Sometimes it is an absolute necessity to shake the Sometimes it is an absolute necessity to shake the sleeping self.
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Just like a snake sheds its skin, we need times of renewal to rid ourselves of the muck we no longer need to carry.
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To shake the sleeping self requires discomfort.  It requires us to leave the safety and certainty of our homes and routines so that we can open our eyes to the vastness that lies before us.  I think when you feel stuck, the best thing you can do is put yourself in a position to be awed.  Sometimes feeling small is exactly what you need to feel big.
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On this #mlkday, I'm reminded of my smallness.  But, I'm also reminded of my ability to participate in ways that bring about big change.  Like...
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➕Supporting @15percentpledge
➕Choosing to be uncomfortably aware of my white privilege
➕Joining groups and organizations & classes with people who come from vastly different backgrounds than I do
➕Celebrating, sharing, and promoting black owned businesses, accounts, artists, creators, etc. 
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None of the above is hard - it just requires me to get out of my head and into the usefulness of my hands.  To sit in awareness and ask myself: "how can I participate in creating equality today?" 
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Human rights are just that... a right.  Not a privilege.  When one of us is persecuted, all of us are... for we all come from the same source.
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❤️ Who are some of your favorite black creators/owned businesses/artists, etc. here on instagram?  Please share.  I want to follow.  I want to participate.  I want to see the vast beauty that lies before me.
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I want to share the AMAZING artist, @starofonyii (you can commission art from him), the yoga studio @activepeaceyoga (they offer virtual classes), non- profit @divaswhowin, the GORGEOUS blogger @bloggermamahayleyj, and musicians @dwaynenate @blacknerdmonsta & @wesdaruler.
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Participating in community is fun.
Are you feeling stressed right now? Is the chaos Are you feeling stressed right now?  Is the chaos of our current political climate making you feel unsteady?  Me too.
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I want to share a few things I'm finding deep, deep comfort in amidst unprecedented times in the hope that you will feel comfort, too.  The best thing we can do right now is care for each other & care for ourselves.  My individual energy is part of the collective & vice versa.  We are connected me & you.
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Here are a few things that are bringing me solace:
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🙏🏼 The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday.  Such a beautiful book.  If you cannot afford it right now, DM me.  I'll share insights & help you figure something out.
🙏🏽 Meditation.  I use the @insighttimer app every day right after I make coffee & it helps to calm me before I engage with the outside world.  Nourishing our inner world before going out into the outer world is vital.  ESPECIALLY right now.
🙏🏾 Essential oils.  Whether you believe in their efficacy or not, stopping for a moment, smelling, & breathing help relax your nervous system & transport you into the present moment.
🙏🏿 My @komusodesign Shift necklace.  It's a necklace (not picture above) that you exhale into.  It slows down your breath, calms your nervous system, slows your heart rate, reduces your cortisol, & helps to relax your mind and body.  Do this breathing several rounds after putting your fave essential oil on your neck & wrists.  It's like the bliss of savasana after a yoga class.  I have a discount code.  DM me if you want it.  I don't want you to feel any obligation or trigger pressure to buy more stuff in this moment.
💧 Liquids.  I've been drinking so many smoothies & so much water and tea.  When the outside world is chaotic, nourishing my inside world feels really necessary.  Also, hydration is paramount to thinking clearly.  I need this.
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What are you doing to care for yourself?
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Love,
J
9 days ago my boots were crunching atop the snow a 9 days ago my boots were crunching atop the snow and ice at the Grand Canyon.
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This land we call home is pure magic.  Getting out in nature and tapping into my peace of mind does wonders for my soul.  Especially when things feel so uncertain as they do right now. 
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(I realize I am particularly fortunate in that I live in an RV and can safely venture to a lot of places). 
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🌲 Sometimes when I am feeling stuck, it comforts me to think on the beautiful things that lie ahead for me.  If you are feeling in that place of stuck-ness, where is one place you could go in your head right now that would uplift your heart? 
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Is it a lavender field?  Paris?  The Grand Canyon?  You local farmer's market?  I want to know.  And where is the first place you want to go when it is deemed safe?
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I'm sending you so much love right now.  You deserve it.
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.
.
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Hat is @gigipip (DM me if you want a discount code!), Jacket is @levis, Boots are @thefryecompany, Layered necklaces are @electricpicks
A short poem that came to me on my walk yesterday A short poem that came to me on my walk yesterday regarding current events...⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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And she wept.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
She wept for the soul of a nation on whose soil she was born.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
She wept for the collective broken heart of the people who call this land home.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
She wept for the fear, uncertainty, and helplessness that so many are feeling in these moments that will be scrolled into history.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
She wept for the day.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
And then as the dawn broke anew, she lifted her face to the sun.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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There is hope.  Always. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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So much love to you all,⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Jaclyn
It feels good and right to lift our faces to the s It feels good and right to lift our faces to the sun. 🌞 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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With so much uncertainty and craziness happening in the world, I'm clinging to a Stoic Philosophy principle: focus on what you CAN control.  My thoughts, my feelings, my actions...⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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It's easy to get bent out of shape with worry, but I when I do, I ask myself: is this worry benefitting me or anyone else?  Spoiler: my worry never benefits anything.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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For today, I want to do something kind for someone for no reason in particular, work on a project I'm really looking forward to releasing (like maybe even next week...), write a new podcast episode, and go and enjoy a Mediterranean dinner with my mom and my husband.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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When things feel big and messy, I like to keep things simple.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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✨ How are you feeling about current happenings?  I want to know because I want to know YOU.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Sending you big love today!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Jaclyn⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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p.s. Also, speaking of living with intention, did you listen to episode 52 of the podcast?  It's all about being intentional, with practical tips and questions, about who you want to be by the end of 2021.  The link to the episode is in my stories AND via the link in my bio.
This is what Tumnus calls a family hug. 😂 He do This is what Tumnus calls a family hug. 😂 He does this EVERY time Sam hugs me or tries to dance with me. 

