a thawing out
spring on the horizon and a speedy soft 70
Last week felt like big time deja vu - a remembrance of why I started writing this newsletter in the first place. Did I read back the newsletter’s musings and feel disappointed with myself that I’ve made nearly zero progress in changing my outlook? That I was so swiftly gripped by rage despite feeling like I’m “doing the work?”
For a brief moment, yes. It’s hard not to read it back and feel echoes of my first newsletter. Though writing has been less about the outcome and more about the process. Otherwise the thoughts are just circling the drain of my frontal cortex with no where to go, trapped and knocking, begging for release.
I’ve expected this to be a journey, especially given the frequent exposure to high stress. The neural pathways are building, though only with slow and steady practice. I’ve always found the concept of neural plasticity fascinating, though more so in theory rather than practice.
Because this practice is effortful. And is a process.
I very much so feel that I am, and probably will always be, in process.
So this week, rather than making it so cerebral and heady and reflective, I’m going to try a variety of experiments: 7 days of active stress management practices. Essentially a little refresher as I’m coming up on a year (!!!) of this newsletter journey. Soft 70: speedy version.
It’s filled with ideas for self care, tried and true stress management techniques, as well as my reflection after each day and at the end of the week.
Spoiler alert: I ended up having a great week.
Let’s experiment!!
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