I am so with you! I have been easing my way into this year, bit by bit. And, like you, rather than setting any specific (rigid/limiting) goals, I have identified my priorities so that I can be intentional and make choices and decisions that align with these values of mine.
I absolutely love what you said about the race. I find myself at times racing, rushing. Getting caught up in the "busyness". Racing to a destination unknown. Going to remember those wonderful words about the prep.
I like the way you said it: "forced expectations". I realized i used to admire (and i used to be in some kind of fascination mode) people who were not able to pause - always busy, never 100% in one conversation because they were "successful" in my mind. Now i admire people who take their time and are able to engage in conversations while actually being there. Thank you for reminding me that with your essay!
I totally relate to admiring people who were always busy. I used to think anyone who didn't do that was not ambitious or lazy... I no longer hold that view! It's funny how our admiration adjusts as we grow and learn and reprioritize our own values.
Rest, grounding and regulation are huge achievements. Entering into the New Year has always felt really overwhelming to me. But this year, it just feels different. I made no yearly resolutions, instead wrote down a few things that I would like to prioritise (rest being the top one).
We can take extended weekends off of want to. We can slow down right here if we want to. I have learned that taking care of yourself in no way makes you less ambitious.
YES YES YES!!! They are achievements, it just takes our willingness and shifting of priorities to see them as such. I also love the point about how we can do whatever we need to do NOW, instead of waiting six months to take that time off or catch up on sleep. Taking care of ourselves will come with a cost but so will not taking care of ourselves!
I think if we keep waiting for one day where we will stop the chase and start enjoying, it’s never gonna come. Most of us know that we just don’t accept it!!
Yes to moseying into years! Every year I feel that urge to sprint, and recent years it's been more of a mosey. Katherine May's book, Wintering, has been a great inspiration for living more slowly in winter.
I am so with you! I have been easing my way into this year, bit by bit. And, like you, rather than setting any specific (rigid/limiting) goals, I have identified my priorities so that I can be intentional and make choices and decisions that align with these values of mine.
I did the same! It’s so freeing not to have yearly regulations that we’ll probably forget about two months into the new year
Absolutely. I think it's only within freedom that we can create and express authentically!
Love this!! It's truly about alignment and shifting through life according to that alignment rather than treating ourselves as a DIY project.
I absolutely love what you said about the race. I find myself at times racing, rushing. Getting caught up in the "busyness". Racing to a destination unknown. Going to remember those wonderful words about the prep.
I am so glad it resonates!! I think we need to slow down or we will miss our lives.
I like the way you said it: "forced expectations". I realized i used to admire (and i used to be in some kind of fascination mode) people who were not able to pause - always busy, never 100% in one conversation because they were "successful" in my mind. Now i admire people who take their time and are able to engage in conversations while actually being there. Thank you for reminding me that with your essay!
I totally relate to admiring people who were always busy. I used to think anyone who didn't do that was not ambitious or lazy... I no longer hold that view! It's funny how our admiration adjusts as we grow and learn and reprioritize our own values.
Hello! Here to represent Millennial Melbourne, glad I found your substack!
Welcome!! Happy to have you. I was just in Melbourne last weekend!
Rest, grounding and regulation are huge achievements. Entering into the New Year has always felt really overwhelming to me. But this year, it just feels different. I made no yearly resolutions, instead wrote down a few things that I would like to prioritise (rest being the top one).
We can take extended weekends off of want to. We can slow down right here if we want to. I have learned that taking care of yourself in no way makes you less ambitious.
YES YES YES!!! They are achievements, it just takes our willingness and shifting of priorities to see them as such. I also love the point about how we can do whatever we need to do NOW, instead of waiting six months to take that time off or catch up on sleep. Taking care of ourselves will come with a cost but so will not taking care of ourselves!
I think if we keep waiting for one day where we will stop the chase and start enjoying, it’s never gonna come. Most of us know that we just don’t accept it!!
Absolutely!
I really enjoyed this! I am embracing slow living this year, so it's fitting that I'm starting the year by taking my time.
I love that!!! Good luck!
Love this! I have been a very competitive “go hard or go home” person, I think sports influenced that.
I have been practicing being more gentle and nurturing to myself. I needed to read this today, thank you!
I am so glad it's resonating. I am also a very "give 100% of yourself a 100% of the time" kind of person. But am learning to change that–more balance!
Yes to moseying into years! Every year I feel that urge to sprint, and recent years it's been more of a mosey. Katherine May's book, Wintering, has been a great inspiration for living more slowly in winter.
Loved the sentiment here.
Yes to moseying! oh, I'll have to check out the book! Thanks!