I forgot I had this on my phone.  I recorded it when I was making a bunch of youtube videos... one being about all my pets.  LOL.  They are constant sources of entertainment.  I know you already know this because so many of you have pets.

📣 Do you have dogs or cats?  What are their names?

➕ I have Tumnus - a Yorkie/Schnauzer mix.  He's 13.
➕ I have Pippin - a Yorkie.  She's 9, almost 10.
➕ And I have Shiloh, who we often call Birdie because she once ate an ENTIRE bird that our cat killed and then came inside and proceeded to throw up the ENTIRE bird carcass on our very nice West Elm rug.  She's 4 and a rescue and we have no idea what kind of breed she is but we like it like that.
➕ Santiago, our cat, is currently being taken care of by the lovely people who purchased our home.  We were really worried about taking an outside cat out on the road with us.  When we purchased our former home, he was on the front stoop waiting for us when we arrived.  He was in pretty bad shape, but with some vet care and TLC from us, he became part of the family and we miss him dearly.

I cannot imagine life without pets.  They are little joy (and sometimes annoyance) buckets.  I LOVE THEM SO MUCH!
1st Monday of the year and I'm channeling my inner 1st Monday of the year and I'm channeling my inner @beyonce.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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I'm telling you... nothing makes me get on the dance floor faster than 7/11.  You feel me?  I'm also a real sucker for and turn into a freaking 12 year old boy - just undone - when Thrift Shop from Macklemore & Ryan Lewis plays. (💃🏻 Don't believe me?  Ask @samthurmond_rei what I'm like on the dance floor).⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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👊🏽 What are your pump up songs?  I love infusing the beginning of the year with some high vibe, powerful energy!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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👩🏼‍🎤 Should we start a playlist?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Cheers to the 1st Monday of the 2021!  Sending you all BIG BIGGG BIIIIIIIIIIG love. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Jaclyn
📝 Endings are beginnings and beginnings are end 📝 Endings are beginnings and beginnings are endings.  All we have to do is keep writing in the circle of life.  The in-between is what makes us who we are.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Happy New Year!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Things may look uncertain right now, but keep writing... Tomorrow is a new page.  And so is every day after that.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Love you,⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Jaclyn
I hesitated posting this photo.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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It's actually a self portrait I took in January of 2019.  I haven't shared it for a few reasons:⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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➕ It's artsy and more aloof than the photos I usually post.  Aloof isn't really my brand.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
➕ I took it after my trip to the Middle East.  That trip was a series of unfortunate events, so much so, that I wrote an ebook about it (ask me if you want it, it's free).⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
➕ It's a visual peek, instead of my usual written peek, into the very layered and complex part of who I am.  I generally try and keep things positive on here because who needs more complexity?!?!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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I'm changing things up in 2021 though.  I'm curiously diving deeper into the next layers of my self expression - not just for fun, though it is fun - but for survival.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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My Hashimoto's diagnosis is representative of dis-ease in my body - dis-ease that is rooted in unexpressed emotion (look up the metaphysical manifestation of thyroid disorders...).⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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So while I LOVE being positive and uplifting on here, I also want to share that I'm multi-faceted.  We all are.  No one is just one thing.  We are multi-dimensional like a beautiful kaleidoscope.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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And just like I'm experimenting with sharing my journal entries, I'm also going to experiment with sharing more of my artistic expression.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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It's an exercise in self expression and hopefully a creative paver on my road to Hashimoto's recovery.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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➡️ What are you desirous of switching up in 2021?  How can I support you in that? 🖤 Drop your project, goal, website, etc. below and let's support one another!
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Letters to Myself, Music, Self Help, This is Important, Wellness · November 7, 2018

