Hi Reader,

As we get into December, I’ve been thinking about how mixed this time of year can feel. I don’t know if it’s the same for you, but November is always a bit heavy for me. My grandmother passed away at the end of November ten years ago, and that still sits with me. And then last week, a friend of mine (who was one of the teachers in my high school) died just a few days before her 80th birthday. I’m glad I got to see her when I was in Canada last month, but it still hit hard.

So yes, there’s grief. And at the same time, there’s everything else. It’s possible to feel more than one thing at once. You can be sad and still look forward to what’s ahead. That’s pretty much where I’ve been sitting.

Finding small ways to reset

Prague doesn’t help with all the darkness this time of year, but any day the sun comes out I basically run out of WeWork to catch it. Even ten minutes outside helps. And in the middle of all that, I’m also excited. My cousin is coming for Christmas (her first time in Europe) and I’m already planning where I want to take her. After that, I’ll see my sister in London, and then I’m heading to St. Lucia and Asia for a few months.

Returning to simple grounding tools

Somewhere in between the dark days and the travel planning, I’ve been leaning on RAIN meditation again. If you’ve listened to Changes Big and Small, you’ve heard me talk about it. It’s simple, and it helps me stay with whatever I’m feeling instead of rushing past it. If you want the quick version of how I use it, you can find it directly from meditation teacher, Tara Brach.

Update on the podcast

This Wednesday, I’m releasing Episode 1 of my new podcast, Freedom Looks Like This. It’s about solo travel for women 40+, and honestly, planning it has been one of the bright spots in the last few weeks. The trailer is at freedomlookslikethis.com, and if you know someone who travels alone or wants to, feel free to share it with her.

I also got the final version of the cover art this weekend, and I’m happy with where we landed. I’m curious what you would choose out of these four?

Goals and looking both forward and backward

I wrote most of this newsletter while doing my usual 10-minute morning bike ride. Health has been a focus for me this year. I didn’t stick to every workout plan I set, but I didn’t quit either, and that counts for something.

If there’s something you wanted to do this year, something still sitting in the back of your mind, and you want to talk through it or get an outside perspective, I’m available for a 30-minute session until December 30. After that, I’m taking a coaching break while I travel because the time zones get complicated. If you think you need longer than 30 minutes, just reply and we can figure it out.

You can sign up directly here.

Wherever you are with your own mix of emotions right now, I hope you’re giving yourself room for all of it.

Joyfully,
Damianne

P.S. If you know a woman over 40 who wants more freedom or is thinking about solo travel, you can point her to the Freedom Looks Like This community on Skool. It might be exactly what she needs.

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