Ep. 59 Naps, Nostalgia, The Flu and a Snowsuit Malfunction: Winter Reflections - Solo Episode

In this heartfelt episode, Lisa reflects on the transition into 2025, inviting listeners to assess their well-being and recount their experiences of the past season. Sharing personal anecdotes about a challenging flu season, the joys of cherished traditions, and a marathon film watching session, the host emphasizes the significance of rest and community. 

The episode culminates in a soothing somatic practice aimed at fostering presence and relaxation. 

00:00 Welcome and Check-In

01:35 Reflecting on Traditions

02:38 Holiday Flu and Community Care

04:21 Winter Moments and Laughter

05:41 Rest and Reflection

06:38 Movie Marathons and Family Time

08:06 The Importance of Rest and Community

09:57 Gentle Somatic Practice

17:52 Closing Thoughts and Gratitude

18:15 Subscribe and Stay Tuned

Transcript

Lisa: 0:11

Well, hello, hello, hello, friends. It's been a minute, hasn't it? And suddenly here we are finding ourselves stepping into 2025. How are you doing out there? Truly. How are you? Maybe even just take a moment to check in with yourself. How are you actually doing right now? What has this season been like for you? Do you feel rested, loved up on, or was this a season of sadness? Was it bittersweet? Was it lonely? Or perhaps it was a mix of all of those things? Check in. How has all of this been for you? Wow, what a journey it's been to arrive at this moment together. I'm just sitting here feeling so much gratitude for the love and support I've received along the way. support that's made it possible for me to be here speaking with you. I wanted to share this tradition. For many years, my husband and I had this thing where throughout the year, we jot down little notes about, moments of joy, blessings, or even small and big victories and tuck them into a mason jar. And then on New Year's Eve, we'd open it up and read them all together. Now we didn't keep up with that this past year, but I still hold that practice close to my heart. A simple reminder of the power of reflection and gratitude and how beautiful of a practice that was. And as I'm sharing that with you, I'm. I want to start it again this year. I wonder what your traditions are as well throughout the year. It's kind of fun sometimes just to Have all of these little experiences that can be hard to remember at the end of the year when you're trying to Call forward the good things that have happened in life. And so that practice is definitely coming back but as I was saying it's been a while since we've connected here on the podcast and Part of that is because well over the holidays my husband and I were hit with a flu that knocked us flat. Oh friends I can't remember the last time I felt that sick. It was one of those bugs that made its rounds through our little farm community. And we were all taking turns feeling wobbly, achy, tired, migrained. I mean, it was a whole, it was a whole thing for weeks on end. But, you know, what stood out to me in the midst of all that discomfort was the care that we extended to one another. On the days when one of us felt a little better, we'd step up and walk the dogs, make tea, cook a warm meal, or just simply sit together in silence on the living room floor. Sometimes just being near each other was the most comforting thing of all. So in all of that, in the, I guess it was probably close to a fortnight. That's what my grandma used to say of being sick. There were so many moments in there of just being held. by community, by each other, which made the experience, even though it was over the holiday season, just a little bit more bearable. We had also one of those classic winter moments that you just know is going to be, well, in my mind, it will be retold for years. I was out in the freezing cold, like, barely managing to walk the dogs in this, like, vintage snowsuit. One that had definitely seen its fair share of snowmobile rides and snow angel attempts over the years. And at one point, I bent down to pick up a snowball to toss for one of the dogs and with perfect comedic timing, the entire back end of the snowsuit ripped wide open with a sound that can only be described as like part balloon pop, part cartoon fart noise. And it physically hurt to laugh, but we all did like big, deep belly laughs in the freezing air. Honestly, it was one of those moments where you just had to surrender to the ridiculousness of it all. Besides all that, the importance of a good laugh is never lost on me. And you can probably tell, like, my voice is not back to normal yet. I still have a bit of a runny nose. Um, and I, you know, got this raspy voice thing going on. But I digress. But prior to this, I had recorded an episode every single week for a full year, 52 weeks without missing a beat. But when breathing through one nostril felt like an accomplishment and naps became a non negotiable part of my day, I made the conscious choice to pause, to rest. To let myself sink into a quieter season and honestly, I'm so grateful that I did even just here being with you today on what is typically my episode launch day. I feel clear, I feel excited. about what's to come for the year because I made the choice to just really deeply go into hibernation. So during that restful stretch, our little farm family decided to lean all the way into hibernation mode. And last year, we tackled the Lord of the Rings trilogy, which was awesome! And this year, we decided on Harry Potter. K? All eight movies, each over two hours long. We committed, friends. So that's, we calculated. About 19 hours of Harry Potter. And I believe it took us around five or six days to complete it. But anyway, every afternoon around two or 3pm, we'd gather in the basement of one of the bigger houses, arms full of snacks, popcorn, brownies, kombucha, tea, chocolate, nachos, and we just let ourselves sink in. For five or six days straight, we shared, Deep belly laughs, quiet moments, and that bittersweet feeling that comes when something cozy and beautiful comes to an end. So when the final credits rolled, I felt a couple of