Alone

Dear members,

A few weeks ago, I had the gift of a week alone at home. My partner was away for work and so I was solo for seven solid days. This happened to coincide (unintentionally) with a planned sabbatical from all the day-to-day aspects of my work: I wasn’t writing newsletters, had no client meetings, or creating regular content. t should be noted, I don’t have a “straight job” as my friend Deana likes to call it. I work from home for myself, so I really was straight up alone.

I was amazed with what occurred. After just 48 hours of solo time, I noticed my energy in ways I’d never really noticed it before. I noticed how I felt when I was working on certain projects or talking to certain people. It was quickly apparent what was energizing and what was draining. It’s as if by turning down the regular background noise I was able to hear all the subtle vibrations that were the undercurrent of my existence.

It helped me make some pretty telling decisions about my work and my time.

A few years ago, my partner got a job that required him to train in a different city for several months. We’d just moved to the Twin Cities, it was winter, and I hardly knew a soul. I spent a lot of time alone, and frankly, it scared the shit out of me. I wasn’t scared of a burglar or murderer breaking into my home or anything like that. I was scared of what that much time alone would do to me. What would it be like to be with my own thoughts all by myself for weeks at a time? I’d never actually spent that much time alone before, not really. I’d always had a roommate or a partner to share my space.

Turns out, I loved it. I missed him like crazy, but I loved being alone. In the months that followed, between his work and caring for his terminally ill mother, he was gone a lot, and I felt myself unfurl in a way I’d never really experienced. When his job changed, his mother passed away and the global pandemic hit, we found ourselves together a lot. These days, when we’re apart, it’s because I’m traveling, either for work or caring for my terminally ill dad. Somehow, I’d forgotten the gift of long, uninterrupted alone time.

For most of us, weeks of solo time are basically impossible. There are kids and parents to be cared for, jobs to be attended to, spouses to be partnered with. But I wonder if we could carve out small windows of this time to listen to that undercurrent of energy that flows deep within us, what would happen?

This month I’m inviting you to find those spaces.

 And an announcement

In other news, it’s time to share a shift in Bewonderment’s mission with you. 

As of October 31, 2023 the membership program will close.

I’m shifting my attention to creating several more in-depth explorations of creativity, wellness, writing and community care. I’ll be sharing more of them with you over the upcoming months. In the meantime, here’s what you need to know:

• You will continue to have new content for the months of August, September and October

• Your last billing cycle will be a month prior to the end of the membership. You’ll have access to all the content until the end of your month.

• You can still take advantage of the 1:1 coaching session that comes with your membership until the end of October

  Please feel free to reach out with questions! This has been a glorious ride, and I thank you for being on it with me.

 XO,

SRB