Do you ever hear people say, “It’s just a season? "I think about when my boys were toddlers. They used to bite, throw peas across the kitchen floor, and wet their beds. Back then, the idea that this was “just a season” felt almost laughable. I was just trying to survive the day. Get them outside. Get them to sleep through the night. Repeat. And then somehow, they grew up. They stop biting. They stop flinging food. They stop wetting the bed. And suddenly, what you once longed to be over… is over. Next, you can’t imagine not hearing their footsteps on the wood floors or wrapping them in a hug before bed. That, too, was a season. One I miss more than I expected.
Lately, I’ve been sitting with the truth that life itself is made up of seasons, and I'm in "one." It's been stormy around here lately. Some of my closest friends are really sick. My parents are in and out of the hospital. I know way too much about the heart valves and wound care and the ground feels like tiny earthquakes all day long. It hasn’t been easy. This is what life asks of us…to tend to our own well-being in the midst of the unknown. And chances are, you’re walking through your own hard season too. I know, I talk to people for a living. And if you’re not in "one" now, you have been in the past, because diamonds are made from pressure, and you my friend are a precious shiny gem!
So what do we do when we’re swirling in the tornado, trying to find dry land and stop the shaking? Well, there’s quotes to cling to like, “this too will pass.” And affirmations to repeat like, “everything is happening for my highest good.” No self-help toolbelt can be too heavy. Not all wrenches work in all circumstances. So I’m going to share a few things that have been helping me lately. What I love about them is that there’s no barrier to entry. You can do them in your robe.
Things You Can Do in your Robe
1. Writing-Letting the good, the bad, and the messy spill onto paper has been a lifeline. I’ve developed a method that helps me move through what’s on my mind with more ease. It brings relief. It brings clarity. It opens me up to new possibilities and perspectives. Sometimes, even talking to friends can feel like too much. But writing can help lighten the load, soften the noise inside, and eventually reconnect from a calmer place. The beauty is that you can do it anywhere, anytime.
2. Tiny Joys-I planted a garden. Every day, I looked forward to something small. Sipping tea while checking on seedlings. Staking a wobbly tomato branch. Picking a slimy green worm off a cucumber leaf. Sometimes I’d just sit and admire the shapes of the leaves, the mosaic pattern on their underbellies. The sheer aliveness of it all, and I entered a quiet calm. The garden became a daily whisper of joy, small and steady and grounding. Go get your hands dirty!
3. Trust-Trust that this is a season. Trust that even in the difficulty, there’s something to be learned. Trust that something beautiful will emerge on the other side. Trust takes courage. It takes being ok with the unknown. Take a deep breath, stop trying to figure it all out, and say, "I Trust."
4. Lean in-Resistance to what is… is the root of suffering. When I stopped needing things to be different, something shifted. I gave myself permission to feel low. To cry. To curl up. And eventually, those feelings moved through. When we resist what we feel, we get stuck. When we allow it, we soften and flow again. Give yourself a time frame each day to just wallow in it and then go find yourself one tiny joy.
I went to my energy healer a few weeks ago and she said, "you have butterflies all around you” and then she said, “what is it with you and writing, there’s something big coming!” She was right! I am creating a new community for you. It’s not just for writers, it’s for people who want to feel more alive, more clear, expressive, creative, connected and honest. It’s expansive, heart warming, and of course fun! This is my diamond!
It is my intention to create spaces for women to feel more empowered and connected. I believe that authenticity, vulnerability and creativity help build connection. The number one comment from women who have participating in my communities is the feeling of belonging they received. I don't want you to feel surprised that others are going through what you are going through. We are all having a human experience. Let's make art and friendships out of it! Let's make poetry out of pain! Let's let our voices be shared and heard!
Love, Light and Laughs,
Jen Adams Certified Life Coach, Writer and Poet