Embracing the In-Between – Finding Beauty and Surrender Along the Way

Hello Friends!

In the midst of the holiday season, we find ourselves in a peculiar stretch of time – the in-between – a period that often feels like a pause before the new year. It’s easy to let these in-between moments slip by, viewing them as a kind of limbo until the next event unfolds. But what if we took a bit more notice of the beauty that can be offered in the in-between?

While we may often perceive ourselves as separate from nature, the truth is, we are made of the same elements. And just as nature has seasons of stillness and rest, we too need those intervals. Times when we can integrate lessons and tools we’ve learned, allowing our bodies - emotional, spiritual and physical - to recover from challenging periods, creating space to get quiet and invite inspiration into our world.

In the pursuit of a goal, we can become so fixated on the finish line that we overlook the beauty inherent in the journey. When we’re in the midst of an endeavour that’s important to us, it’s easy to downplay small accomplishments and milestones we reach along the way to our end goal. Disruptions and deviations from the plan can lead to discouragement, yet these moments often hold opportunities for growth and redirection towards something even better than we could’ve imagined. No one’s journey is linear; we’re all navigating a path filled with twists and turns. The more we learn to surrender to these twists, the more we can appreciate the in-between as we progress toward our goals.

In moments of discomfort, it’s tempting to dwell on the unease. During a recent wellness retreat to the Mayan jungle, despite a constant layer of bug spray that covered my body, I ended up with 125-150 mosquito bites over the course of the week! I would wake up in the middle of the night consumed with thoughts of how itchy my body felt and how hard it was to not scratch. Intentionally paying attention to the in-between moments became crucial. Could I catch those instances when the itching subsided and relish in the reprieve, however fleeting they may be? Whether applying this to itching, pain, or other bodily discomforts, it doesn’t erase it, but allows us to acknowledge that nothing is constant.

Now, let’s dive into the realm of romantic relationships. In the early stages of friendship, we seldom fixate on reaching specific milestones; we allow friendships to unfold organically. However, if you’re like me, you may have found the same freedom often eludes us in romantic relationships. Past experiences had me preoccupied with when milestones like “I love you” or discussions about moving in together would occur. Focusing on these milestones not only kept me in a state of anxiousness, those blinders also made me ignore misalignment in values with some partners and the beauty of little moments with others. As I’ve been able to notice and be present for the in-between, I’ve been able to keep checking in to see if the person I’m dating is a good fit, and enjoy the process of discovery.

So as you navigate this current in-between, consider what it’s trying to offer you - perhaps time for connection, rest, or presence. Enjoy it for the opportunity it is, and I’ll see you in the new year! May it bring you, balance, health, peace, and connection.

With heartfelt gratitude,
Christina