(This post was originally sent as my January 2020 newsletter. If you would like to receive my monthly updates and insights join here.

Hello and welcome to the first newsletter of the year!

As usual, I update you on what has been happening in my life as well as the reflections and explorations I get out from everyday life. Here it goes:

I have been exploring words. I shared last month how the words that came up for the new year were ‘show up’ and ‘community’. I’ve allowed for these words to come to me. They somehow make themselves noticed in a way I am not able to ignore. They feel right and so I just decided to invite them into my life in 2020.

In conversation with someone, right at the beginning of the year, someone shared how they also have words for each month. This sparked something within me, and I decided to give that a go too. When I closed my eyes and asked what was the word for January, I immediately got: ‘reinvention’.

And I started the month with these words, curious as to how they will be showing up in my life and what they mean.

A few weeks into January and with me showing up for the Morning Star Practice 21 Day Challenge, I understood that showing up was not just about showing up in front of the camera and every day for the challenge. It also meant showing up for myself, for my self-care practices. It meant showing up to connect with my Inner Child and be there for her on a regular basis. The word started opening itself to me, to show its different meanings in the context of my life. Ones that I had not noticed or had forgotten about.

As for reinvention, there has been some reinvention in my life this month. I have had to adapt, to change, to transform the way I am living.

Early in January, I attended a job interview and got the job. A part-time job that comes at just the right moment. A part-time job that is a compromise on not ever going back to 9 to 5 as well as providing a little bit of the financial support I was needing to continue to write the book I want to write.

Returning to employment has meant that I quickly had to review how I wanted to show up at work, what sort of hours felt right for me, what self-care could not be ignored and an increased awareness and respect for my needs.

It felt clear too that I was being guided to show up more in the world. Physically show up, be out of the house more, travel to work, be seen by other humans, have my energy and being be more present in the world.

Running the 21 day challenge for the Morning Star Practice felt like an anchor that I had committed myself to, but that it was also supporting me with this transition.

2020 has started with positivity, optimism and a feeling good that I don’t believe I have felt so consistently for a very long time, if ever, and definitely not in January. I have felt excited and so happy to do the 21 day challenge and be present for others and myself. I felt really excited with this new job, that presents for now, new challenges and a big learning curve, but that it will become simple enough for me to be able to carry on my writing.

I have had to reinvent and adapt myself to these new circumstances. I have had to let go of some of my intentions for this month, practising trusting again and again, that I am being guided into what I have asked for and that everything is just falling into place. So I have not written on my book much this month. I have rested as much as I can in my free time because learning new things uses up a whole lot of energy.

Talking of energy, getting used to commuting again, thankfully not at rush hour (this was a need I identified as the most important for me) but everyday, has taken a toll on my energy. But I just see it as a practice of raising my energy to meet the demand. That if I continue to listen carefully for my needs for rest, that something will eventually shift and all will be recalibrated again.

All this optimism, good humour and positivity that I am experiencing, also feel a bit foreign. I’m not used to it, and I certainly am not used to experiencing it so consistently. I enjoy it and it feels that also here, I am going through another moment in my life and my being of reinvention. Experiencing and exploring a different way of being within myself and the world.

What has your January been like? Have you set up any intentions or words for this year? How are they showing up for you so far?

With Love,

Pelagia

For more of my writings and reflections, visit my blog 'It's not all happiness and coconuts' here: www.pelagiapais.com

If you are needing a morning routine to help you ground your energy in yourself, be more present and start the day feeling calm and centred, check my Morning Star Practice here: www.pelagiapais.com/shop. The practice is available in different prices that suit all pockets and is a form of contributing to my work and continued offerings.