May overwhelmed me. In sweet ways and in hard ways; I am exhausted. I obviously put off writing this blog post, well honestly I forgot about it until two days ago lol. We do the best we can.

There’s a million things I could write about. But it’s all just so much. I’m equal parts excited, thankful and overwhelmed by the past, present and future. Perhaps you feel similarly, or maybe not.

There’s so many causes to feel passionately about, and at the same time overcome with fear, grief and helplessness.

There are so many possibilities and opportunities that I am so grateful for and also sweating just thinking about.

There’s a lot of pain and loss.

There’s a lot of hope and laughter and joy and change and birth.

The list goes on.

Spring is one of my favorite things. I love the transitional seasons. I’m not into extreme weather, I think partially because I am dramatic and extreme enough for myself, I don’t need the weather to be as well. This Spring has felt full of so much newness and shifting and churning. It feels like the result of months (if not years) of planning are coming to life. And while it’s wonderful, it’s also hard.

But that’s growing I suppose.

It can’t be easy for plants to poke their way out of the dirt. (I don’t know I’m not a plant but it doesn’t look easy!) Twisting and unfurling into the world doesn’t come without its challenges.

I don’t want this blog to just be a journal, but I don’t know what I want it to be. I don’t know what I want to be! Some days I do have an idea of what I want to be and other days I would like to be a little mouse who lives in a tree and eats cake and tea under a mushroom!!

I guess knowing what you don’t want is one step closer to knowing what you do want.

I really just want you to know that you aren’t alone. That whatever pain or struggle or joy or fear or giggles or hunger or thirst you have coursing through you–someone else has that too. Perhaps even at the same moment as you.

Here’s some reminders for myself, take whichever ones you need:

Feelings are temporary
Comparison is the thief of joy
You’re right where you’re supposed to be
One thing at a time
Sometimes saying no to someone else is saying yes to yourself.
Stay hydrated, stay in the moment
Do you need a 10 second dance party? If so, please have one.
The little things DO add up to be the big things
If you need some help, ask for it! (People actually love to help, I promise you are not a burden and there is no shame in asking!)
Do something nice for yourself
Don’t forget to leave room for fun

Take em or leave em, that’s what I’ve got! Now I’m going to go try and transmute my overwhelming nervous energy into excitement for all the possibilities and sweet things I have going on. I’m nervous and overwhelmed because I care. But I’m doing the best I can and that is all I can do!! It’s all any of us can do!!

Give yourself a break!! (I’m saying this to myself lol)

Trust yourself!!

Google cute animal pics and remember you get to live at the same time as cute animals!! You could have been like a prehistoric microorganism! But you are you!

Take a deep breath—we made it to today. One day at a time.

Xoxo elton b

May: we take a big breath in…and out.

What’s a zine?

It’s not a race.