May

Openings

As May draws to a close with its characteristic unpredictability in the weather, I find myself reflecting on the theme of openness. This month has felt suspended between seasons, much like our internal landscapes often hover between what was and what's becoming. There's something profound about learning to remain open during these transitional times.

As we reach the midpoint of the year, I'm struck by how this "in between" quality has woven through our recent months together—from January's invitation to lean into discomfort, February's forgiveness and letting go, through March's death-rebirth cycles, April's acceptance of what is, and now May's openness to what's emerging. We've been exploring the fertile ground of transition itself, discovering that growth happens not despite the uncomfortable in-between spaces, but because of them.

Openness requires a particular kind of courage—the willingness to remain receptive when we can't yet see the full picture, to stay available to possibility even when uncertainty feels uncomfortable.

What in your life is asking for greater openness from you?

I've been experiencing my own betwixt-and-between season lately. Some days feel like a continuation of winter's introspection, while others hint at spring's expansive energy. Rather than fighting this liminal space, I'm practicing staying open to whatever each day brings—recognizing that being caught between seasons, both literally and metaphorically, can be where the most interesting growth happens.

This openness isn't passive waiting; it's active receptivity. It's the difference between a closed door and an open window—one blocks, the other invites.

So, now ask yourself. Where can I practice greater openness?

Here are some ways to cultivate openness in your daily life:

• Soften your stance - Notice where you're rigid in your thinking or expectations, or somatically, and experiment with loosening your grip.

• Welcome uncertainty - Instead of rushing to fill the unknown with assumptions or activities, practice dwelling comfortably in "I don't know."

• Listen beyond words - Open to what's being communicated beneath the surface in your relationships.

• Embrace beginner's mind - Approach familiar situations with fresh curiosity, as if encountering them for the first time.

• Create space for emergence - Allow solutions and insights to arise naturally rather than forcing them.

Remember that openness is both a practice and a way of being. It asks us to trust that staying receptive, even when we can't control outcomes, often leads to discoveries we couldn't have planned.

This month's quick tip:

The Openness Check-In

When you notice yourself feeling stuck or resistant, try this simple practice: pause and ask yourself three questions:

1. "What am I trying to control that's actually beyond my influence?"

2. "What would it look like to soften my grip on this situation?"

3. "What possibility might emerge if I created more space here?"

This isn't about giving up or being passive—it's about redirecting your energy toward what you can actually influence while staying receptive to unexpected solutions. I use this check-in during challenging conversations, when facing difficult decisions, or whenever I catch myself pushing against immovable circumstances.

The goal isn't to eliminate all resistance, but to become more conscious about when resistance serves you and when it simply exhausts you.

Women's Group Update:

I'm thrilled to share that our inaugural women's group session kicked off on May 8th. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive, and I'm grateful for the vulnerability and wisdom each participant brought to our circle.

Based on your responses, here's what I'm planning moving forward:

• Next session: Wednesday, June 12th at 4 PM ET

• June topics: Managing difficult emotions during transitions and Practical tools for decision making

• Group size: Limited to 8 participants for the intimate, supportive environment you requested

• Meeting cadence: Monthly to start, allowing for deeper integration between sessions

• Investment: $27 per session starting in July with pay-as-you-go flexibility

• Future consideration: Membership option based on group evolution and interest

  
  

I recognize that monthly spacing might feel too infrequent for some, but it allows everyone to better manage their schedules while giving time to practice what we explore together. We can always adjust based on how this rhythm feels.

If you'd like to join our June session or learn more about the group, please reply to this email. Space in filling quickly!

May Winds

Throughout this month, I’ve been particularly attuned to the wind during my runs along the waterfront. May gusts have been persistent and powerful, and I’ve found myself both fighting against them and learning to work with them. Initially, I approached these windy runs with resistance—leaning into the headwinds frustrated when they slowed my pace.

But watching the birds along the shoreline taught me something different. While I was struggling against the wind, they were using it. The gulls rode the currents effortlessly, adjusting their wings to catch the lift rather than fighting the force. The smaller songbirds would yield to strong gusts, bending with the flow before resuming their path.

This observation became my teacher about openness. When facing life's metaphorical winds—unexpected changes, difficult conversations, uncertain outcomes—we can choose our response. We can brace against the storm, exhausting ourselves in futile resistance, or we can practice the art of strategic yielding. The wind reminded me that resistance to forces beyond our control depletes our energy while teaching us nothing about navigation.

Just as I learned to adjust my running stride and breathing to work with the wind rather than against it, I'm discovering that life's challenging forces aren't inherently good or bad—they simply are. Our response determines whether we experience them as obstacles or as invitations to find a different kind of strength.

What winds are blowing through your life right now? What might happen if, instead of bracing against them, you allowed yourself to sway and dance? What kind of opening might emerge from this different relationship with forces beyond your control?

"I dwell in possibility." —Emily Dickinson