Hi Friends!
I am back with another helpful post to help you prepare for whatever life has in store for you next. Yes, maybe that is running for office, or getting more involved with politics and advocacy, but more universally, taking a stride towards that thing you have always wanted to do.
When I want to do something, it comes in fits and starts. It involves sending a message and waiting for a reply, writing a draft and editing it with fresh eyes, or reading a book and letting the topic simmer until the practical application reveals itself. Do you notice a theme here? At least for me, there is always a pause between starting and the next step, and in the pause lies the opportunity for intentionally preparing for the next step.
Or as a dear friend said: “It’s marinade time.”
In that marination, I find myself organizing or decluttering, batch cooking, going outside, engaging in my own expressive arts practice, or knitting. All of these activities allow for the process to unfold and marinate until it is ready for the next step. Today, I wanted to delve into decluttering and organizing, as it is an intentional aspect that I incorporated into the foundation of this website.
I developed this blog with the vision of launching Coffee and Campaigns and having conversations with women who have run for office and didn’t receive the most votes on election day. In part, this idea stems from an unexpected way I have navigated life. I continually find myself learning in conversation. I am utterly surprised and impressed by the abundance of information and insightful, powerful tips I encounter throughout the day, and even the word ‘marinate’ stems back to one of these moments. For me, expanding these conversations beyond who I might bump into in a typical Rhode Island day and sharing them through a blog and YouTube, seems the natural way to extend the reach, a natural way to expand the community.
Let’s be real, though; none of this is within my comfort zone. My comfort zone has always been behind the scenes, as support staff. But life is interesting, because even when you try to play it safe and stay in your most comfortable place, you still end up brushing up against the edges of your comfort zone. The wisdom of my now 47 years to go outside that comfort zone, while creating a process that allows me to go forward, take a pause to reinvest in myself, and then take the next step. With that in mind, I took a different approach when developing this website. This time, I hired Zen and Sleek Organization by Contessa Brown, a Holistic Wellness Therapist & Coach, to help me get my home in order as I was crafting this website. I wanted the foundation of what I offer others to be rooted in the warmth, stability, and support of the home where I live. I wanted my space to feel manageable and inviting. I know this new endeavor will push me outside my comfort zone, but as much as I can make my home comfortable, caring, supportive, and reflective of my whole self, the more confident I will feel in taking on this new challenge. Finally, I mentioned earlier that decluttering was a foundational piece that ran parallel to the website; this was because I knew it would serve as the backdrop for the interviews. I want these interviews to create connections rooted in authenticity, openness, and shared space. Offering my space as it really exists fosters that authenticity and vision.
Contessa took me through a two-month process. We began with an in-home assessment and tackled the first space. During the time this website was being constructed, I was working my full-time job and had a little summer travel. All the while, I kept my head in the vision of recreating my home by using Contessa’s workbook: Sacred Space, Sacred Self Decluttering & Organization 30-Day Workbook. Even when I was away or busy, the workbook and Contessa’s check-ins helped me remain focused on my vision for my home. When we completed our final session, I was thankful for giving myself this gift, but also the gentle nudge to keep moving forward on this idea outside my comfort zone. As I look around my space, I see how it reflects the ideas I have, the ways I want to live, and most importantly, how it provides a bubble of safety as I continue to grow.
Work and future virtual interview area post-decluttering.
Additionally, during our final session, Contessa took the time to check in on the website I had been building, the status of the interviews, and the blog idea. At the time, I hadn’t posted anything. I was waiting for the first interview. She provided a coach’s gentle inquiry that got this process moving. And with that, let’s return to the topic of democracy and running for office. So, maybe you are considering running for office, or finding another path of civic engagement in the future, and what if you said, ‘I am going to marinate on running for office while I invest in my home and myself?’ What would you like your decluttering or organizing to look like for you, not for the hypothetical person on social media? How could you feel more confident and comfortable in your own home? Or if decluttering isn’t the right marinating strategy for you, what could be?
It may not be an option to hire someone to help you, or even get the workbook, but approaching the space between knowing you want to do something and taking the next step can be just as intentional as the actual next step. It can be confidence-building and help you give yourself more support as you go beyond your comfort zone that day. And then, when you are out there doing this new thing and find yourself with a calendar fuller than you can imagine, you can come home to a house that makes it easy to put things away, a place that holds things and people you love, and is easier to maintain – perhaps one of the best ways I can think to pay forward marinate time.