Issue #31: TWO things can be TRUE
loving KINDNESS, high PROTEIN casseroles, finding JOY after loss + a preview of our first EBOOK!
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This week, we're reminded of the contradictions that define our lives. Two truths can coexist: we can feel heartbroken and disconnected from the larger community around us, yet, at the same time, feel an undeniable motivation to act and a deeper bond with those closest to us. Life is complex, full of paradoxes where opposing feelings—hope and despair, connection and disconnection—often sit side by side.
In midlife, we know this duality well. We hold deep love and gratitude for the lives we've built, even as a yearning for something more quietly stirs within us. This stage brings reflection, making us take stock of our achievements, our relationships, and the roles we've embraced. The ground can feel unsteady, echoing experiences of infertility, postpartum, or other life-shifting transitions that left us both grounded and searching. Today, we may ask different questions—“What’s next?” “Is there something more?” or “Is this the life I’m meant to be living?” These questions don’t diminish our gratitude; instead, they highlight the nuance of growth, where contentment and longing intertwine.
Our emotions after the election, like those in this season of life, may seem contradictory, yet they coexist and fuel our personal and collective journeys. In embracing both our sorrow and our hope, we find the courage to keep moving forward—doing more, connecting more deeply, and holding space for the many facets of being fully alive.
You can love your life but want more.
You can be happy for your friend who announced their pregnancy but be deeply sad that it has not happened for you yet.
You can be happy you are a mother but also grieve what your life used to look like or how it differs from what you expected.
You can want a break from your kids but miss them when they are away.
You can be confident in your decision to not have children but feel left out sometimes or grieve the finality of that decision.
You can love someone but realize that the relationship is no longer supporting you in the way you deserve.
You can be frustrated that your partner doesn’t see all you do and want more from them while realizing that you had a part in creating the imbalance by trying to make things easier for everyone.
You can be proud of your career achievements or what you have created but feel burnt out or want to start down a completely different path.
You can appreciate your aging body for all it’s carried you through but feel uncomfortable in your skin at times and unsure how to best support it or how to love it as it changes.
You can enjoy time with your family and friends but daydream about getting in the car and getting away for a few days by yourself.
You can feel rooted in your sense of self but be unsure of what you want.
do you currently have TWO opposing TRUTHS that exist in your life?
TASTE: High Protein Casseroles. A high protein casserole seems like an oxymoron, but you can have a casserole that is in fact high in protein! Since it is casserole season (and we love the idea of being able to prep a weeknight meal on the weekend) we are excited to try some of these casseroles. Vegetarian? Check these recipes out. Dairy and gluten free? Try these Whole 30 casserole recipes. Oh and don’t forget the fiber with these recipes!
SEE: In an effort to take our minds off the stress of the week, I (Rebecca) have decided to paint our fireplace and record player wall. Two years ago I was playing around with color and we (really I decided maybe pink would be fun) but this area of our house has never felt the way I wanted it to. So I decided Wednesday morning that this weekend we are painting! We have a bunch of artwork that has been waiting for a gallery wall so I think I am going to do that above the record player and move the piece from our friend Lindsey to another spot. Check out my inspo pics and help me decide what to paint where PLEASE! (One of the images has wallpaper and while long-term I do love the idea of wallpaper above the record player, for now we are going to paint.)
before: And yes, that is Thomas on the couch! Once he is out of puppy stage, a new couch will also be part of the plan and maybe I can figure out a way to keep our dogs off the furniture! Oh and there is a white/off-white wool rug that usually covers a good portion of the floor (but is currently rolled up due to said puppy;) so keep that in mind when voting!
inspiration pics:
SMELL: Why Do Strong Fragrances Make Me Feel Like Crap? Research suggests that fragrance sensitivity impacts an estimated one third of the US population.1 This is sometimes referred to as hyperosmia, which is characterized by having a heightened sense of smell. In certain cases, the sensitivities can trigger osmophobia, a fear or psychological aversion to odors because they’re able to cause such extreme discomfort (one study found that up to 84% of people with migraine experience osmophobia, since certain smells may trigger an attacj in those who are susceptible- check out these other 15 sneaky migraine triggers).
