Hey Reader,
Truly can't believe it's already October 15th. I've been writing this email to you in small moments over the past 2 weeks as I deal with a histamine flare and intense allergies, limiting my screen time to what my eyes will allow me to work with.
It's been a "fun" lesson and reminder that my body doesn't always work at the pace of my mind and that steadiness and connection often matter a whole lot more than a machine-like consistency, even if that's what we've been taught matters most.
Something I'm in continual practice with is being with multiple truths and feelings at once. The reality of what my body has been experiencing requires a lot of rest, darkness, and slowing way down. The desire in my heart and the plans in my mind want to move fast, transmute energy, create and share. I've been both frustrated and appreciative at the exact same time.
With all of this, I'm being reminded that autumn is a natural time of slowing down, taking stock, and paying attention to what nourishes me and what drains me on every level. And remembering even more deeply that something that nourishes me one day might not be what will support me the next day.
In general, slowing down is a lot more about being in relationship with the present moment, giving myself enough time to take stock of what's actually here, than it is about having checklists or prescriptions for what I most need in any given moment, because *spoiler alert* I can't actually know that with 100% certainty ahead of time.
It's annoying, honestly. But even though my to-do list from the last week is looking almost as long as it did at the beginning of the week, and my body has been through it with everything going on, I feel the deeper steadiness of prioritizing what matters to me (including my health and well-being), and recognizing that all my plans will still happen - perhaps just in a slightly different timeline than originally decided.
I'm reminded of how I used to feel a decade ago when I would get sick or need to slow down. It felt like everything was falling apart, and that to slow down meant you would get stuck and everything would stagnate.
Sometimes it still feels that way to a lesser degree, but what I've learned over the years is that slowing down actually creates space to see everything that's going on not just in my mind but in my body and where my energy is going. When I can see, I can make decisions that are supportive and nourishing instead of reactive or driven by urgency and pressure.
The point of it all isn't to get rid of the pressure or the fear of stagnation, because they still show up and honestly trying to make them go away usually makes them more intense. A more steady path invites finding small, incremental ways to stay connected to myself when they do show up, so that I can make choices that include all of me.
Tree pose in yoga is one of my favorite reminders of this. While you may outwardly look quite "still", you're never stuck or frozen in place. There are always small movements and adjustments happening to help you stability and steady - your foot presses into the ground, your ankle makes tiny moves, your breath flows in and out. The stillness is created out of constant, subtle responsiveness.
That's the magic of slowing down - you aren't stuck or stopped in your tracks, but you're able to be aware of the small adjustments and choices needed to keep you rooted and connected.
Slow doesn't have to mean stagnant. Redirecting resources doesn't mean failure or quitting.
Sometimes redirection or slowing down is the steadiest, most trustworthy thing you can do for yourself, and it can help you remain rooted enough so that what you're building can grow in a way that lasts.
This is what I've been living, to the best of my ability.
And I'm so happy that, even with everything, a project of mine that's been a long time in the making is finally coming out into the world at the end of this month! I'm super excited to announce and share my new podcast, Vital Threads!
First 3 episodes drop on Monday, 10/26 with the full moon ππ₯π
Next week I'll share more about how slowing waaayyyyyyyyy down in the creative process allowed me to bring this to life in a way I'm really proud of. For now, you can check out the trailer on Spotify or Apple podcasts (more links and site coming soon!).
Love,
Kate
Reading, Watching, Listening from September:
πBooks:
Total Count: 16
βI'm back on audiobooks, which adds possibilities into my reading experiences!
Seasonally Entertaining: Maple Hollow Series- 1: Pumpkin Spice and Poltergeists, 2: Curses and Cold Brew, 3: Lycans and Lattes - I listened to all of these and they were short, fun blends of mystery and romance with a town full of supernatural beings. βοΈ3.75
Wanted to like it more than I did: Remain by Nicholas Sparks and M. NIght Shyamalan - Okay so I don't actually enjoy most things by either of these two creators (The Notebook? Puke. Anything after The Sixth Sense? No thanks), but I was intrigued by whatever they might do together. It was fine. Wildly predictable. I'm sure the movie will be mildly entertaining. βοΈ3.25
Still thinking about: Unapologetic Love Story by Elle McNicoll - It's rare to experience an autistic main character in a romance novel period, not to mention having their neurodivergence front and center in a way that actually feels real, complex, and engaging. The actual romance side of things was meh, but all the stars for a fabulous FMC. βοΈ4.25
Curious about all the books I've read? Follow me on The StoryGraph.
πΊ Shows + Movies:β
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ποΈπ©Ίπ Sullivans Crossing - Did I watch all 4 seasons in one week? Yes. Yes I did. Started it after my retreat as a way to rest and unwind, and ended up watching 40 episodes while I did housework, exercised, and crafted π I very much appreciate a gently dramatic small town romance / medical show where for the most part, everything works out. Also, Chad Michael Murray.
ποΈπ§©πββοΈ Survivor 51 - Always π
πΆπ§ Listening:
Mostly audiobooks!
The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy is an absolute delight to listen to - after my sister-in-law recommended it to me approximately 17 times I finally listened to it and found it wildly entertaining. It's a somewhat sassy and irreverent enemies-to-lovers fantasy with an element of mystery. Totally ridiculous. Highly recommend. 4.25/5βοΈ
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