Hello friends,
This final week in our exploration of The Art of Returning is about integrating. You’ve looked back with tenderness, honored places that live inside you, and listened to the quiet longings that call you forward. Now, we gently root ourselves in the here and now—bringing all those soul-stirrings into your current life, no matter how ordinary or quiet they may seem.
First, let me share what I’m longing for.
Simplicity.
Lately, I’ve been craving a quieter, more intentional way of living. I’m looking at what it means to live with simplicity—not just in my surroundings, but in how I move through my days.
This week, I’ve been decluttering—starting with a large plastic tote of personal photos dating back to the 1950s. I’ve begun the process of sorting: keeping the ones that hold meaning, setting aside those I believe my kids might want, and letting go of the rest. It feels surprisingly freeing.
I’m also clearing out my office space—removing almost everything and preparing to return only what truly supports a sense of calm and creativity. I can already feel the shift toward something deeper: intentional inspiration. A space where the things around me reflect what matters, not just what I’ve collected.
And I find myself looking ahead to my Substack space, too. This little corner of the internet has become such a meaningful passion project for me—and I want it to reflect the simplicity and clarity I’m inviting into my life. Over the next few weeks, you’ll notice some changes as I gently re-organize and reimagine this space into something more aligned, more spacious, and more me.
This week, our invitation is to bring it all home—to weave what you’ve remembered, reclaimed, or reconnected with into your everyday life. Not in big dramatic ways, but in small, meaningful shifts.
💫 Gentle Prompts for Reflection
Choose one or more to sit with this week:
What small truth or joy from this past month wants to stay with me?
What do I want to honor or do differently now that I’ve returned?
Is there a rhythm, ritual, or reminder I can bring into my everyday life that connects me to my essence?
What helps me feel most present, grounded, and aligned right now?
Where might I invite a bit more simplicity?
🎨 Creative Invitation: A Card from the Journey
If you’re joining us at the Kitchen Table this week, we’ll be making a handmade card inspired by something meaningful you’ve discovered or remembered during a recent time of pause, shift, or return. If you’re unable to join us, you can create a card in your leisure.
It might capture:
A moment when you felt fully alive or present
A feeling that surfaced during time away
A small but powerful insight you’re bringing home with you
Your card will serve as a soulful keepsake—something to tuck into a journal, pin on a bulletin board, or return to when you need to remember what matters.
On the inside, write a short note to yourself:
“Don’t forget this…”
or
“This is what mattered.”
🕯 Stillness Practice: The Here and Now
Take five minutes to sit quietly.
Place your hands on your lap, palms open, and ask:
What is mine to carry forward from this time of returning?
You may hear a word. You may feel something stir. Just listen. If you feel inspired to do so, share your word, your feeling.
As this month’s journey draws to a close, I find myself standing at the edge of something quieter: Simplicity. July will offer a softer rhythm, with space to breathe, reflect, and pare back. I’ll be sharing pieces of my own unfolding story—how I’m making room for what matters, and learning to let the rest go. I’d love for you to walk alongside me.
There’s still some room at the Kitchen Table this coming Friday, June 27th.
Inspired by the theme “The Art of Returning,” we’ll explore what it means to come home—not just physically, but emotionally and soulfully—after stepping away from our everyday lives. Whether you’ve recently travelled far or simply taken a pause from routine, time away has a way of shifting something inside us. We’ll reflect on how holidays—of any kind—leave us changed, awakened, softened, and somehow a little more ourselves again.
As always, we’ll share gentle conversation, meaningful reflection, and a creative project to anchor our experience.
Let’s gather and gently honor the magic of stepping away—and the beauty of what we find when we return.
Hope you can join us!
🩷 🩷 🩷