The first week of January, as I caught up from the holidays and sprang into my agenda for 2020, I felt an old, familiar feeling creeping in.
STRESS.
I saw myself sliding into overwhelm and paused, sat down with my old fashioned planner and my virtual calendar, and scheduled in time to anchor into the values and commitments I’ve prioritized for 2021.
I blocked off the day of the new moon (today!) and the full moon each month for practice, contemplation and writing, giving myself a biweekly anchor for introspection, creativity and devotion.
I noted the anniversaries of the deaths of my mom and all four of my grandparents, so I can make sure that I honor their memories on those days. This is a core practice of the ancestral healing work I’ve done over many years, and helps keep me connected to the healing and guidance coming through each of those lines.
I blocked off time each Monday to learn, in particular from the teachers I’m in community with in the equity and anti-racism space (especially Trudi LeBron’s Equity-Centered Coaching Collective — which I every coach would do well to join.) By starting my week in these communities I make sure that the work I do on my business throughout the week is anchored in commitment to inclusion and equity, and that I’m constantly reflecting on how I can do better.
In Trudi’s live teaching this Monday she invited us to the same thing: specifically, to block out next Wednesday, January 20, inauguration day, for contemplation, community, and self-care. Extraordinary coach that she is, she’s modeling the practice of preemptively taking time and space in the face of — rather than in the wake of — especially challenging times — so we can better handle what comes and be of better service to our communities.
I want to acknowledge that all of this is based on a great deal of privilege — to have a flexible schedule and block out time for unpaid work. As long as that privilege exists, I believe the most useful question is how to work skillfully with the resources (time, money) that privilege affords to work towards equity and justice.
