The noise became quiet, uncomfortably so. There was a rediscovery happening.. in meeting this next version of myself, allowing curiosity to surface unfamiliar awareness and space for her emerging integration. As I prepare for the rebirth a birthday invites, I am reflecting on the humble transformative chapter I found myself in. Each year of my thirties feels simpler in a way ~ closer to myself, with more love and appreciation of my essence and a quiet confidence in my intuition.
“Wherever I am, the world comes after me.
It offers me its busyness. It does not believe
that I do not want it. Now I understand
why the poets of China went so far and high
into the mountains, then crept into the pale mist.”
THE OLD POETS OF CHINA, MARY OLIVER
It began with the urge to radically turn down the volume, starting at the turn of the new year. My husband and I moved from the city (albeit a very sweet, quiet, tree-lined street), to an island east of Stockholm. Around the same time, I stepped away from social media, longing to reconnect with my own thoughts and creativity. My wellness studio, once just a short walk away, was replaced with a makeshift home studio that I’ve grown to adore. I challenged myself to end overcommitted weekends and realign spending habits. At work, I took inventory of repetitive, low-value tasks and freed up space for projects that energized me.
Have you ever felt a similar pull or nudge?
In an eight-month period that initially felt slow and stable, a lot has shifted. Naturally and without over-thinking, I was intentionally creating space. Space for what, though?
Lacy Phillips, the founder of manifestation brand To Be Magnetic, called 2025 a year of ‘stripping’. The removal of unaligned or inauthentic elements of our lives to shine a light on only what is truly ours. Imagine the freedom the comes with this level of liberation. Before I heard this, I knew it to be true.
I yearned for radical stillness, meaningful relationships, deep creativity, and ever- present ease in my body. The recognition that I grew out of the environment I was in grew stronger; it was the familiar sign that it was time for a change. It is a deeper experience of change than just shifting the physical — something more systemic was stirring inside. I didn’t know where it was leading me. Yet I trusted the process — through its discomfort, its dullness, its unfamiliar quiet. I stayed curious, wondering what all of this might be preparing me for.
What was the result?
A greater awareness of stillness as my one of my greatest teachers. It is here that I feel immense gratitude for the life I’ve built, am present for its pleasures, and experience the joy of dreaming.
Everything I have manifested in my adult life began with a dream ~ a clear vision and felt sense of what I want in the future. Before it was reality, I imagined the feeling in my body and heart. This is a practice I still do today that busyness can steal from me.
Dreaming is imagination at play — the ability to see what is yet to be, grounded in trust: trust in my own capability, my worthiness, and the timing of it all. This is how new, aligned realities take shape. Without it, it is easy to remain stuck in old patterns and undesired situations. Some combination of letting go, and intentional reflection + authentic, aligned action ~ allows us to move through change with heightened awareness. Maybe even with a smile, as we know we are building a life that truly lights us up.
For now, I am soaking in these slower moments while they present themselves. It’s the small things: the slow journey of the sun across the sky, the wind carrying clouds to places unknown, the garden breaking through soil in early spring. Each one filling my senses with surprise and beauty
The poppies, roses, and blueberries. The first (two!) sightings of moose strolling in the garden of my home. Optimistically observing ice disappear over the lake with the promise of summer dips. Hosting friends and family in our space crafted with love. This is what feeds me.
To live with intention is to turn the dial up on such experiences ~ and turn it down on the rest.
So, now I challenge you: what can you remove? What no longer fits?
What dreams are waiting for you to discover in the space you’ll create?
Each time I sit down to write these reflections — for you, and for myself — I feel my heart expand. It’s as if an energetic channel opens from the center of my chest to my hands, spilling into these words. My breath steadies. The flow guides me. I give myself permission to take time, to step away and return, honoring the craft and the space it needs to unfold.
I’ll leave you with a few favorite photos from my camera roll as of late. Be well, take care, and thank you for being here with me. With love, J
Poppies in bloom.
A month or so later, the same poppies harvested to dry on the summer solstice.
A home-crafted herbal pregnancy blend I’ve been drinking daily.
A rose hip bush on my daily walk.
Flowers from the garden.
Hi, I am Jessica ~ professional coach, holistic practitioner, and writer. Learn more about my offerings here. If you enjoyed this piece, consider sharing it with your network or becoming a paid subscriber.