I don’t need to ask if you’ve been watching, but it still feels a little surreal to me to see what is unfolding in Ukraine. Growing up we learn history and it feels as if we are so separated from it, like we are hearing stories from books about lessons people learned years ago before our time.

Then we get a little older, live a little longer, and experience the strange and unsettling realization that the only constant is change and that the world we know is a miniscule sliver of what it’s been and what it will be. For me it was the kind of life changing realization experienced when you recognize that your parents are real people, too, or that not every doctor or authority figure has the answer. This invasion feels like a big shift, a turning point, and my prayers are with the people of Ukraine, the innocent citizens of Russia, and with all of us.

That’s a heavy start to a Friday post. I hate to be heavy. I prefer to share groceries and cute puppy pictures and travel adventures. Heaviness tends to make me turn inward, hunker down and focus on the world within my four walls. While that can be good and comforting, too much isolation is what has caused so many problems over the past two years, so instead I plan to post this and digitally unplug for the weekend. I have a massage booked, the girls have basketball tournaments, and Saturday evening looks as though it will be ideal for snuggling and movie watching. I’m also hankering to try out a new recipe, so maybe a fancy dinner in on Saturday! I’m looking forward to it all so much now that we’re all bounced back.

And on that note, I want to say thank you. I was nervous to post about my experience with Covid knowing there would be some backlash. While I certainly did receive some of that, I was actually blown away at the comments, emails, and messages I received in the form of encouragement for sharing an against the mainstream viewpoint publicly. There was a lot of me too, but I’m too scared to say anything (I get that). There was also support from people that made a different health choice for themselves, and agree that it’s a private medical decision that needs to be left up to the individual.

The biggest thing I noticed in the experience though was the growth within myself. I know how to people please; I’ve been quite an expert at it for 38 years. What I am working on now is being comfortable sharing my opinion, when appropriate, and not immediately offering some apology or self deprecating remark to ease the tension.

Another marker of growth that I’ve observed is the lack of need to prove my viewpoint to anyone. This is a recent development so I honestly don’t know how it happened. Perhaps it’s only by the grace of God, but I didn’t and don’t feel anxious about sharing. Perhaps that is the reward for living in alignment with one’s beliefs. I feel really free.

I had snapped some pictures this week to share a light-hearted Friday five; a follow-up on the Rent the Runway everyday clothes service I’ve been doing, my recent Aldi haul, the girls turning the garage into a roller disco, and more. I’ll be back to all those everyday things next week, and sharing an exciting development for our family, but right now I’m craving the unplug.

Sending you a lot of love. I encourage you to put something on the calendar this weekend that fills you up. Something that makes you feel peaceful, joyful, or connected. looking forward to chatting with you next week! 💜