HEAR: Kathryn Hahn on Wild Card with Rachel Martin. We LOVED this week’s episode of Wild Card with actor Kathryn Hahn and felt like it beautifully captured this week’s theme. We can be women AND take up space. We can look back on the challenges of motherhood AND remember them fondly. We can move from a place of fertility AND come into our power in perimenopause and menopause. We can be confident AND also be our harshest critic.
Have you seen Kathryn in the new series Agatha All Along based on Marvel Comics character Agatha Harkness yet? We are adding it to our watchlist!
TOUCH: Grief is Love. Marisa Renee Lee's book, "Grief Is Love," delves into living a joyful life after loss, whether losing a loved one or the grief from infertility and pregnancy loss. “Grief versus joy…you can experience joy in the midst of grief…it is ok for these things to be co-mingled as that is just life.” Her book reveals that healing does not mean moving on after losing a loved one—healing means learning to acknowledge and make space for the transformation that a significant loss requires on your unique terms.
What is appealing to your senses right now? What are you reading? watching? cooking? wearing? loving? obsessed with? We would love to share some of your picks in future newsletters!
LOVING KINDNESS meditation
Years ago, I (Rebecca) attended a series of mindfulness meditation classes that profoundly changed how I manage anxiety. The practice helped me develop tools to ground myself in moments of stress and emotional turbulence, offering a safe space for self-reflection and calm. One meditation, in particular, has resurfaced in my mind this week—a guided loving-kindness practice that focuses on extending compassion in expanding circles. This meditation begins with sending love to oneself, then to someone we deeply care about, next to someone we feel neutrally about, and finally to someone with whom we struggle. This gentle process allows compassion to ripple out, challenging me to embrace empathy not only for the ones I hold dear but also for the people I find difficult.
Revisiting this practice felt appropriate this week. The act of sending love to oneself first can feel unexpectedly vulnerable yet so grounding; it reminds me of the importance of self-compassion before extending kindness outward. Moving through each stage in the meditation, I could sense subtle shifts in my mindset—especially when reaching the final step, sending love to someone I struggle with. This part invites a profound sense of release and acceptance, as if softening the edges of resentment or judgment. Reflecting on this practice, I am reminded of how much these small acts of compassion shape not only our relationships but also our inner peace, encouraging a gentler, more understanding view of myself and others.
If you want to try the full Loving Kindness Meditation from Jon Kabat-Zinn that I did in that class, find it here.
Want to start with a shorter version, try this one.
coming SOON…take a peek at our first Ebook
MOTHERHOOD INTERWOVXN
This has been in the works for some time and we are very excited to bring it to life. Designed to accompany women through the profound journey of matrescence, this guide delves into the intricacies of the motherhood transition, supporting readers from pregnancy through the postpartum period and beyond. Rooted in the pillars of women's health and well-being, it provides resources, insights, and tools to navigate the changes—physical, emotional, and spiritual—that come with motherhood. Whether you’re preparing for birth, embracing the challenges of early parenthood, or reconnecting with yourself as your children grow, Motherhood INTERWOVXN offers compassionate, practical guidance to help you feel empowered and connected along the way.
Stay tuned for more details + a release date!
Have comments, questions, or feedback? Know someone who works with new moms that might be a good community partner and interested in sharing it?
And we leave you with…
a refresher on DOPAMINE MENUS
We posted about dopamine menus last year and felt like now was a good time to revisit the idea! A dopamine menu is a collection of healthy activities that offer a quick boost of dopamine, a neurotransmitter often called the “feel-good hormone.” This chemical is released when you engage in something enjoyable or beneficial, like completing a task or getting some exercise.
“When you know you have a lot coming, go ahead and take a peek at your list and throw some things into your week or your day to raise your social battery, raise your human battery, and be able to go through those [stressors] before they start using your energy and draining you.” That way, you can use your dopamine menu to build these activities into your schedule based on how much time you have” says Elise Robinson, LCSW, a New Jersey and Massachusetts-based psychotherapist and founder of Mindful Care Therapy. Read more on creating your own dopamine menu (and check out the example below) from The Good Trade.
Have a great weekend!
