Lessons From May
on the difficulty of building routines. hope. misalignment and defining success.
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Thank you! Hope you enjoy this week’s letter. <3
There has been a stark difference in how my life looks since May of last year. I have more freedom over my time now. More time to pursue my interests. It’s all very fascinating, very exciting because I have always prayed so hard for this life. But having free will over your time comes with the risk of losing structure. A 5-minute scrolling sesh can rob you of numerous hours. A workout class becomes a commitment you’ll always “start from tomorrow”. Building routines purely on intention, not on a deadline, is truly a skill that requires immense patience.
I partly struggled with that last month, especially in the days leading up to my vacation, where everything felt like a problem I’d face once I was back from my holiday because that’s how procrastination works, right?
May was the month when it finally hit me that time is fleeting, and if I am not intentional about it now, it will drift me away from the life I see myself living in the future. May was also one of the most adventurous months of this year, with lots of travel, solitude and catching up. It was an interesting set of revelations, I now realise while looking back. I hope you enjoy reading them, and perhaps even relate to some of them.
Lessons from May
Your future is one thing you can’t fully control in life. Stop trying to stress over things that will only reveal themselves in due course of time and ruin what’s right in front of you.
Every person has an opinion on your life based on how theirs unfolded. Be prepared for people to tell you that you aren’t doing enough, you are far behind the timelines, and you are not good enough in front of others with better achievements. If you really want to protect your peace of mind, always remember that their words aren’t the gold standard. Success looks different for everyone. Instead of letting them tell you how it should look in your life, discover your own definition of it.
When you sense misalignment in life, act on it. Most people sit with this feeling for a long time, until it’s too late. They eventually realise how easily they walked away from a life where they could have gotten what they desired if they simply acted on it.
A “soft life” is not served to us on a platter. It’s built with intention, and an equal bit of action. Embracing solitude and building routines that align with your needs are simple tasks. It is us who try to make these things complex, without realising that it takes a genius to be simple, not the other way round.
May came with hope.
‘May we be fearless and unapologetically chase our dreams.
May we live with a heart full of love and willing to accept love, even when it feels scary.
May we not settle for less and continue seeking what matters.
May we choose to live life, not simply pass through it.’
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Things that caught my attention this week…
When the Thoughts Get Too Big, Go Someplace You Feel Small by Scott Stillman. A reminder to embrace the beauty of nature when surrounded by overwhelm.
Adult Summer Camp by Nedra Glover Tawwab. The best advice I have recently encountered on to find joy as an adult with never ending responsibilities.
The 5-minute nervous system reset I do before bed every night (works better than any supplement I’ve ever tried) by The Balance Routine. A calm nervous system should be your priority. Here’s where you can start.
10 things for a wholesome June by Jodie Melissa Rogers. As lover of the month of June, this read was the right place to start one of my favourite months of the year.
to the girl waking up dreading her day by anna trimble. I have been loving Anna’s posts lately, and this one was no different.
Thank you for including me! Much appreciated ❤️
thank you so much for including me in this Mani! I appreciate it so much! 🩷
also - I can totally relate to the beginning of this piece about losing structure...since leaving corporate it took me a long time to cultivate a bit of structure back in my day-to-day. I've found that having a loose morning routine helps me start my day out on a positive note. it also took me awhile to embrace all the time and freedom! it's so different but such a nice change.
thank you so much for sharing these thoughts and lessons!