It’s been nine months since I wrote anything here. Nine months - long enough to gestate a baby. Well, I don’t have a baby to show for it, but it’s been a period of growth for sure.
I think what started to gum up the works in terms of consistently writing had to do with being the parent of teenagers. Most of what was coming up for me last year had to do with my relationship with my kids. And it didn’t feel okay to work through my process of them and their stuff in such a public way.
My husband and I have done some things in the past six months that I’m pretty proud of. We sent our oldest off to college eight hours away, and she is thriving. We’ve invested time and money into self-care and home-care, so that we have some time to relax and enjoy ourselves and each other’s company on the weekends.
We moved mountains (only figuratively) to get all our ducks in a row, so that I could take our youngest back to France for six weeks of school. With changing requirements for entry, cancelled accommodations, a virus surge and a few bureaucratic hoops to jump through, it took a fair amount of determination and perseverance.
And now I’m here - in France! I have taken a six week sabbatical from my work. I have more time on my hands than I have had in twenty years. I’m trying to soak it all in - the freedom, the slow pace, the daily rituals that include bread, city streets and the Rhône river.
It’s an opportunity to practice presence - knowing I may spend an entire day with just myself for company. It’s an opportunity to practice flexibility - knowing my son’s class could be shut down at any point if one of his classmates (or he) tests positive for Covid. It’s an opportunity to practice acceptance - knowing that the university crowd that lives in our neighborhood keeps later hours than I’m used to.
It took me nine months, but I have finally arrived back here at the blog. Writing feels warmly familiar. And I’m happy for the journey that continues to unfold before me.
What has been germinating in you? How might you tend to it in this moment?
I think what started to gum up the works in terms of consistently writing had to do with being the parent of teenagers. Most of what was coming up for me last year had to do with my relationship with my kids. And it didn’t feel okay to work through my process of them and their stuff in such a public way.
My husband and I have done some things in the past six months that I’m pretty proud of. We sent our oldest off to college eight hours away, and she is thriving. We’ve invested time and money into self-care and home-care, so that we have some time to relax and enjoy ourselves and each other’s company on the weekends.
We moved mountains (only figuratively) to get all our ducks in a row, so that I could take our youngest back to France for six weeks of school. With changing requirements for entry, cancelled accommodations, a virus surge and a few bureaucratic hoops to jump through, it took a fair amount of determination and perseverance.
And now I’m here - in France! I have taken a six week sabbatical from my work. I have more time on my hands than I have had in twenty years. I’m trying to soak it all in - the freedom, the slow pace, the daily rituals that include bread, city streets and the Rhône river.
It’s an opportunity to practice presence - knowing I may spend an entire day with just myself for company. It’s an opportunity to practice flexibility - knowing my son’s class could be shut down at any point if one of his classmates (or he) tests positive for Covid. It’s an opportunity to practice acceptance - knowing that the university crowd that lives in our neighborhood keeps later hours than I’m used to.
It took me nine months, but I have finally arrived back here at the blog. Writing feels warmly familiar. And I’m happy for the journey that continues to unfold before me.
What has been germinating in you? How might you tend to it in this moment?
 | Jessica Curtis is a professional life coach who helps people cultivate intention and live from a place of meaning and authenticity. If you think you could benefit from working with Jessica or want to invite her to work with your group, reach out to start a conversation. |
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