Dear Self: this is a big deal.

Hi Everyone!  Happy Wednesday to you.  I am really, really excited to continue this “Dear Self” series because it is helping me make sense of so. many. things.  Writing for me is like looking at a bunch of tangled necklaces and getting the knots out one by one through each word that’s laid down.  – Sometimes it’s a real pain in the arse, but it’s necessary if you want to shine that metal again.

If you are new here, this is the background on the “Dear Self” series. 🙂

These letters, written to myself, were created with the purpose of cleaning up some of the sticky stuff in my head…  Like goo gone for my brain and I want to share these thoughts because I think many of these sticky subjects are so intertwined with the fabric of our internal life that we sometimes forget that they also exist outside of ourselves – that other people experience sticky stuff, as well. And sometimes the sticky stuff is the very thing that binds us together.

So, welcome to the sticky inner workings – where the pollen is harvested, refined, and hopefully, at some point, turned into honey.

This week’s letter follows chronologically behind letter 1, and letter 2.
The mind must be explored, questioned, and dug into,
or we’ll lose the ability to see where our fear hides.

Dear Self,

This was a BIG week.  But before I dive into the details I want to remind you of something you re-discovered on Saturday.

It’s a necklace you had made at the beginning of the year.  It has a phrase hand stamped on it, because in January of 2018, in all your excitement and wisdom, you decided you wanted to wear your mantra so it wouldn’t be easily forgotten.

Then you forgot to wear the necklace.

LOL.  Life is funny like that sometimes.  You have the best of intentions and then life happens and you forget. But, thankfully, on Saturday morning you re-discovered this necklace and the reason for having it made flooded back…

It says “I AM READY!”

Somehow, some way, even though you couldn’t articulate it at the beginning of the year, you knew you were getting in your own way.  You knew you were scared of success.  You knew you were fearful of failure.  You knew, deep down, that even though you’d been working so hard for so many years, that in your heart of hearts, you didn’t yet believe you were ready for what the Universe had in store for you.

So, you set an intention: to open yourself everyday to the idea that you were indeed ready.  

After all, who is always ready for what life throws?  Yet, if we don’t seriously open ourselves to possibility, we seriously limit the opportunities available to us.

We MUST ACT AS THOUGH WE ARE READY BEFORE THE OPPORTUNITY CAN ARRIVE.

Jaclyn Steele

Re-discovering this necklace made you feel like you had been sprinkled with fairy dust.  Humans are so much wiser than we realize.  All this time, without even understanding it, you knew intrinsically that you needed to open yourself to your own readiness.

Humans are only limited by the limits we place on ourselves.

Jaclyn Steele

So what does that idea look like in action?  Because waxing philosophical is something you do well, but putting an idea into action is even more important.  You took this necklace you re-found on Saturday and placed it around your neck.  You felt the feeling of being ready for this phone call on Monday – the one with the super amazing music manager in Nashville.  You realized that it was your choice to be ready.  No outside force could dictate your level of readiness… it’s an inside job.  You’ve done the work, and now you realize that’s it’s your job to OWN IT.

So fast forward from Saturday to Monday – 15 minutes before your call with this manager.  You got in your car and turned on the heat.  You want to be in a distraction free zone.  No dogs, no computer, no lights… just you and your mind and your breath.

