to check my own thinking about what wintertime means for me and how I sometimes limit my own experiences based on my mindset.

Our little family has committed to being outside this winter regardless of the weather. We are stocking up on warm-weather essentials so we can brave the cold and be comfortable taking walks around our neighborhood, hiking, and having socially distanced outdoor time with friends.

I also want to let you know about some exciting things coming up! Season 2 of the Here to Heal podcast is in the works (woo hoo!) and I am currently searching for folks who are open to being guests on the podcast. It’s incredibly important to me that we hear from people who may not otherwise have a platform to share their unique healing experiences, so I am hoping to hear from folks who are Black and Indigenous People of Color, queer, trans, and/or non-binary, disabled or neurodiverse. If you are interested or know someone who might be, please reach out to me! One of the things I loved most about Season 1 of the podcast was the richness of the stories shared and I can’t wait to dive in again for the next season.

Finally, I am looking forward to another round of Pay What You Please for my online courses! I heard lots of great feedback last year about the increased access provided by Pay What You Please and I am thrilled to offer it again this November. Stay tuned for an announcement about dates and specifics!

Thank you for taking the time to read. I am grateful for you!

Warmly,

Elizabeth