Sundaze: building in stealth
mindset reframe & our yearly highlight reel
Today’s prompt is going to make a few of my friends chuckle. As we struggle bussed our way from one corner of Brooklyn to another in the middle of a snow-turned-rain-storm, I remember laughing a lot in the backseat of our uber. Truthfully, I can’t remember why. But we landed on the concept of a mindset reframe and Lamisa joked, “Is that gonna be your next prompt?” Well, the birthday girl’s wish is my command.
A lot of things didn’t go our way last year. There were layoffs, stagnancy, high interest rates, a saturated housing market, soaring crime rates in metro areas, rising geopolitical tensions, and loss of beautiful human life. One of my friends told me they don’t have anything to show for 2023. While we are still in the thick of it, and our hearts are heavy, I offer you something my therapist told me a year ago.
“This is your quiet time in the chrysalis.”
chrys·a·lis: a transitional state e.g. from caterpillar to a moth or butterfly
My mid-20s have been one big energetic transition, everything in constant flux. Like I’m watching from the outside as life happens. Some days feel like it’s all figured out, other days it’s a curveball.
But i’m following my heart, holding God close and looking for alignment. I am taking myself less seriously, feeling things more deeply, reconnecting with faith, attaching purpose to my work, & trying to be a better person.
Sometimes progress feels slow and intangible. It doesn’t come in the form of a promotion nor a graduation certificate nor even a travel story. It’s not something we can post about in our yearly highlight reel. It can look like self-awareness, assigning meaning to our work, making time for things that are important to us or identifying a constructive way to channel our emotions. Maybe it’s making the bed in the morning or setting boundaries with someone. Maybe it’s building consistency in workouts or volunteering at a soup kitchen. Maybe it’s reconstructing our relationship with parents or journaling every week. We do these things away from the eyes of the world, away from judgement and intrusion. Here in our chrysalis, we find ourselves as we are. And we give ourselves grace.
Today’s prompt for you:
List things you are proud of that the outside world doesn’t get to see.
Solo date idea: Cook for yourself. Comfort food or a new recipe. Elaborate or a quick fix. If you don’t enjoy cooking - take the pressure off, enjoy the process. Experiment, the pan is your canvas.
Use at least one ingredient that will energize you. Set the table. Light a candle if you will. Eat mindfully*, savor each bite.
*Avoid TV for this one.