What did I learn today? Lessons on the Journey to Unconditional Self Love

  In nature, everything exists within a larger field of support: the tree is held by the soil, the fungi, the sunlight, the rain. It doesn’t  earn  that support. It exists within a system designed to sustain it. Ellie Seilern This quote found me when I needed a reminder. A reminder of what it means to be held—not through merit, not through effort—but simply through existence. And it unlocked something in me: a deep wave of gratitude for the earth that has always known how to carry me. Nature has been my quiet companion, my sacred teacher. In the ache of uncertainty, in the mess of transition, when I didn’t know what healing looked like—I walked. Up steep hills with no promise of a peak, across beaches that washed away my fears grain by grain. The winds changed without warning, the skies tested my resolve, but the sheer magnificence of the moon hanging over the sea, the sun breaking the horizon open—it reminded me I was still here. I didn't plan for nature to heal me. I s...

  There’s a quiet revolution happening—one that begins with a simple, radical truth: I am worthy. Full stop. Not because I’ve ticked off every item on my to-do list. Not because I’ve stayed busy from sunrise to sunset. Not because I’ve earned a certain income, gained a certain following, or built a certain network. I am worthy because I exist. The Hustle Myth We live in a world that often confuses productivity with value. We’re told our “net worth” defines us. We’re praised for being booked and busy. We’re encouraged to chase metrics—followers, likes, connections—as if they are proof of our significance. And so, we hustle. We overextend. We say yes when we mean no. We perform. We prove. We push. All in the name of being seen as “enough.” But here’s the truth: Hustling for worthiness is a losing game. Because the finish line keeps moving. And the more we chase it, the more disconnected we become from our true selves. A Different Starting Point What if we began...

“if the ocean can calm itself, so can you. we are both salt water mixed with air.” Nayyirah Waheed There’s something sacred about the morning. The hush before the world fully wakes. The promise of a new beginning from the Most High Each weekend, I return to the North Coast—a ritual, a rhythm, a remembering. I walk the shore as the sun rises, watching the world unfold in its own quiet ceremony. The sea, the sky, the sand—they speak if you’re still enough to listen. This morning, the ocean whispered something new. At first glance, the water looked dark—almost black. I paused. Then, as if on cue, the surface shimmered and broke open. Hundreds of fish leapt from the water in perfect symmetry, their silver bodies catching the light like tiny mirrors. It was as if the sea had exhaled a secret. I gasped—no, I screamed. Not from fear, but from awe. From the sheer beauty of it all. What looked strange and out of place at first—dark water, an unfamiliar movement—revealed itself to be something e...

  For a few minutes go within, be with the silence and stillness and you will hear the wisdom of the Spirit. Remembering our rituals is key. It is our duty to become our own best friend, to silence the punishing inner critic. It is our sacred assignment to honor the light within, and work every day in partnership with God—and one another. Let love lead the way! Susan L Taylor  There is a sacredness in stillness. In a world that constantly demands our attention, energy, and care, we often forget the one person we are with 24/7 — ourselves. Before we give ourselves away — to work, to family, to causes, to relationships — what if we paused? What if we gave ourselves to ourselves first? This isn’t selfish. It’s sacred. That silence you take in the morning before your phone lights up, that moment you place your hand on your heart just to feel it beat, that walk in nature where your mind unclutters — these are not small things. They are rituals. Acts of devotion. Invitations to com...

  “ Courage is the most important of all the virtues because, without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently. You can practice any virtue erratically, but nothing consistently without courage. ”Maya Angelou  This month, I am committed to showing up with courage—not the kind draped in capes and fanfare, but the quiet, daily kind. The kind that shows up despite the knot in your stomach, the racing heart, the voice hissing, "What if you fail?" This is my biggest lesson : Courage is a muscle. It weakens with avoidance. It strengthens with action. And no, it doesn’t mean you’re unafraid. It means you refuse to let fear stop you from taking action, from growing. Courage in the Wild Last month, I watched a leatherback turtle (yes, Bobbi! - I named her) drag herself up the beach to lay her eggs. Every labored flipper-scoop was an act of courage—no guarantees, just faith in the process. She didn’t overthink it. She did it. We’re no different. Your July Cour...

This morning, the ocean gifted me a miracle. There’s a reason I run this 3km stretch of beach at dawn—it’s where I recalibrate, where I ground myself, where I talk (and listen) to the Most High. The rhythm of the waves, the salt in the air, the sun painting the sky —it’s the place that I believed healed me and kept me during some of the toughest moments. But today, the ocean offered me a sacred lesson, courtesy of an old friend: Bobbi the leatherback turtle. Yes, I named her. Because this isn’t the first time we’ve met. But today? Today, I witnessed her entire ritual—the slow, deliberate crawl up the sand, the digging of the nest, the laying of her eggs, the careful covering of her treasure, and finally, her exhausted but determined return to the sea. All while the sun rose behind her, as if the universe itself was bearing witness. The Art of Preparation Bobbi didn’t rush. Every movement was intentional—the way she used her flippers to carve out the perfect chamber, the precision with ...