Bon Voyage Through August!

A time to reflect.

Hello, hello!

Happy Summer to those of you in the Northern hemisphere!

I have been ducking in and out of writing here as I continue to waltz with my inner dialogue. What is A Life Considered to be? What’s working and what is missing the mark? What topics do I want to dive into? What do you want? Who am I writing for? etc.

Before motherhood, I was primarily perceived and I identified (still do) as a businessperson and an entrepreneur which means I am undaunted by throwing my hat into the ring trying something new. I am not risk adverse and I believe in my agency to succeed. I am passionate and when I start a venture, I have a point of view typically based on specialized knowledge and experience I have accumulated.

Fundamentally I believe in the importance and value of exploration. Exploration of all kinds such as thoughts and ideas; hypotheses and philosophies; points of views; science and culture. Exploration to find our truth, our path, our calling. To find what works and what does not work and why. I love to understand deeply. And to truly do just that — understand deeply — one must be open. Open to our intuition; open to the universe’s knowing; open to reflection; open to digging deeper; open to the discomfort of uncertainty; open to dialogue; open to considering the insights of those who have a differing perspective from our own, to the insights of the people we trust, and to others still yet. Curiosity being at the heart.

I am so grateful for the time you have shared with me by responding to my survey. Time = Love. And I feel very loved and supported. Thank you. I have appreciated learning what has been working and what tweaks I can make that would make A Life Considered a more valuable and worthwhile addition to your one wild, precious, and very full life. And if you have not yet participated in the survey, you still can anonymously here. It will literally take just a minute or two. I value your input.

One piece of insight I received from a colleague who has known me personally and professionally for 15 years is this:

“You are holding back. All my favorite writers make me FEEL. I walk away shocked, or in love, or devastated, or wanting to be a better person. That all comes from the writer leaving it out on the page. I know you and I know how intersting your life has been. So write about it and don’t worry what the reader thinks about you. Write for you, and the readers who are meant to find you will.”

In my old consulting days, this is what is known as a “high level” comment because it caused the recipient, in this case myself, to truly pause, reflect, and think. Her perspective has ever so lightly, yet hauntingly, been lingering in my consciousness. As have insightfully valuable perspectives others too have shared with me.

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I read recently, that when receiving feedback, initially assume the input is in fact correct and do your analysis from that perspective. Too often we get defensive and attached to our narrative, foregoing the potential benefit of growth. The antidote is to first assume that there is truth to the feedback and then assess. We can always discount it partially or fully after we reflect, seek further information, etc.

I had not thought I was holding back, but after reflection, in part, there is truth to her assessment. With each essay I have been putting to page a compilation of my thoughts to be considered, even scrutinized, accepted or rejected with the intention of sharing life lessons and insights that hopefully would benefit you in your travels. This is new terrain for me because I typically keep my knowledge, personal thoughts, and opinions pretty close to the vest. Even when I am highly educated in the field, topic or space I generally don’t find it worthwhile to step into the fray of debate unless I have been directly asked for my thoughts. It is also unfamiliar to me to release a piece of thinking at a moment in time to an audience void of real time discourse. Lastly, I have been trying to walk the line of putting forth my thoughts in the vein of common humanity making it about us, not me. And this last point perhaps is what my friend called me out on.

To that end, I continue to unearth my voice — my full voice. To write without worrying. To leave more of me on the page. To share what I know despite acutely understanding that what I think I know — what any of us knows — has its limitations. It is incomplete, a snapshot, a human point of view based on my life’s experiences and wisdom. Moving from the safe and intellectual to the more vulnerable realm of feeling. Trusting. Having faith. “You will be caught and if you fall you will learn, grow, and get back up. Fall seven, rise eight.” Exactly as I teach my beloved M & B.

七転び八起き
Nana korobi ya oki
seven falls, eight getting up ~ Japanese Proverb

It has been incredibly rewarding and purposeful for me to be putting myself out there. To be in the arena as Teddy Roosevelt so powerfully evoked us to do. It has been a very long time since I’ve ventured “out into the world”. While I am just starting out, and my space here is but a spec, I force myself to not diminish what I am creating here with you, but to instead celebrate that I am in the arena. So thank you for your partnership as a valued reader and supporter.

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A few housekeeping notes…A Life Considered is on summer holiday through the end of August. Not only have I been, and will I continue to be, traveling for most of the summer, but I will also be getting my son settled into a new school as he takes the leap to 7th grade. I will be writing, reading, and photographing along the way. Be on the look out for some photojournalistic inspiration from Southeast Asia and Europe.

When I return, A Life Considered will publish one time per week on Sundays and the content will usually, but not always, skew to four to seven minutes of reading time, per the majority of feedback from your survey results. I will also begin giving you a peak into my own personal “Little Black Book” which houses my favourite finds and noteworthy treasures.

In the meantime, cheers to pool parties, picnics in the park, frolicking in the surf, leisurely reads, adventurous travels, and joyous times with friends and family in these months of longer days and lingering golden hours!

xoxo ~ WRW