A Quieter Spring: Choosing Rest, Saying No, and Feeling Good About It

Recording Something Special!

This spring, I’m choosing to slow down as I make my way into the summer. After a nonstop winter and a March that brought more than its fair share of stress, I’ve decided to embrace a quieter season—and it feels good. I am finishing up school and moving into a new chapter - and I want to enjoy it.

Lately, a lot of exciting opportunities have popped up. It’s energizing, validating, and honestly, a little surprising! When you care deeply about your work and your community, you can experience feeling pulled in many directions. Sometimes, you have to pause and ask: What will serve me in the long run? What will support both my well-being and the sustainability of the work I care about?

Recently, I made the tough decision not to apply for a grant I had been seriously considering. I had even started the application! It was the right opportunity at the wrong time. Instead, I’m focusing on continuing to build out my self-sustaining infrastructure—laying down the foundation for growth that feels aligned and steady, and taking the time to enjoy all the of the seeds that have been sprouting since I began planting in the summer of 2022.

At first, I second-guessed myself in passing up this grant application. Would I regret it? Should I be doing more? Then today, I woke up feeling great. Clear. Focused. Energized in a quiet, grounded way. And that’s when I knew I made the right choice.

There is power in choosing rest. In recognizing that growth doesn’t always look like hustle. Sometimes, it looks like saying “no,” creating space, and trusting that slowing down is still moving forward.

I’m looking forward to what’s to come—and I know that by creating space now, I’m making room for the right things to take root in their own time. Here’s to a spring and summer of softness, steadiness, and choosing what feels right - even if it takes a bit to get there.