Protecting My Peace And Purpose

The twists and turns of life have taught me that it’s essential to protect my peace of mind and honor my purpose in life. The foundation is putting myself first, not in a spirit of selfishness, but in recognition that my life is my responsibility. I know that I’m meant to be a writer and health advocate. But I’m also a person in need of rest, beauty, and joy.

The era of COVID and deep social conflict has shaken our economy and society, institutions, and relationships. Many of us are asking the big questions about what’s right, what we’re willing to do, and what’s too much. I'm uncomfortably minimizing this moment of tectonic shifts and deep grief to a self-improvement device. That feels gross, but we shouldn’t let it go to waste. It’s a great time to evaluate how we spend our time and energy.

Our energy is an investment. What are you paying into?

The last two years have been my most productive in terms of writing, advocacy, and investment in my life and relationships. Here’s how I did it.

Limits are liberating

I commit to a limited amount of advocacy events each month. I split my time between my Twitter, Zoom meetings, and media availability. I decline about half of what I’m offered. Most opportunities are great, but they often come in late or require more energy than I have right now.

Center sustaining relationships

Ongoing health struggles and 3 years of eldercare wrecked my life. The Dude died in 2019, and I’ve taken an intentional approach to my relationships throughout the pandemic. This ongoing process of rebuilding relationships takes time, but it’s been deeply satisfying.

The squad

I joined a small artists group 2021. We started with an exploratory phase, getting to know each other and what we wanted to accomplish. Our weekly meetings and ongoing camaraderie made a big difference in my confidence and productivity. I’ve made substantial progress in writing fiction and essays, advocacy, and planning future projects along the way. And it feels good to help others succeed.

Make time for butterflies

In 2021 we finally got some caterpillars, after years of Monarch butterflies flying through our yard or quickly stopping by to feed on our flowers. I found them after my second iron infusion to treat my anemia. At that point, my future was uncertain. Unexplained severe anemia is a known sign of advanced cancer and other terrible things.

It wasn’t easy. Anemia and arthritis made me feel like was filled with burning hot lead. Every task felt nearly impossible. Some days I barely managed to feed the caterpillars and keep their jars clean. But the joy of releasing each butterfly lightens my heart.

We ended up releasing 17 Monarchs and 24 Eastern Black Swallowtails in 2021. And there are 21 swallowtail chrysalides sitting in my dining room as I write this. I’m looking forward to butterflies this spring.

Is there something you want or need to do with your life?