Mabon House - A Year in Review
While the Wheel of the Year is just getting started, it’s hard to believe that it is already the end of 2022. When I think about where I was at this time last year, I can’t believe all the progress I’ve made - both personally and here at Mabon House. As some longtime readers may recall, 2021 was a bit of a hot mess. I’d write a random blog post or newsletter and then lay dormant for weeks on end. Feeling burnt out and exhausted, I almost closed Mabon House permanently last December. Can you imagine?
As I sat in my living room trying to decide what to do, I ended up writing this letter to the community. In it I was radically honest about my struggles for the first time. I shared how I loved writing and creating for Mabon House, but struggled to balance it with the rest of my life and responsibilities. I also had a good degree of imposter syndrome. And while I didn’t want to quit writing, I knew something had to change.
I will never forget hitting send on that letter. I had no idea if anyone would even care what I had to say. So, imagine my utter shock and genuine happiness when so many folks wrote right back to me - with empathy, humor, and understanding. And for the first time I realized that I had, quite on accident, created this amazing community of like-minded souls.
So from that point on I made a deal with myself that I would write to you all every week, even if I felt like I had nothing special to share. Because I realized that just showing up was enough for many folks.
And I am pleased to share that I’ve sent a Mabon House Letter every week this year - 48 letters so far. While 2022 has definitely had its moments, writing for this community is one the highlights of my year. And connecting with so many of you on Instagram has been an added bonus! I am excited to see what 2023 brings all of us!
So if you are new here, welcome. And if you’ve been here from the beginning, Thank You for sticking with me!
Permission to Slow Down
After one of the mildest October’s in recent memory, I woke up this morning to the first snowfall of the year. My favorite part of a snowy day is how quiet the outside world becomes. It’s as if the world is resting and all I hear is the soft pitter pat of falling snow. After the hectic happenings of October and early November, some quiet is a welcome change. Has it snowed in your corner of the world yet?
I started a new job a few months ago, moving from a completely remote position back to an office full of people. It was a good move and I’m happy to be working with folks in-person once more. However, as I’ve settled into this new cadence of work life, I’ve started to notice some smaller issues that, if left unchecked, could lead to burnout and exhaustion.
After many years of trial and error, I understand exactly what my limits are when it comes to my work. I know exactly how much energy I can devote to my job before burnout ensues. I also know how to maximize my time. I don’t believe in filling up 40 hours a week with busy work. I don’t volunteer for committees or work groups or anything else, unless I know it somehow make my team’s job easier. I consistently focus on the most important parts of my job and largely let the rest go. I think I may be considered a “Quiet Quitter” but really, I’m just good at putting boundaries in place. It’s my career superpower.
But even with all my experience, it’s still exhausting to stand up to the toxic work culture that permeates so much of the American psyche. If we are idle, we are bad. If we aren’t putting in 110% are we even working? Checking emails after hours and weekends is just part of the job. Right? And so on and so on….
And lately I have felt like I am being swept up in a tide of office chaos, running from one fire to another, always busy but not accomplishing much. It is incredibly frustrating, not to mention emotionally draining. And so I’ve been making a concentrated effort to return to my own truth and work in a way that is best for me. Because ultimately that benefits everyone.
Which brings me to this week’s featured printable - a gentle reminder for myself that it’s okay to slow down and rest. It’s okay to trust yourself. It’s okay to feel at peace in a world that is full of chaos. So, if you’ve been feeling overwhelmed by work or life, I hope this helps you as well.
More Reading
November Musings and The Perfect Cup of Tea
After a really mild October and early November, the air has finally turned properly cold here in Western Maine. While some folks don’t love the shorter days and approaching winter that November ushers in, personally I think it’s one of the most beautiful months to be in Maine. What November lacks in the Pinterest-Autumn-Aesthetic, it more than makes up for with gentle colors and muted sunlight that gives the most ordinary days a little bit of ethereal beauty.
If you’ve been following along on Instagram, you’ll know that I’ve been trying to install a new wood stove in my sitting room, which has turned into quite the saga. I’m happy to report that it’s finally in, just in time for the first predictions of snow next week. I’m looking forward to some cozy evenings watching the fire and enjoying some tea.
To celebrate the start of the cozy season, I thought it'd be fun to make a printable that embodies my deep and abiding love of being home. The Perfect Cup of Tea is more of a suggestion than a recipe. The most important element is making sure you have the space and time to enjoy it. I’ve shared this printable as a JPEG so it will be easier to resize, if you’d like to add it to any holiday gifts for the tea drinker in your life. I hope you like it!
Grab your free Perfect Cup of Tea print in the Mabon House Member’s Library. You can join for free HERE.
What do you love about November? Share in the comments or over at Instagram!