March: Momentum

On fine-tuning, forward motion, and getting out of my own head

Have you ever felt like you’ve overstayed your welcome in your own headspace? I’ve had a few select moments of late, and it’s enough to want to reach for a hairshirt for penance. Instead, I’m returning to the reminder that I keep forgetting!

R E L A X

I could write it on every mirror in the house, as we’ve somehow managed to acquire a few of them. But if I wrote that down, it would remind me of The Shining’s REDRUM and that would have the opposite effect.

Yet, despite these humanizing moments—peaks and valleys, kids, peaks and valleys— I’ve been doing alright. I’ve been trying to balance headspace with heartspace.

Katsushika Hokusai, The Great Wave off Kanagawa ~1830–1832

You see, after we moved into our new place, I was forced to make some adjustments. For example, I no longer could walk to work, I had to go by tuktuk taxi, which is fine, but that meant losing about 1.5 hours of exercise over the week. So, I added 5 minutes on the rebounder.

Then this led me to discovering that strength-based exercise is very important for menopausal women to counteract declining estrogen levels. As a result, I got heavier weights and changed my exercise routine.

I also learned we need more protein and finally developed a skin-care routine. And I’m looking at this newsletter through my updated pink glasses on my new monitor. It’s funny how one change cascaded into many others.

This is why I chose momentum for this month’s word. Life has been filled with this kind of fine-tuning, improvements, and learning—and I love it because I enjoy taking care of myself.

Such a Taurus, I know.

Katsushika Hokusai, Wind, Clear Morning (Red Fuji), ~1830–1832

It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop. —Confucius

It’s tough though. I can feel my mind’s familiar pull toward the dark side, especially with travel coming up and a head full of plans. I waver between stress and trust.

But maybe this is where momentum matters most—not in perfect routines, but in returning, again and again, when I drift. Relax. Adjust. Keep moving.

Thanks for being here. I always appreciate your thoughts and reflections.