A Lesson in Letting Go

If we take time to tune in, the natural world has so much to teach us. As I’ve turned my attention to getting our garden in shape, I took a close look at our trio of young persimmon trees. Will this be the year they finally produce fruit?

I noticed leaves budding on some branches, but others were bare. I recalled my friend Christine knocking off empty branches last summer. As you may know, dry branches on many bushes and trees will snap off with a little force.

But the persimmon trees are different. They just let go. After a light tap, an empty branch would fall into my hand. Tapping my way around the trees was captivating, fun, and awe-inspiring.

I cannot overstate how effortlessly the trees shed what they no longer needed. The trees somehow sense what branches no longer serve them in a way that many other trees do not. Nor many people.

I’m fascinated by this lesson from the persimmons. They know to put energy where it’s needed, where it matters, and to let go of what isn’t necessary.

I’m thinking about how to apply this to Scrappy Affirmations and my life. I’m curious how you might apply it to yours.

As you seek to cultivate what matters and nourish personal growth, reach out to try my new offering. It’s a one-time 90-minute “Brushstrokes to Breakthroughs” session.

Normally part of my six-week Craft Your Life coaching program, I realize that not everyone has the budget or inclination for the full package. As a one-off session, this is typically priced at $200, but anyone who books a session between May 10 and June 18 can take advantage of pay-what-you-can pricing with an $80 minimum. Reach out to schedule your time.

Community

A ginormous thank you to everyone who showed up to help us honor and remember Isaac while supporting the Niles Township food pantry!

Speaking of food, every Saturday night this year, my husband and I are hosting a gathering with a mission. Saturday Night Soup and Bread with Friends is a year-long experiment in building connection and community while flexing our hosting muscles. Strengthening community bonds is one of our best defenses in uncertain times. And it’s as simple as sharing a meal, playing games, or conducting a themed discussion or activity.

Want to join us? I have a couple of spots for the May 19 Emergency Prep discussion. Attendees will talk about an emergency situation they are prepping for and sharing related tips. I also have space for the June 20 Death over Dinner. Ping me if you’re interested in attending.

A Deep Appreciation for Nature

Join me for the May Awe-Full Walk in the Woods on Wednesday, May 27. We’ll amble about as we ponder the connections we see and the invisible threads that bind all living things. Read about the April walk.

This reflective session in nature helps build the habit of finding awe in the little, seemingly mundane, things around us, a habit that I believe is key for survival in an increasingly unstable world.

This is a small-group activity, so spots are limited; save yours today.

Recently, I’m appreciating nature in new way. I’ve been obsessed with making color washes from spring flowers and vegetable scraps and painting with them. They are like watercolor paints, but different. I’m having so much fun with them, that I’m leading a workshop session where you can learn how to make them and play with my creations. Nature + art +curiosity + kitchen science = a great evening! Don’t miss out.

I’ll be holding a similar crafty, but more solstice-oriented session with Gayle Brandeis at Secret World Books in Highland Park on Thursday, June 25. We’ll be using Gayle’s viral poem, “The Plum You’re Going to Eat Next Summer,” as inspiration. Keep an eye out for details on Eventbrite.

Until Next Time

Mona Lisa transformed. (I checked to make sure this is not AI-generated.)

Maybe I’ll have time to bake bread like this when I’m retired.

Stunning. But I could never be this far from home.

Missed the March newsletter? Read it here.

Scrappy Affirmations normalizes being human in a complicated world. Our personal and corporate programs are based on four pillars: building community, instilling a deep appreciation of nature, participating in creative acts, and accepting mortality. Not coincidentally, these are the Big Things that helped me through grief after my son's death.