Silhouette of a woman in a field with sunlight streaming through her hair during sunset.

being the light

As I write these words, the storm is bearing down, the dark night comes way too early, and uncertainty is ever present. This is an uncomfortable time. I light a candle as a symbol of hope. A reminder that even in the darkest of times, there is always light guiding our way.

There is no question that the world feels heavier and more uncertain. The devastating result of our election. Extreme tribalism. Fear of what’s to come. Wars. A planet in peril. It seems utterly hopeless at times. And yet, there is light.

The question becomes how do we dance between the darkness and the light? How do we cultivate the light when the darkness is so heavy and pervasive? This is my mantra for the months ahead - how to cultivate the light within when the darkness feels so heavy and dense.

When the concept of the Radical Joy Project first started to germinate it coalesced around one central theme - that if we are to THRIVE in our own lives, we must remember the light we each carry and how much it matters. Especially as the storm continues to bear down. Especially when our hearts feel so heavy and our mothers, sisters, daughters, and friends are being stripped of their autonomy and freedoms. Especially when the planet is burning and the wars are still raging. Being the light is how we turn the tides. It is the salve to our weary hearts.

Every time we shine our light we become a beacon for others to do the same. We do it in acts of kindness, bravery, compassion, and resilience. All of it is light.

The beautiful meal we prepare for our friends and family, the stories we tell, the songs we sing, the connections we forge, the art we make - all of it is light and it matters.

Despair and hopelessness is what the patriarchy thrives on. Those in leadership that subscribe to power over instead of collaboration and equity are counting on us to give up on ourselves and each other. Right now our despair is being weaponized and it’s hard not to succumb to it.

But here's what I know. The antidote to despair is hope. It’s the thing that gives us a pathway out of this hellscape and enables us to keep our inner lights shining. The Radical Joy Project is hope. Sisterhood is hope. A safe container is hope.

Today my mom asked me whether or not I thought common sense gun reform might pass within the next 4 years. My response was that I couldn’t even fathom a hope that big. Not today. My nervous system won’t let me go that far out. For me, it’s head down, heart open, and massive amounts of self-compassion and grace. It’s finding the cracks of light whenever and wherever I can.

My Promise to Myself

Everyday I will track 3 things I’m grateful for. The smell of fresh rain. My first cup of coffee in the morning. The beautiful, funny racoon family I refuse to stop feeding. The feel of my husband lying next to me in bed. Practicing gratitude is a tiny micro dose of light but it packs a huge punch.
I will continue my daily meditation practice of seeing myself healthy, vibrant, and strong. I will let go of my old stories, release what doesn’t serve me, in order to make room for a bad ass wild woman full of light, laughter, and magic. High vibes + love = my forever mantra!
I will track these as best I can in my notes app in order to celebrate my wins in January.

Three simple steps towards healing and hope. It’s all light and it matters.

My Question to You

What will you do to combat despair and keep your light turned on? Keep it simple. Make it measurable. Keep it tiny and doable. And most importantly, track it for future reference. When you feel like you’ve been stuck in a dark loop and haven't gotten out of your yoga pants in days, look at your list. You’ll see that there is movement and reason to celebrate. We will need this a great deal in the coming months.

The New Year

As I stated earlier, my nervous system isn’t ready to think big or to look way out into the future. Not yet. I’m focusing on what I can control right here, right now. Tiny steps. I’ll leave the big bird's eye view to the warriors and join them later.

What I AM thinking about is January and how I want to engage moving forward. The last year was fucking hard and I need to spend some time releasing in order to move into 2025 refreshed and renewed. I want to celebrate the wins and find peace and acceptance amongst the rubble. I want clarity and focus so that I can dream and scheme in the months ahead. I’ll talk more about the dreaming and scheming next month but in the meantime here’s your homework.

December’s Soulwork

Throughout the month of December, find the tiny, quiet moments and grab your journal. Put pen to paper and release. How do you feel in the different areas of your life - physical, mental, work, family? Go broad. You don’t have to get super detailed but you want to have a clear picture of where you stand here. What were the lessons learned? What needs releasing? What are the old worn out stories you tell about yourself? What no longer serves you? Write it all down. Think of this as a sacred purge. Light a candle. Pour yourself a cuppa and let it rip!

That’s it. That’s your Soulwork for December. In January we’ll work on dreaming. We’ll explore the question, “What is it time for now?” We’ll get intentional here. We’ll create the time and space to get below the surface and the endless to-do lists, and recommit to a life that aligns more fully to our dreams. I can’t wait to see what surfaces!