Truth, Lie, Dare #3

On limited capacity, enoughness, and keeping on

Welcome to Truth, Lie, Dare (TLD): a weekly presence practice where I share a truth, a lie I'm telling myself, and commit to a dare. This framework helps me write consistently while time-constrained, and it's also an invitation to reflect however best suits you. I’ve loved hearing from you, so continue to share your TLDs if so compelled.

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You know what’s cool? I’ve had a handful of beautiful interactions with folks this week I wouldn’t have if I hadn’t started writing again a few weeks ago.

After sharing last week’s TLD, I received an audio message from an old colleague I hadn’t spoken to in ages who shared his STFD (slow the f*ck down) story with me, a tale in which he forgot he called his wife amid an exhaustion-induced delusion while on a project and she heard him singing to himself on the phone “You gotta take your time, you gotta take it easy …” which has become an anthem of theirs when things get a little too imbalanced (shout out to Dan and Michelle, and thanks for the reminder).

My friend Lauren pinged me with her first TLD (below) and a few photos of the Mississippi River beginning to release its grip on winter in Minneapolis, my beloved hometown. I also received Nature photos from friends and sweet messages of love and encouragement.

TLD text from my incredible, beautiful, and sweet friend, Lauren. If you live in MSP, catch her Slow Flow yoga class at Tula in St. Paul on Mondays at 7 p.m.

Creativity is connection. Most importantly to the divine and ourselves, but also to and with people, ideas, and places you don’t yet know and that’s the magic of existing. All the ways we induce, exchange, and expand in our truth of being human. It’s the good shit. It’s what we’ll remember when we die—a mindset I try to hold close and call upon when life feels like a lot, which is a lot lately :)

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Spring is here in the Sierra Foothills. The land is green and lush from long bursts of rain and warming temps. The Daphne bush has bloomed (BEST SMELL EVER), the Daffodils are up, and the night song of frogs is so strong in the pond nearby I was nearly blasted out of my car driving by their symphony the other night.

I also learned of a new telltale sign of spring last week. I heard a commotion outside and upon investigation found male wild turkeys aggressively fighting. They do this to establish dominance and pecking order in the flock ahead of the mating season, which can last four days (there are other reasons they fight, but seasonality signals this one—you are welcome to go down the Google rabbit hole—it doesn’t disappoint).

Nature is a mirror of our being—the beauty, the brutality, and everything in between. If consistently observed, its rhythms are sobering mechanisms to contextualize and make sense of ourselves, the collective, and the systems in which we dwell. More on this another time, but go outside. There’s a lot of information (and entertainment) there ;)

Finally, this week’s TLD

• Truth—Like the budding grass, flowers, and general energy of renewal Spring brings, much is blossoming within me. While I want to water it all and watch it grow, I have limited capacity to nurture all the things. The key, as always, for me is listening and honoring this so I don’t exhaust myself.

• Lie—I’m not doing enough. Despite my accomplishments and the proof in my own story that I’m exactly where I need to be and that the actions I take now lead me exactly where I’m meant to go, aka “trust the process,” there are moments where it’s not enough. It is enough. I am amazing. Onward.

• Dare—Keep going. I’m gonna borrow Lauren’s from above because it’s simple and perfect.

There you have it. I’m grateful for this recommitment to writing, for those of you reading it, and for your connection and reflections.

One of my mentors signed off a conversation this week with the following and it’s lovely, so I pass it on to you:

Be well.

Give love.

Receive love.

Be love.

Be yourself.

xo