MOVING THROUGH THE LANDSCAPE OF LIFE

Life can feel like a landscape that continues to unfold in a thousand directions. The uncertainty of the unknown can stretch out before us like endless, thick fog, falling on winding, twisted paths. Forward movement becomes incremental. You learn to pace yourself. And not only to sustain endurance but to navigate with intention and care.

In that space, even though you may feel the intensity and the vast scope of all that is unknown surrounding you, there is still meaning and value in focusing on the small things you can do. Because when you focus on the small things you can do in this space, it’s not just about pacing yourself but about pacing yourself into a sustainable steadiness that you will be able to continue to cultivate for the rest of the journey.

The time you spend in the present, learning how to be gentle with your heart when worry arises, the energy you invest in learning and applying lessons that help you set boundaries and take care of yourself, the time you spend making connections and learning from others, and creating spaces for support and love — all of these are not just filling the time. This is learning how to grow in strength and steadiness in a way that is sustainable as you carry onward.

At times, the idea of “taking it one day at a time” just may not seem like enough, especially when the clock is ticking and the year is ending, and you can feel the intensity of it all. However, all along, you’ve been doing this. You’ve been learning to let each day be what it needs to be, which is a form of authenticity because you’re being honest about what is and what isn’t possible for each day, and learning to adapt through all of it.

So, when you start to feel like you have been stretched too thin, wondering how you will continue to be able to sustain through these unknowns, may you remember that while the landscape around you continues to grow and has a scope beyond what any sole human can navigate, the small ways you are able to reassess priorities, build connections with others, and take a break from some things — all of these are ways that you can move through this landscape with a steady heart.

Because perhaps you don’t have to have all of the answers for the unknowns before you can begin to become aware of how, as your heart is beating, you are free to breathe one breath at a time, moving through this vast landscape one moment at a time. You are free to explore new ways of being right here, where you are. You are allowed to be gentle with yourself here even in the waiting.

More tomorrow…
Sincerely,
Morgan Harper Nichols
@thestorytellerco
@morganharpernichols