things. A little sadness that our marathon was over. and a deep sense of gratitude for the gift of chosen family, for the chance to slow down, and for the way our community holds each other with such love and care. And I share all of this because I think it's so important to give ourselves permission to rest, to allow a week or even just a day a minute, an afternoon of softness, spontaneity, naps, movies, or art, to trust that stillness isn't wasted time. But necessary time. And I also share it because of the magic of community. I find myself so often in awe of the people walking this stretch of life alongside me, their kindness, their humor, their openness, what a gift it is to be surrounded by such hearts. I also just wanted to pose the question, who Who are the people in your life that feel like a warm coat on a cold day? Who are the folks that make spending time together just kind of melt away? Who are the people in your life that deeply hold you when things are going well and when things are not going so well? Even just taking a moment to feel the appreciation for the people in your life that mean something to you is so beautiful. And because I took this time and because I was so nourished by the community, I'm stepping into this new year feeling rested and feeling clear in ways I haven't felt in a long time. My wish for this community is that there has also been a sense of this throughout the busy holiday season as we remember what's important to us. So in the spirit of everything that I've shared, I'd love to close today with a gentle somatic practice, a chance for us to land together right here in this moment. So of course, if you're driving or in a space where you can't fully drop in, Feel free to bookmark this and come back when you can. Just take a moment to let your eyes soften and slowly begin to look around your space, just noticing the corners of the room, the space above you, below you, and behind you, just really sinking in and letting your head and neck move gently. As your eyes take in your surroundings without searching for anything in particular, just gazing around your room, just allowing, and really just spend the next few moments just giving your eyes this break. Perhaps there's been a lot of screen time. And as you do this, just notice if anything shifts in your breath, the way it just did for mine or in your body. Maybe there's a sigh, a swallow, or just this subtle settling. And if it feels good, perhaps close your eyes and place your palms gently over them. If you have a countertop or something, you can lean your elbows on, and just allowing your head to give way to your hands. Again, resting those eyes, feeling the warmth of your hands. Just noticing that complete darkness behind your eyes. And then when you're ready, just release your hands. And you can just gently open your eyes. And if you're seated right now, then the invitation is to stand and just take a moment to get there, allowing your bones to be heavy, your body to give way to gravity. You might want to try just rocking gently from side to side, shifting your weight from one foot to the other, feeling the soles of your feet meeting the ground. Just allowing the ground to come up to support your feet as you gently rock from side to side. Now just take a moment to shake out your arms, your legs, and your shoulders. Maybe even smush your face a little bit. And by that I mean just kind of make faces, like pucker your lips and squint your eyes and kind of move your lips around, stick out your tongue, maybe make a sound, blah, whatever feels a bit playful or in some way releasing. And now bring your hands to your head. Just interlace your fingers. And gently apply some pressure downward on your head, just some gentle pressure, enough that you feel the connection all the way through your spine and into your feet. Maybe you just want to introduce that rocking gently from side to side, feeling the weight shift in your legs, in your pelvis. And when that feels complete, you can just release your hands, place them side to side. And just notice where you are in space, in your space. Notice where your body ends and when you're, where your environment begins. And now as you come back to stillness, or in other words, just simply being present, Just notice what's here. Maybe there's a feeling, a sensation, or just a quiet spaciousness. And now take a breath. Maybe making some sound on the exhale. And then take another. And just let yourself settle into this now moment. And just notice if you feel different from when you first arrived here with me. Just taking note of what that might feel like. Rest is precious. And while action is also necessary, what if rest could inform action? What if a well rested body gives way for actions that are truly more in alignment with who we are, who we are becoming? And rest looks different for everyone. What kind of rest is your body calling for? Is it the kind of rest that comes with doing more of the things that you love, a sense of fulfillment? Or is it just taking a few moments each day to just look out the window and breathe? Is it spending more time with people you cherish, or maybe it is indeed naps and more physical rest. As we move into this next season, may we remember to give ourselves grace. May we remember that rest isn't earned, it's essential. And may we keep showing up for ourselves and each other with gentleness. with presence and with an open heart. As always, thank you for being here with me today. Thank you for being part of this space. And until next time, take care of yourself with love. Always. Bye for now. As always, thank you so much for listening. Life is busy. So it means even more that you're carving out time in your day to be here. Listen, we've got so many great episodes coming up, so please make sure you subscribe to follow along on Apple podcasts or Spotify. And for those of you who like to watch your podcasts, we are now uploading them to YouTube. And if you appreciate these episodes, please do us a favor and leave a rating or a review and share it with anyone you think could benefit. See you again next Wednesday.