You purposed to whole heartedly show up as yourself.  To answer his questions with absolute honesty even if you didn’t think it would be something he would want to hear.  To sit in each minute and show up unfiltered, uncensored, unabashedly and totally authentically you.  You meditated on this goal, the goal of your life: to bring value to the world through your creativity.   

This simple goal anchored your thoughts.  Your thoughts have a habit of being a hurricane in your head, but knowing that bringing value to the world through your creativity is your purpose, made it feel like there was a lighthouse in the storm leading you in the exact direction you need to go.

The aha moment came before the conversation.  You rooted in your purpose and it made your fears fall away.  Why?  Because no one can take your purpose from you.  NO ONE.

And damn girl, you showed up on that call!  You were impassioned and emboldened by your belief in your purpose and your belief in your ability to carry it out with or without someone else’s help.  That little necklace was right: you are ready.

And the manager?  He said “you’re an inspiring woman.”  He concluded that I was doing the right things – building, building, building, and that now it was just a hype game since everything in the music industry is built on excitement.  He said I asked great questions and that my answers were good and that we should stay in touch and that he would help me get in contact with whomever I wanted to get in contact with in Nashville and that I should save his number in my phone because he wanted to talk soon.

The call couldn’t have gone better.

And you know why, dear girl?  Because you showed up as you.  Not a diluted, or filtered version, but the real one.  You know now that the more you you are, the easier it will be to filter the right people to align with.  Now, upon reflection, you cannot imagine showing up any other way.  If you cannot be you, then why would you want to hitch your wagon down that road?

So, yes, it was a big deal that you had this opportunity to speak with a reputable manager in the industry but it was an even bigger deal that you found your voice first.

You anchored to your purpose, your mission, the reason you want to get out of bed every day.  You trusted in your own readiness and allowed THE TRUTH to lead the way.

I’m really proud of you.  Thank you for showing up for us.

Love you,

THE TRUTH

p.s. You put the necklace around the framed picture of Johnny Cash flipping the bird because you love the juxtaposition of it.  Life is full of dichotomies and specifically with this one:

The ability to be ready and to stay open requires the strength to say “no” and the resolve to reject the negative projections of others.

In: Letters to Myself, Music, Self Help, This is Important, Wellness · Tagged: confidence, hope, inspiration, letters to myself, my musical journey, ready

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I have never, ever done this before.
Dearest Reader
When No One Responds (and all we hear are crickets)

Comments

  1. Gabe Newman says

    November 7, 2018 at 3:12 pm

    He’s right! You are inspiring!

    Reply
    • jsteele says

      November 7, 2018 at 5:05 pm

      Ahhhhhh thank you Gabe Newman! You know what? I think YOU are inspiring too. You are so bold in the way you share your art and words. I love that about you!

      Reply
  2. Ian says

    November 7, 2018 at 4:51 pm

    rejecting negative projections is something i definitely want to work on, thanks 🙂

    Reply
    • jsteele says

      November 7, 2018 at 5:08 pm

      Friend, you are not alone in wanting to work on that. I’m right in the trenches with you. I think something that helps me is having an anchoring thought. For example, my goal in life is to bring value to the world through my creativity, so if some people don’t like that or they aren’t on board or they don’t like my brand of creativity, it’s ok! In fact, it’s good, because they aren’t my ideal connection anyway. If you can whittle down what your purpose is and how it can bring joy to others – then it’s easier to let go of negative projections because you’ve got that anchor holding you steadfast. I’m rooting for you, Ian!

      Reply
  3. Owen says

    November 7, 2018 at 5:02 pm

    This quote jumped out: “everything in the music industry is built on excitement.” I will meditate on it.

    You are a wisdom person and what you say is wise. We have to keep reminding ourselves of the truth we know but have trouble holding on to. I used to carry a small rock around in my pocket and I often gave stones to my clients to carry with them. A rock is solid and incredibly old. Holding it in your hand and feeling it’s weight and texture grounds you so you don’t float away. For me, the rock embodies truth, that which endures when everything else changes. It’s so common and ordinary, hiding in plain sight, we don’t realize its strength and power. Holding on to our wisdom is critical. Being reminded is a gift. Thank you.

