thoughts from this week
a smattering of thoughts, ideas, and resources
I just returned from a week-long mindfulness and meditation retreat in Costa Rica. It was a week of quiet and slowness, nearly zero technology and meaningful connection within my community. I feel so lucky I got to step away (in the warmth) from the hustle of my daily life to take a beat and examine some personal themes with care and intention. (Shout out to my beloved for holding down the fort all week with 3 kids and nothing but words of support for this endeavor!)
I haven’t had a chance to process or synthesize everything from the last week; I did come home and immediately jumped back into the grind of kids and home and work. I feel a little like a chicken with my head cut off, and I think, for the first time, really noticing how fast I’m expected to move and function in the life I’ve created for myself. (Really putting my juggling, to work — a lot of cotton balls on the floor, over here at the moment.)
This week’s newsletter is a bit of a mish mosh (which probably mirrors my brain at the moment)— some ideas and topics that came up during my retreat, but also topics that have come up with clients this week and/or in my personal life. I hope it feels helpful to you!
As always, thank you for reading along.
The retreat was an intergenerational group of 25 people - some with young kids, some with teenagers, some new empty nesters, some grandparents. It was amazing to spend time in such an intimate setting hearing about the different themes and challenges that can come with each new chapter of being.
Each one of us was holding something, processing, grieving — each one of us exploring the absolute awe and wreckage of being humans in this world.
I feel so grateful to sit in spaces with that kind of wisdom, and to continue to learn from people who have lived through the chapters I’m living, but who are modeling an intentional, thoughtful and beautiful approach to parenting, relationships and aging.
Currently feeling deep value in intergenerational spaces and friendships.
Thinking a lot about how to show up for our kids - especially if the way they need us to show up isn’t intuitive. I have one child whose needs and inner world are so similar to my own, engaging with her can feel so seamless. And, I have another child whose inner world and temperament, likes & dislikes, energy - feel very different from my own. It feels harder to connect sometimes, and being around her is both an exercise in absolute wonder (how did I make this miraculous human being??) and befuddlement (how did I make this miraculous human being??)
I spent a lot of time this week reflecting on how my parenting needs to look different for each of my kids, and the immense intention, energy, and care that I want to put into supporting all of them — especially when it doesn’t feel intuitive. For my child, this means leaning into more play, more imagination, more presence. Less expectation, less structure (oof, this is a hard one).
Giving myself permission to continue being curious and non judgmental as I explore and navigate my individual relationships - the joys and challenges - with each of my kids.
[Thinking about a newsletter on this topic specifically; sharing and exploring the research/writings on “goodness of fit” and temperament between parent and child. Would this be helpful/interesting?]
After this week - I am feeling compelled to reengage with a mindfulness practice - I remember listening to Tara Brach’s podcast in the early days of the pandemic in 2020 and clinging onto her words & her voice during my darkest moments of uncertainty and anxiety.
I am feeling excited to dip my toe back into that space - you can join me and check out her podcast here. Her book, Radical Acceptance was absolutely transformative and is still one that I am continuously recommending to both friends and clients.
Do you have any mindfulness podcasts or practices you recommend?
As always, thank you for reading. See you next week :)
with gratitude,
Sasha