Life has a way of rerouting us when we least expect it.

This month was meant to be full of writing, content creation, retreat launching and planning for summer ease and flow. But instead, I was brought to my knees—called to be present in a deeper, more raw way. My sister was diagnosed with cancer, and just like that, everything else faded into the background. The timelines, the plans, the perfectly laid intentions for June—they all fell away.

And honestly? They needed to.

Because what rose in their place was something more important than any plan: Presence. Love. The fierce clarity that arrives when life gets very real, very fast.

Soft beginnings sometimes come wrapped in heartbreak.

We often talk about rest as a luxury, or a lifestyle choice. But rest is also what our bodies and hearts crave when we’re navigating the unthinkable. It’s what allows us to show up for the people we love and, just as importantly, for ourselves.

This kind of pause isn’t about laziness or “falling behind.”

It’s about returning home. To your values. To your breath. To what matters most.

What I’m learning—and re-learning—is this:

You don’t need to earn your pause. You just need to allow it.

So if you’re in a season where life feels tender, unpredictable, or downright heavy, I want to share a few things that have been helping me ground during the storm:

5 Ways to Move Through Life’s Unexpected Seasons with Grace

1. Let go of the timeline.

You’re not behind. You’re not off-track. You’re in life. Let the calendar stretch. Let your plans reshape themselves. It’s safe to press pause.

2. Tend to the essentials.

Focus on what’s right in front of you—your people, your breath, your body, your rest. Let these be enough for now. They are the roots that hold you steady.

3. Anchor into mini rituals.

When everything feels uncertain, a few gentle rhythms—morning tea, journaling, a short walk—can remind you that you’re still held. Ritual creates a container for your grief and grace to coexist.

4. Receive help.

You don’t have to do this alone. Ask for support. Let people love on you. Let meals be dropped off. Let the village rise up around you.

5. Speak to yourself like someone you love.

You are navigating a lot. Be as tender with yourself as you are with everyone else. Let your inner voice be soft. Let your heart be honored.

In closing…

This month didn’t go as planned. But what I’ve come to realize is that life itself is the spiritual practice.

When we surrender to what’s here—when we stop resisting the detours—we find something real: depth, clarity, and a presence that heals.

And if you’re yearning for a space to be held in that pause…

To rest, reset, and remember who you are beneath all the noise…

✨ I would love to invite you to the Nature & Nurture Retreat this October in Vermont. ✨

It’s a sacred space to soften. To slow down. To be surrounded by sisterhood, nature, nourishing food, creativity, and deep rest. Together, we’ll tune back into joy, embodiment, and the kind of presence that can only be felt when we stop trying to hold it all together.

We’re gathering October 23-26, and there’s still space for you if your heart feels called.

Learn more about the retreat here →

Let yourself pause. Let yourself be. The rest will meet you there.

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Need a little softness in your summer?

If you’re in a season of slowing down—or simply craving more beauty, ease, and nourishment in your everyday—I’ve created a special Summer Staples collection just for you.

It’s filled with the simple things that are helping me stay grounded and glowy this season: calming rituals, nourishing favorites, soft summer style, and little luxuries that bring joy without overwhelm.

A soft summer doesn’t have to mean doing less—it just means doing what truly matters, with intention.

Browse the Summer Staples Collection →

Let this be your invitation to soften, simplify, and savor.