    Reply
    • jsteele says

      November 7, 2018 at 5:10 pm

      I LOVE this! This comment makes me want to carry a rock in my pocket. What an easy way to stay grounded. I love that you gave rocks to your clients too. I feel like everyone would benefit from this. I also love what you said here “It’s so common and ordinary, hiding in plain sight, we don’t realize its strength and power.” – I feel like that’s us. All of us. We may be common and ordinary, but truly, if we accept it, we are EXTRAORDINARY. What makes us extraordinary is acceptance. Letting go of trying to be anyone other than who we are. Thank you for this gorgeous comment, Owen!

      Reply
  4. Kathleen Capella says

    November 8, 2018 at 5:18 pm

    This is such a positive and inspiring reflection. Thanks so much for taking the time and energy t0 share it Jaclyn,

    Reply
    • jsteele says

      November 8, 2018 at 6:01 pm

      Thank you, Kathleen. I’m feeling so much joy around sharing these lessons while they are happening in real time. I feel like it’s my way of providing value to my circle as I’m hoping they can see themselves in this journey – and be encouraged by it to pursue their heart’s desire. Thank you for taking the time to read it. I love and miss you so much! <3

      Reply
  5. jsteele says

    November 8, 2018 at 6:00 pm

    Thank you, Kathleen. I’m feeling so much joy around sharing these lessons while they are happening in real time. I feel like it’s my way of providing value to my circle as I’m hoping they can see themselves in this journey – and be encouraged by it to pursue their heart’s desire. Thank you for taking the time to read it. I love and miss you so much! <3

    Reply

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Dear Self: you are exactly as you need to be.

I'm Jaclyn. Writer. Podcaster. Songstress. Wander-luster. Clean beauty convert & conscious fashionista. I've never met a nude lipstick or personal development section I didn't like.

