Softening.

Letting go of the belief that healing has to be linear or that growth always looks like forward motion. Sometimes healing is about stillness, about witnessing, about allowing.

Trees don’t resist the wind; they sway, adapt, and grow stronger.

Adversity can be fertile ground for transformation. By tending to ourselves—through movement, stillness, or simple breath—we can create space for hope and resilience.

🧧🍊🐍

Growth isn’t linear—it’s rooted, branching, and messy. 🌳
In Chinese Medicine, Wood energy reminds us to adapt, grow, and stay flexible amidst life’s challenges.

Musings about the Year of the Wood Snake here: lakesideyin.substack.com/p/rooted-res...

✨ Join our FREE Holiday Toolkit + live class: Transform & Renew: Lunar New Year Yin Yoga 🐍 on Wed, Jan 29 at 9:30 AM CST.

Includes Acupressure + Yin Yoga for stress, sleep, & digestion. Available online through Feb 28, 2025.

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Tonight, I followed a Texan minivan with a Hole sticker.

We’re surrounded by calls to do more, be more, optimize everything. But to what end? What if instead of striving, we paused to discern. Maybe it’s not about doing more, but living more—present, curious, and connected. Let’s shift from constant productivity to meaningful presence.

Art isn’t always about the finished piece—it’s about the process. Helen Frankenthaler’s work reminds us to let curiosity lead and let go of rigid plans. This season, instead of striving to do or be more, pause. Explore your process with less pressure, more joy. Life is meant to flow, not optimize.

Water—soft yet powerful, persistent yet adaptable—a perfect metaphor for 2025. Life flows like waves, not by force but gentle rhythm. It invites us to release rigidity, embrace nourishment, and trust small ripples to create change. Free newsletter: lakesideyin.substack.com

The holiday season can feel so busy and overwhelming, but what if we slowed down and noticed the abundance that’s already here? More here: lakesideyin.substack.com?r=4prvzk&utm...

people who use goodreads: jeff bezos owns goodreads and if you want a better alternative there is a black woman owned company called storygraph that you can use to replace it. you can transfer all of your data from goodreads to storygraph and have your mind be free of trumpie jeff bezos! win win. 💙

I've lost my voice after the election, though it might just be a coincidence.

I’ve been brought to tears several times in the past few days, most recently a few minutes ago. I want you to know that it’s been because of kindness & community.

Last week: tears of rage.

This week: Tears of gratitude for the people who are showing up, saying yes, & *being* and *doing* love.