Dear circle,
I'm writing to you on the tail end of a summer rich with reconnecting — old traditions, old friends — and with doubling down on the deep work of staying present to culture change.
One of the most humbling parts of this self-governance work, this slow work of maturing into a responsible adult, is discovering that the coping mechanisms that carried me my whole life simply don't work anymore. There's a reckoning in that — seeing your life as it actually is, not as you hoped it would be.
I've come to understand this as the inside becoming the outside. For me, that means the parts of myself I used to conceal, keep subterranean, the awkward and hard parts, now live on the outside. My heart, literally, on my sleeve. The choices of my ancestors, the choices of my parents, and my own choices across this lifetime — all laid bare, witnessed by myself and by you.
This, to me, is the true reconciliation: when what's inside is finally seen on the outside.
As we head into the last stretch of summer, I want you to know that if any of this resonates, you are not alone. Our greatest opportunity for belonging is to share our vulnerabilities with people we trust. Lisa, a teacher with the Wholehearted Choir, reminded me of this at retreat last week — the importance of confession, of naming the awkward thoughts and worries, the fear that we're not doing it right, with someone we love and trust.
Let's keep bringing our insides to the outside.
Thank you for all the ways you help hold and grow the energy of this work.
With care, Maija
Please join us for a drop in circle, the upcoming men's cohort informational session, or in the member community. More details below.