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Sometimes it is an absolute necessity to shake the Sometimes it is an absolute necessity to shake the sleeping self.
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Just like a snake sheds its skin, we need times of renewal to rid ourselves of the muck we no longer need to carry.
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To shake the sleeping self requires discomfort.  It requires us to leave the safety and certainty of our homes and routines so that we can open our eyes to the vastness that lies before us.  I think when you feel stuck, the best thing you can do is put yourself in a position to be awed.  Sometimes feeling small is exactly what you need to feel big.
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On this #mlkday, I'm reminded of my smallness.  But, I'm also reminded of my ability to participate in ways that bring about big change.  Like...
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➕Supporting @15percentpledge
➕Choosing to be uncomfortably aware of my white privilege
➕Joining groups and organizations & classes with people who come from vastly different backgrounds than I do
➕Celebrating, sharing, and promoting black owned businesses, accounts, artists, creators, etc. 
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None of the above is hard - it just requires me to get out of my head and into the usefulness of my hands.  To sit in awareness and ask myself: "how can I participate in creating equality today?" 
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Human rights are just that... a right.  Not a privilege.  When one of us is persecuted, all of us are... for we all come from the same source.
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❤️ Who are some of your favorite black creators/owned businesses/artists, etc. here on instagram?  Please share.  I want to follow.  I want to participate.  I want to see the vast beauty that lies before me.
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I want to share the AMAZING artist, @starofonyii (you can commission art from him), the yoga studio @activepeaceyoga (they offer virtual classes), non- profit @divaswhowin, the GORGEOUS blogger @bloggermamahayleyj, and musicians @dwaynenate @blacknerdmonsta & @wesdaruler.
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Participating in community is fun.
Are you feeling stressed right now? Is the chaos Are you feeling stressed right now?  Is the chaos of our current political climate making you feel unsteady?  Me too.
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I want to share a few things I'm finding deep, deep comfort in amidst unprecedented times in the hope that you will feel comfort, too.  The best thing we can do right now is care for each other & care for ourselves.  My individual energy is part of the collective & vice versa.  We are connected me & you.
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Here are a few things that are bringing me solace:
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🙏🏼 The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday.  Such a beautiful book.  If you cannot afford it right now, DM me.  I'll share insights & help you figure something out.
🙏🏽 Meditation.  I use the @insighttimer app every day right after I make coffee & it helps to calm me before I engage with the outside world.  Nourishing our inner world before going out into the outer world is vital.  ESPECIALLY right now.
🙏🏾 Essential oils.  Whether you believe in their efficacy or not, stopping for a moment, smelling, & breathing help relax your nervous system & transport you into the present moment.
🙏🏿 My @komusodesign Shift necklace.  It's a necklace (not picture above) that you exhale into.  It slows down your breath, calms your nervous system, slows your heart rate, reduces your cortisol, & helps to relax your mind and body.  Do this breathing several rounds after putting your fave essential oil on your neck & wrists.  It's like the bliss of savasana after a yoga class.  I have a discount code.  DM me if you want it.  I don't want you to feel any obligation or trigger pressure to buy more stuff in this moment.
💧 Liquids.  I've been drinking so many smoothies & so much water and tea.  When the outside world is chaotic, nourishing my inside world feels really necessary.  Also, hydration is paramount to thinking clearly.  I need this.
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What are you doing to care for yourself?
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Love,
J
9 days ago my boots were crunching atop the snow a 9 days ago my boots were crunching atop the snow and ice at the Grand Canyon.
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This land we call home is pure magic.  Getting out in nature and tapping into my peace of mind does wonders for my soul.  Especially when things feel so uncertain as they do right now. 
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(I realize I am particularly fortunate in that I live in an RV and can safely venture to a lot of places). 
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🌲 Sometimes when I am feeling stuck, it comforts me to think on the beautiful things that lie ahead for me.  If you are feeling in that place of stuck-ness, where is one place you could go in your head right now that would uplift your heart? 
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Is it a lavender field?  Paris?  The Grand Canyon?  You local farmer's market?  I want to know.  And where is the first place you want to go when it is deemed safe?
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I'm sending you so much love right now.  You deserve it.
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Hat is @gigipip (DM me if you want a discount code!), Jacket is @levis, Boots are @thefryecompany, Layered necklaces are @electricpicks
A short poem that came to me on my walk yesterday A short poem that came to me on my walk yesterday regarding current events...⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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And she wept.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
She wept for the soul of a nation on whose soil she was born.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
She wept for the collective broken heart of the people who call this land home.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
She wept for the fear, uncertainty, and helplessness that so many are feeling in these moments that will be scrolled into history.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
She wept for the day.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
And then as the dawn broke anew, she lifted her face to the sun.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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There is hope.  Always. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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So much love to you all,⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Jaclyn
It feels good and right to lift our faces to the s It feels good and right to lift our faces to the sun. 🌞 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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With so much uncertainty and craziness happening in the world, I'm clinging to a Stoic Philosophy principle: focus on what you CAN control.  My thoughts, my feelings, my actions...⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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It's easy to get bent out of shape with worry, but I when I do, I ask myself: is this worry benefitting me or anyone else?  Spoiler: my worry never benefits anything.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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For today, I want to do something kind for someone for no reason in particular, work on a project I'm really looking forward to releasing (like maybe even next week...), write a new podcast episode, and go and enjoy a Mediterranean dinner with my mom and my husband.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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When things feel big and messy, I like to keep things simple.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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✨ How are you feeling about current happenings?  I want to know because I want to know YOU.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Sending you big love today!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Jaclyn⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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p.s. Also, speaking of living with intention, did you listen to episode 52 of the podcast?  It's all about being intentional, with practical tips and questions, about who you want to be by the end of 2021.  The link to the episode is in my stories AND via the link in my bio.
This is what Tumnus calls a family hug. 😂 He do This is what Tumnus calls a family hug. 😂 He does this EVERY time Sam hugs me or tries to dance with me. 

I forgot I had this on my phone.  I recorded it when I was making a bunch of youtube videos... one being about all my pets.  LOL.  They are constant sources of entertainment.  I know you already know this because so many of you have pets.

📣 Do you have dogs or cats?  What are their names?

➕ I have Tumnus - a Yorkie/Schnauzer mix.  He's 13.
➕ I have Pippin - a Yorkie.  She's 9, almost 10.
➕ And I have Shiloh, who we often call Birdie because she once ate an ENTIRE bird that our cat killed and then came inside and proceeded to throw up the ENTIRE bird carcass on our very nice West Elm rug.  She's 4 and a rescue and we have no idea what kind of breed she is but we like it like that.
➕ Santiago, our cat, is currently being taken care of by the lovely people who purchased our home.  We were really worried about taking an outside cat out on the road with us.  When we purchased our former home, he was on the front stoop waiting for us when we arrived.  He was in pretty bad shape, but with some vet care and TLC from us, he became part of the family and we miss him dearly.

