right on time (1.28.25)
Here we are. The last week of January.
How is it possible that January is both the blink of an eye, and a hundred years long?
This year especially was an eventful start to the year.
One that has us all grappling with big questions around “How can we best show up in the world to support the larger community? Who are we in relationship to each other? What is our individual and collective role in preserving the planet, our inner and worldwide peace? How can our small, daily actions promote healing rather than harm?”
At least, I hope we are grappling with these questions.
I trust that if you are here, you are working through things too - how to balance your work and family? How to support yourself through intentional self care so you can sustainably be of service to others in your immediate community and through your gifts to the world?
It’s big stuff.
And also, sometimes the actions themselves are small. Taking a deep breath before responding. Pausing to consider the impact of your words before speaking them. Choosing to support someone who speaks messages of truth and love rather than division and fear.
Because 2025 has barreled in with such force, I’m curious what that has meant for you on an individual level.
Your wellbeing, your goals and intentions for the year. Your heart.
Did you create a vision for this upcoming year? Either in a workshop with me, or with friends, or is it still on your to do list?
If so, how are they going?
It is so common to ride the wave of “fresh start” energy, and then find ourselves swept up in the busyness of life. Either by our own life events and dramas and excitement, or by big climate disasters, or events happening on the world stage.
A feeling I find creeping up often is urgency. “I need to get all the things I want to accomplish in 2025 done by the end of January!!!!”
Have you ever felt like that?
Because I have done a lot of visioning for the upcoming year…I can REALLY see it. I can see the publication of the book, the fall coaching clients, the summer adventures. Which is great. But then this whirlwind of urgency builds up inside me and wants to accomplish all of those things on a Tuesday night at 9:00pm.
Nope. Not going to happen.
Which is why I love intentions.
Goals are the destination, but intentions are how we want to show up along the way.
I do NOT want to show up with so much urgency. I am actively practicing to live a life with more perspective, less hustle.
When I remember that my intention for this year is easeful expansion, I take a deep breath. I put the word easeful there on purpose, because this is my challenge. To stay here. To be in the work and life and joy of the last week of January. To remember that it’s OK if I prioritize going to sleep by 9:30. It’s OK to spend 20 minutes reading before I fall asleep.
I am not behind.
I do not need to finish the entire project in this one sitting.
It’s ok to take my time.
Everything is right on time. I am - and you are - not running late.
One sweet mini goal I have for the year is to create a little independent reading ritual with Gabby and I. I want to build up to cozy afternoons in coffee shops, both of us lost in the love of literacy. I can see this future version of us. I know that we have to start small, and I want to do just 10 minutes - her exploring and reading her books, and me enjoying mine, side by side.
I thought I would start this in January, but turns out, I have not.
As I check in with my priority plan for Jan- Mar, this is one goal that I’m moving.
And you know what? I’m actually moving it all the way to August to coincide with the start of Kindergarten. I have so many new things on my plate right now - it is ok for me to move this.
Just writing this makes me take a deep sigh of relief. And when I check in with the most compassionate version of myself, she says “yeah! Move it to August! Smart decision Jess!”
She’s so kind. 🙂
I love to check in with my priority plan weekly - to get the little dopamine rush of highlighting things green that are right on track. And as I did that, here at the end of January, I see how many things are in motion.
Here's what feels right on time so far:
I am supporting my clients to set their goals for the year ahead, (or for many of them the second half of the school year).
I’m loving up my It’s All Connected community as we head into the second half of our year together
I am revising my book which is daunting and healing and exhilarating
I’m starting (very) small with adding more strength training into my movement routines.
I am continuing to offer spaces to build community for mamas who are local and new moms virtually
I am prioritizing rest and reading two lovely books: Wintering, and The Untethered Soul
I fully enjoyed visiting my bestie and her family in Dallas.
I was a guest on a podcast for the first time!
Here’s what I said no (or not right now) to so far this month for a variety of reasons:
TV before bed this past and current week (I had to finish “Shrinking” first, duh…so good!)
Book club this month
Pushed the start date from Feb to June on a particular consulting project
Moved “reading with Gabby” from Jan to Aug
Here’s one big way I asked for help:
Hired a friend to support some upcoming projects and this is SAVING me!
What about you?
If you pause and reflect on the month…
1. What feels right on time?
2. What might benefit from an infusion of fresh energy?
3. What needs to be moved until a later time when it’s more aligned? Or made smaller? Or cut completely?
