Embracing change

“To be fully alive, fully human, and completely awake is to be continually thrown out of the nest.” – Pema Chodron 

My favorite part of this Pema Chodron quote is the notion of being completely awake.

As someone who went through the motions for a handful of years, I would say that it’s been a long time since I’ve felt completely awake.

That is, until I made the choice to throw myself out of the nest, each and every day.

Until I had to learn something new, on a consistent basis.

Until I practiced talking about my dreams and goals. Until I said out loud what I wanted from my life, and then made a plan to get there.

To be awake in your own body is not necessarily to be comfortable, but there’s a new energy to carry you through that discomfort.

And so, here is my newest experience in embracing change:

I’ve partnered with a wonderful new organization called City Sprouts, which among other things, offers cloth diapers / accessories to local moms and their babies, as well as classes and access to doula/midwife services.

Their retail space will now be carrying a selection of my matted art prints most suited for families, plus individual note cards and framed art prints (neither of which I sell online, so this is a special experiment).

Here are the framed prints, ready to head to City Sprouts!

What do you think? Eric helped me pick out frames that complemented each print, and we were really happy with the results. If you’re local to Philadelphia and interested in seeing their shop, let me know.

I’ll be sure to also take/post some pictures of their upcoming launch party.

Needless to say, there’s been a lot to learn recently. I’ve been breathing through the experience, taking it one day at a time.

We all react differently to new opportunities. Some of us may thrive on change and can navigate new challenges in the moment. Others of us are more careful, working through a bundle of nerves before we can act.

I’m a funny combination of the two, where I welcome change but also get super nervous!

I will likely always be nervous when trying something I’ve never tried before, but each time I am thrown from the nest it gets a little easier.

Each time, my nerves dissipate a little more quickly.

As author Stephen Pressfield says, Never forget: This very moment, we can change our lives. There never was a moment, and never will be, when we are without the power to alter our destiny.

And so our journeys continue. What new thing will you experience today?

Here’s to change,