Happy Monday, friends.
I had one soul-filling weekend. On Saturday, we celebrated the last “Huntington in the Streets” Music Festival. It was a community collaboration between five amazing people, and I’m so grateful to be part of the team. I didn’t grow up in a town that had a main street like Huntington or a community feeling, so to live and work in a town like this has changed me in all the best ways. It’s comforting to feel “home”.
We also got a kitchen table!
It is absolutely perfect for our space and I cannot wait to gather there.
With Labor Day this weekend, I’ve been thinking about how “August” is always the end marker. Summer is the only season that has “Holidays” celebrating its’ beginning and end, making the season more poignant. Over the last thirteen weeks, I’ve experienced a lot, all while removing layers to find the blocks that have held me back. Growth is a cycle of leveling up, and here’s what I learned this summer.
Move your body in the morning, and feel energized the whole day.
Creating that commitment to yourself is the best promise you can make. It doesn’t have to be a soul-crushing, three-hour gym session either. It can be a walk or a yoga session. There is so much clarity from the world during those quiet hours before everyone wakes up, use it to your advantage.
Let go of the expectations of others, and set expectations for yourself.
If you’re a people pleaser, ask yourself “why?”. As a recovering people pleaser, I was asked “why” I sought the approval of others so tenaciously and it was the best question. When we aim to be liked or to fit in, we tend to put our own priorities on the back burner. This season has put a spotlight on how often I went out of my way for some people, only to not receive that energy back. It’s a hard pill to swallow, but once you do, it’s liberating. You don’t need to be the person who is always available or “there” to be valued. You don’t need to be the person who holds back their opinion to be liked.
Going into the Fall, I hope you find the courage to let go of your expectations of others and begin setting boundaries that allow you to meet your needs. You can only control yourself, and the ones that matter will adore you more when you find your power. Prioritize yourself, find your confidence, and allow the rest to fall in place.
When you build a glass house, you tend to shatter it yourself.
At some point, we are all “the pot and we’re calling the kettle black”, or the person inside the glass house. We’re human, and we’re all struggling with something we don’t want to share. Unfortunately, when we hide our struggles for too long, we become projectors- using others to distract from ourselves. We put ourselves in a glass house, but what we forget is that it’s our actions while we’re hiding behind glass walls, that end up throwing the rocks that make it shatter. This season, accept that it’s okay to be vulnerable and build brick by brick. It’s better to have a sturdy foundation of authenticity than to constantly be wondering who’s watching.
Plant Seeds, You Don’t Know When They’ll Grow.
It’s no secret that I love the idea of the “Season” of life, and in this season, I have seen so many budding seeds turn to full bloom. Ideas I had years ago coming back in a new and beautiful way. Friendships that were dormant are once again vibrant. Projects at work that seemed impossible are now primed to become annuals. “Things” don’t have to be “done all at once”- you can have a variety in your garden of life, and allow them to bloom when they’re ready. As long as you take care of that garden, of course.
The commonality of this season is simple: Prioritize yourself. The lessons are little ways to help you get there. None of this is easy, and that’s what makes it worth it.
JOURNAL PROMPT OF THE WEEK
“I feel my best when…….”
Girl, is your battery drained? Do you need a recharge? Are you questioning some things? Take 30 minutes and think of the moments you’ve felt your best. Not a happy memory, but a moment where you felt your BIG::insert name:: ENERGY. You felt your most Beyoncé, you were in your ERA.
What are the things that helped you stay energized when life has a way of sucking you dry?
For me, my daily rejuvenation comes from an early morning gym session, journaling, and doing something creative. I’m currently into Polymer Clay and want to learn to make little statues. Other days, that creative fuel is cooking, and other’s it’s writing or going on a photo walk. You can love multiple things, right?
As always, I’m grateful you’re here. I know I haven’t posted too many Salts this month- I’ve been using my recipe time to build out some projects, and have been cooking food that’s familiar. I’m hopeful to fix that this week.
I’ll see you Thursday, friends. Or, maybe not. And, if it’s not- enjoy Labor Day.