All in Lifestyle
We made it through April. Just barely. Tender and tired, full of contentment and clarity, blooming in places I didn’t expect and grieving things I thought were already laid to rest.
This week was a slow exhale. A check-in with my soil. A reminder that sometimes, the only thing to do is water the good, sit with the sorrow, and trust that something beautiful is on the way.
I’ve always known I wasn’t meant to stay in one place.
Even when I didn’t fully understand it, I’ve felt that pull to wander freely, the call to live simply, and breathe easefully. And with less than a week until my birthday, I’m finally giving myself the gift I’ve dreamed of since I was a teenager: permission to imagine and create a different life.
Whew—April came in swinging. Somewhere between the storms and the sunshine, I find myself swimming in the full range of my feelings leading up to my 35th birthday: the joy, the weirdness, the unexpected nostalgia, and a few blues too.
So I’ve officially returned to the world... ish. I’m not exactly sprinting into the season, but I’m definitely poking my head out of my cozy little cocoon with increasing curiosity. There’s sunlight in the mornings, more birdsong than I know what to do with, and this weird urge to dance around the house like I'm in a coming-of-age indie film.
Let’s be honest—spring doesn’t just show up like “BOOM! Blossoms and butterflies!” It’s more like: a thunderstorm one day, summer weather the next, and existential dread sprinkled throughout. Coming back after hibernation feels a lot like that too.
In a world that glorifies hustle and productivity, it can feel counterintuitive to embrace rest as an essential part of your success and well-being. Yet, Mother Nature provides us with an important reminder: some of the most resilient creatures thrive (surviving implied) by slowing down, retreating, and conserving their energy through hibernation.
Now is the season to fully commit to our individual healing, liberating ourselves collectively, and living in our natural state globally. Rest is our pathway in the physical, dreams are our gateway in the spiritual, and our mental health reflects our current state of well-being.
The winter holiday season is a time of celebration, connection, and joy—but it can also be a challenging period for those navigating grief, mental anguish, recovery, or substance dependence. So, whether you're committed to sobriety, exploring plant-based living, or seeking alternative supports for your mental health, there’s something empowering about embracing the healing properties of plants during this time of year.
The stories I’ve heard from others dealing with this, similar conditions, or other chronic illnesses have broken my heart yet inspired me to continue to use my platform and my voice to advocate for myself, others like me, and the necessity of rest and equitable healthcare.