I cannot imagine life without pets.  They are little joy (and sometimes annoyance) buckets.  I LOVE THEM SO MUCH!
1st Monday of the year and I'm channeling my inner 1st Monday of the year and I'm channeling my inner @beyonce.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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I'm telling you... nothing makes me get on the dance floor faster than 7/11.  You feel me?  I'm also a real sucker for and turn into a freaking 12 year old boy - just undone - when Thrift Shop from Macklemore & Ryan Lewis plays. (💃🏻 Don't believe me?  Ask @samthurmond_rei what I'm like on the dance floor).⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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👊🏽 What are your pump up songs?  I love infusing the beginning of the year with some high vibe, powerful energy!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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👩🏼‍🎤 Should we start a playlist?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Cheers to the 1st Monday of the 2021!  Sending you all BIG BIGGG BIIIIIIIIIIG love. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Jaclyn
📝 Endings are beginnings and beginnings are end 📝 Endings are beginnings and beginnings are endings.  All we have to do is keep writing in the circle of life.  The in-between is what makes us who we are.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Happy New Year!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Things may look uncertain right now, but keep writing... Tomorrow is a new page.  And so is every day after that.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Love you,⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Jaclyn
I hesitated posting this photo.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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It's actually a self portrait I took in January of 2019.  I haven't shared it for a few reasons:⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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➕ It's artsy and more aloof than the photos I usually post.  Aloof isn't really my brand.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
➕ I took it after my trip to the Middle East.  That trip was a series of unfortunate events, so much so, that I wrote an ebook about it (ask me if you want it, it's free).⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
➕ It's a visual peek, instead of my usual written peek, into the very layered and complex part of who I am.  I generally try and keep things positive on here because who needs more complexity?!?!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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I'm changing things up in 2021 though.  I'm curiously diving deeper into the next layers of my self expression - not just for fun, though it is fun - but for survival.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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My Hashimoto's diagnosis is representative of dis-ease in my body - dis-ease that is rooted in unexpressed emotion (look up the metaphysical manifestation of thyroid disorders...).⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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So while I LOVE being positive and uplifting on here, I also want to share that I'm multi-faceted.  We all are.  No one is just one thing.  We are multi-dimensional like a beautiful kaleidoscope.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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And just like I'm experimenting with sharing my journal entries, I'm also going to experiment with sharing more of my artistic expression.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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It's an exercise in self expression and hopefully a creative paver on my road to Hashimoto's recovery.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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➡️ What are you desirous of switching up in 2021?  How can I support you in that? 🖤 Drop your project, goal, website, etc. below and let's support one another!
I might ruffle a few feathers with this one...⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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📝 We are not meant to play small.  However, we don't just wake up one day ready to play big - we grow into our abilities - challenge by challenge.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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(📝 - this emoji means I'm quoting directly from my journal).⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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This has been a challenging Holiday season for so many of us.  Hell, a challenging whole year.  And we don't know what 2021 will bring.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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What I'm taking solace in today, though, is that I have the capacity to face challenges.  And challenges are often a redirection.  And redirection is often the very pathway to expansion.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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What if instead of fighting all of these challenges, we start to embrace them?  What if we allowed life to redirect us without putting up such a fight?  Could it be that life is actually looking out for us?  Changing our trajectory toward a future that is beyond our wildest dreams?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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That's what I'm holding to.  I have not historically gone easily into challenging times, but now, in a space where they cannot be avoided, I'm trying to learn to use them to my advantage. ➕To learn, ➕to reshape, ➕to change my mindset, ➕to grow, ➕to expand, ➕to add to my skillset.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Whatever you are going through, you are not alone.  Also, whatever you may be facing, know that you are stronger than you realize.  You are far more capable than you may feel right now.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Listen to a sad song.  Dance it out.  Cry it out.  Journal it out. Do what you need to do... ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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And then get to work.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Love you,⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Jaclyn⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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(Jumpsuit - @freepeople, Ruffle blouse - @amazonfashion, Earrings - @houseofharlow1960, Lipstick - @lawless liquid lipstick in George)

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