See it. Name it. Move through it.
This has been quite the year for all of us, and I'm wondering — how are you doing? Have you found a way through the unknown? The fear, sadness, anger, confusion, and reckoning that was 2020? While there were plenty of incredible, important moments, it was a wild roller coaster ride, for sure.
During this trying time our stress levels have ratcheted up. And for many of us, daily life was a challenge BEFORE 2020 came knocking. Our cups were already overflowing, and all of this was just enough extra to send it right over the edge. Personally, I had an ok year. It could have been much worse and I'm grateful for that, but I certainly felt the sadness and gravity of it many, many times. That feeling of being out of control...wondering how my son's senior year will play out, if my parents (and loved ones) will stay healthy, if I'll ever get to meet my friends for dinner again!
This last month I've hit some of my lowest moments. Being in my fifth decade has illuminated some things I'm now looking at dead on. Perimenopause, menopause, having teens that don't need as much of my time...all of it has come a-callin'. And it's no joke. This week I had the meltdown that has been waiting in the wings for a while now and it felt really stinkin' good. I took the time to see it and name it. The "IT" being all the feelings that come with where I'm at in this kind of "middle place" — the unknown of what's to come. And now I'm going to let the broken pieces fuel my fire. I really don't know what the next decade will bring, but as a teacher of mine said, "Sometimes we're being pushed away from something good, but really we're getting pushed to something better." RIGHT?
I'm trusting that my next few decades will be awesome. It won't be the same as it was when I was in my twenties or thirties, but my plan is to make it just as rewarding.
And, you know what I wish? I wish that people talked about middle-age more! To talk about what it's like to hit these middle years and give guidance on how to navigate them. I'm feeling passionate about this, and I'm planning something exciting in the next couple months with a good friend (and incredible coach and yoga teacher) to bring us together and connect over middle-age issues: what is perimenopause and menopause, and how to navigate through it with grace, ease, as few symptoms as possible, and a lot of laughter thrown in.
Raise your hands if you're feeling me!
After my meltdown I put on some music and created a Feel Good playlist that helped me get out of my head and into my body. I danced to an old favorite, Jamiroquai's "Canned Heat," and then just kept going. So I decided to share it with you today. Thirty minutes of feel-good, gotta dance music for YOU to dance to. I think there's something for everybody here.
There were definitely good times in 2020 that I'm so grateful for...I'm hoping you had some too, and that you see them, name them, and then write them down. Lock it in and keep on keeping on.
Happiest of happy New Years to you — bring on 2021!
Stephanie