On Slowing Down, Savoring What's on Offer and Ringing in the New Year.

Welcome to the December edition of 8 on the 8th, where I share eight things based on my self-leadership journey designed to help you think, reflect, and grow.

—SRS

And with that, let’s dive in:

WORD I AM FOCUSED ON—

SAVOR (noun): to enjoy an experience slowly, in order to enjoy it as much as possible

Example: Love the fact that you are alive and savor everything that life has to offer.

WHAT I AM PONDERING—

How to live more aligned with the seasons.

Historically I have been a 'summertime girl' I was born in the summer. I love basking in the sun. I like the carefree spirit that tends to be associated with summertime. Lately, I have found myself transitioning into a 'wintertime woman.' It all happened when I decided to travel to New Mexico for the US Thanksgiving holiday. In late September I decided to spend the holiday in New Mexico, and as my trip approached, I felt a transformation coming, too. I felt called to think/read/learn more about winter and what it offers us - as it turns out, a lot. Keep reading to learn some of my adventures one month in.

If you have not been to New Mexico, go. The state slogan is "the land of enchantment" and my Thanksgiving holiday was magical. In addition to leaning into the crisp temperatures, I leaned into nature with a hike with a new friend, Didi, who is a wizard with words and also happens to be the CCO at Meow Wolf (another magical thing about New Mexico!), rested and restored myself at 10,000 Waves and spend hours drinking tea and chatting with new friends at places like Apothecary and Sweetwater Harvest Kitchen. The result was a newfound appreciation for the winter and a declaration that my new year officially started on my final day in New Mexico, December 1. So, happy New Year to me!

WHAT I AM LOVING—

Wintertime!

Specifically, my commitment to honor this season of rest and restoration by participating in more ‘hibernation and communing’ activities such as more sleep, more margin in the day, more silence, more being (and hanging loose) versus doing (and being wound tight).

WHERE I AM SHARING MY THOUGHTS —

If you missed last month’s article on rejection, I would encourage you to read it – I have gotten great feedback.

I am often asked about my daily routine. People seem particularly interested in how I start my day, so I wrote about my routine here to memorialize it. One thing not mentioned in my morning routine is what I do after I am officially awake. I have a number of practices I do in during my 'morning minutes,' which I'll detail in a future note.

WHAT I AM READING—

?A Year in Practice: Seasonal Rituals and Prompts to Awaken Cycles of Creative Expression by Jacqueline Suskin.

★ Suskin guides us through practical steps we can take to align our creative practices. Each chapter walks you through a season and questions to ponder to nurture creativity season-to-season.

?Scarcity Brain by Michael Easter

★ Easter explores how our evolutionary instincts, developed to survive in environments of scarcity, can lead to dissatisfaction and maladaptive behaviors in today’s world of abundance.

Chasing Vines by Beth Moore

★ Moore uses the metaphor of a vineyard to explore the Christian spiritual journey. Moore explains how the Vinedresser—God—carefully tends to believers, pruning away unfruitful areas to foster spiritual growth.

Deep Hope: A Zen Guide for Staying Steadfast When the World Seems Hopeless by Diane Rizzetto

★ Rizzetto explores how to maintain hope and compassion amidst personal and societal challenges. Rizzetto, a respected Zen teacher, draws on the Buddhist paramitas, or “perfections,” to offer practical guidance for cultivating a resilient and compassionate mindset.

WHO I AM QUOTING—

Oprah Winfrey?

“Turn your wounds into wisdom.”

Some Wise Soul ?

“My life is a gift. Using my talents is how I show my gratitude.”

The Heroic Philosophers Note on A Better Way to Live ?

“There are no home runs without strikeouts.”

WHAT I AM RECOMMENDING—

Cold plunge - I have long known the benefits of cold plunging but had only done it intermittently until now. The benefits of cold plunging are many - from improving circulation, relief from muscle soreness, better sleep, and increased focus, according to Cleveland Clinic. While cold plunging has for a long time been a go-to recovery tool for professional athletes, it has gained in popularity in circles who are focused on human performance beyond the stadium as a way to build more an effective response to stressors of all kinds.

Frank Lipman, MD, Chief Medical Officer at The Well explains it this way, “for many, their cold plunge is also about building mental resilience and discipline: consistent exposure to cold temperatures allows the mind to get comfortable in a state of discomfort, which will improve its ability to deal with other types of stress. Further teaching the body how to handle extremes, like an ice bath, starts to teach the body and mind that you are in control.”

Of course, there is the sense of self-mastery and accomplishment of doing something difficult and uncomfortable, but a growing body of actual and antidotal research suggests that the more you incorporate ice baths into your routine you will find a heightened ability to handle all types of stress more effectively and be more mentally resilient on the whole. I am a part of the antidotal group, and I recommend anyone interested in cold plunging do their research, speak with their medical doctor, and if you get a green light, dive into it, literally. I have decided to take a plunge, please drop me a line and tell me about your experience.

WHAT I AM SUGGESTING YOU REFLECT ON—

Ask yourself: Are there things you can do to more align with this season?

★ Final thought—

Let's all lean into wintertime more intentionally. Let’s follow the earth’s lead and honor ourselves with more rest and restoration as we cozy up with loved ones through the holidays.