If your time was all your own, what would you do with it?

It’s harder to figure out than you’d think.

Jul 01, 2024

You may have noticed that I have not been posting very regularly. Where have I been, and why the break?

The truth is I have been finding it very challenging to maintain momentum and motivation now that my time is almost entirely my own. With my kids out of the house and getting on with their young adult lives, and me no longer having the constraints of a full-time job, I felt so discombobulated and kind of rudderless. I had been making progress, starting to build my coaching practice and this newsletter, but then I hit a wall. All that possibility and freedom also meant great uncertainty and instability. My nervous system wasn’t wired for that, and I started feeling uncomfortably stressed, overwhelmed, and anxious. I needed to step back and find a way to have more peace on the journey.

First, I talked to some great women to see how they found their way:

Chef and café owner Beth Yohannes reminded me about the magic and power of intuition.
Lenore Baker, co-owner of a yoga, Pilates, and strength training studio, highlighted the value of community and why it’s much easier do hard things when you don’t go it alone.
Massage therapist Nikki Pitman inspired me with her ability to survive and then thrive when her original career and life plans fell through, and she had to start over.
And Rita Pin Ahrens, who now owns a toy store, talked about doing what you love, staying true to your values, and pivoting when things don’t feel right.

I learned so much from these women. I hope you did, too.

Then, I took some time to have a big adventure. I went to New Zealand and lived out of a van for three weeks with my daughter! It was awesome, and beautiful, and a whole lot of fun. It gave me some much-needed fresh perspectives and new creative energy to draw from.

Me at the southernmost point of New Zealand

Now I’m back and writing, teaching, and coaching again. I’m continuing to follow my curiosity, and I hope you’ll stay with me and invite some of your friends along.

In the coming weeks, I’ll tell you more about my trip and share some other things I am thinking about. I aim to keep asking questions and exploring until I find answers that make sense or inspire me in some way. I will also post practices for you to try if you dare, and come up with new ways for us to join in community. If you have a question or an idea you’d like to share, I’d love to hear it.

Until then, thanks for your support!

Dani

Curious Mind, Open Heart

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