Reflections on birthdays and big (little) next steps - and a new membership
small brave thing #239
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Hello beautiful human,
It’s the second day of my birthday month. The first day I played hooky with the younger.
It was a first birthday gift to myself. I realize this summer I need to remember how to have fun again. Life has gotten heavy. Maybe for you too? Remembering — or discovering— how to have fun means, I need to ask myself all over again, What would feel like fun for me now?
(Public service announcement: Fun is not “extra” or only for weekends or vacations. Fun is not obscene in a fascist climate—it’s resistance. Fun and play are how we grow, grow radical, imagine new, and meet next. But don’t take it from me. Read what visionary Rob Brezsny has to write. Link below.)
Some days I don’t have an answer. Yesterday it was a trip to Cedarburg, Wisconsin to visit shops and galleries, enjoy delicious food, and have many rolling miles of Wisconsin landscape to cover in the Chariot, aka, my beloved Honda minivan. (I live in a beautiful state. Also, car trips are great for good conversations.)
I very much plan to shower myself with self-love and celebration this month. (And may I model for you, dear reader, so that you also shower yourself with self-love and celebration during the month of your choice. And if you choose July—or the leonine month of August—that would make me very happy. Please share!)
On the evening of June 30 I posted this selfie to social media.
If you’ve been with me here for any amount of time, you know I’ve been putting myself back together piece by piece after a whole series of midlife meanderings and disasters. I’ve used this Space for my own purposes: more or less hiding for a while and grieving what needed to be grieved, raging at what needed rage, and generally taking care of my hurting self. Now I’m very much ready to emerge.
Today’s gift to myself is turning payments back on for An Inviting Space.
Oooh, but what does that mean for you?
I’m so glad you asked.
The short answer, I get to play and be imperfect and so do you- Yay!!
An Inviting Space has always been designed to hold and host community. Yes, this includes you reading this in the corners and stolen moments of your day. (I’m so, so grateful for your time and your attention and your listening soul. You cannot know how very much it has meant to me—and means to me even in this moment as I type this—and will always mean to me—to know that you are just on the other side of the screen, receiving this voice and making time for me. Thank you, from my heart and dancing fingertips)
And now there is a Circle you can join.
A Circle. A place to gather. A place to share. To witness and hear each other as we try to stay human—to deepen into our experiences once again and remember what that means—in this inhumane time.
The Circle will grow. To begin, Circle members will be invited to:
Monday Morning Weavery to start the week with intention, design, and a bit of wild wonder.
Wednesday at the Well, a mid-day, mid-week dip for those of us who want to grow—or come back to—our juicy creative selves.
There’s more to come…I imagine offerings for New Stories, Accolades, a series of guests and visitors, and a project dear to my heart, a writing workshop that turns the workshop model inside out, upside down and does it all differently.
You’ll hear all about these developments as they…develop.
This is a soft launch, a slow bloom.
And this week only, you can join the Circle for $65 for the entire year. The really magical thing about this offer…if you join this week it will stay just that price for as long as you’re enrolled. On Sunday the price will go up. Gradually, loves, in gentle small steps, but up it will go.
With twinkle, sparkle, and a heap of cheer,
xo
S
I believe our world needs new stories. what if those stories lie curled within us like seeds? This is An Inviting Space to experience where and how we might discover, recover and nurture the secret, magical gardens of soul day by day. Starting where we are, as we are.
A Celebration Corner for sharing the Good Goodies
I haven’t even had time to make the lovely images I want to from the comments shared after my listening circles. But here are the voices…if you’re wondering about joining The Circle, maybe read these voices and imagine the power of being held in circle with others, even semi-regularly.
“Listening with all my senses brings us all together.”
“Grateful for this space to meet others and connect meaningfully.”
“Such a beautiful offering.”
“Thank you so much I so appreciated the openness and sharing of my circle companions.”
“I felt very moved. Bowing in gratitude.”
“This was exactly what I didn’t know I needed to “prep” myself for Next.”
“A key takeaway…the view outside of myself that resonates leads me to a deeper wisdom that is liberating and holds the power to create a new view.”
“I take away the importance of connection.”
“So grateful for the opportunity to be together and for the openness of spirit.”
“It was a real gift to myself to make the time to be with you all today.”
“This was lovely! What you brought into this circle in one hour was enlightening and rejuvenating! Thank you!”
“Thank you Sarah for making the space for us to gather together and share with each other.”
Last night I stayed up way too late and watched this magical movie.
Rob Brezsny on the importance of play.
Your support is welcome, and your attention and time are true gifts. Thank you.
