The path I’m travelling is quiet & still & I’ve found the most important thing …..Me ✨

**I’ve recorded an audio to match my written words (the play button is up above) if you might enjoy me reading this for you and to you x

I scheduled this letter to be sent out in the middle of the night Irish time so you would either wake up to it or if for some reason you couldn’t sleep, I could be a soft shoulder to lean on, a gentle voice to listen to and you would know that you were never alone x

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On Friday 22nd of December I decided I was going to take a very intentional break, in which I was going to close the year with much needed rest & deep reflection.

Every year I try take January to reset, reframe & to remind myself that anything is possible in the year ahead but also that my inner self needs regular attention, care & compassion & the only way I can be a better, brighter me is by slowing right down & deeply reflecting on who I am & who I want to be in the future. I look inwards & (always) at the beginning of this process, (a focused yearly affair) I fall apart at the start which is the most painful part yet it truly is the most healthiest way for me to allow myself to be me while truly looking inwards.

I feel my feelings - they come gushing forward at speed the minute I stop & as I sit in silence with myself, the most important lesson is presented to me - time & opportunity to see who I really am…Once I bring my thoughts to a halt, my inner self usually instantly falls apart - again not in an unhealthy way, but for me, I call it a healing way.

To heal, one must fall apart, one must feel those dark hurting feelings & one must look towards the shadow parts of ourselves. I am in that phase now & slowly but surely, I am moving through it. There have been lots of tears but in a healing way that my heart needed. When life is busy, we often ignore how we are truly feeling, the night comes & we push the tears back when we are met with another busy day that doesn’t allow for slowing, stopping or silence. I can only speak for myself but in many moments throughout this year, I have had to push feelings downwards as life kept stepping in front of me & there just wasn’t time to process. I am grateful that in all my years of life knocking me over, I have now gained the wisdom to know when to stop & to recognise when my inner self needs attention, care, quietness & compassion. And in giving myself this time, it allows for all those moments during the last year & particularly through a very tricky December, I can now reflect on hurt in which I had to deny in the moment, and now allow myself the grace to be very human & also give myself time to process & move through & out through this hurt. And in this time, I will return to my very healthy & healing light that is very much who I am 💖

For me, the time to look inwards with compassion & stillness is now & it is this reason I am penning you this letter. You might have noticed I’m not as active on my fb nor my Substack home or in any of my online social spaces & you would be spot on &correct as I have given my active brain a complete holiday…and in turn I am working on myself. I’m still here. I’ll always be here but just taking some quiet time to reflect 🙏

I want to bring my best self forward to you & for you in 2024 but I also want to bring my best self forward to me & for me as well. For me to take care of others, I must keep my heart topped up with love, I must keep my mind rested to be able to keep it open & free of judgement & my spirit & soul need to sit in peace & quiet to see everything in the big picture & also to allow myself to be able to make the right decisions. Only with a quiet mind, can you see all there is to see & most importantly can you reach the balance of loving yourself to love others. Always taking note of never leaning in too far in which one can easily cross the line of self care turning into selfishness. It’s a thin line so stopping to look inwards is vital to keep my soul awake to not only consider how I can serve others but to keep sharp awareness on how I am serving myself & to stay awake in observing the energies I am keeping close. This time of the year we feel tired, but for me it is vital I awaken to the big picture of my life & the year ahead but equally the small picture too. Who am I & what aspects of me need improving & what aspects of me light me up?

Life is indeed very hard as we all know well here. One note I keep close to myself is that I can only help & heal others when I work on myself regularly. See I am a healer. My innate gift is to help others feel lighter inside. In my own unique way, I can help people feel less burdened by their crosses & I know I have a special gift to help others in their moments of darkness & in my own Lou way, I know this is what I was born to do. In 2024 I intend to lean into that gift even more & very much own it.

It is in this special gap of time of the end of the year & also the beginning, that I dedicate attention to study & become aware of how within my life I can focus more on balance, healing & my big picture. I must bow my own head & lean into the quiet of the spirit of who I am to allow further healing take place & to allow myself to listen to who & what I want to become in this brand new year ahead. More shifts of inner awakening are aligning & the more my tears fall, the more my thoughts free, the lighter I will be beyond this heavier time & the stronger I will become in a healing loving way.

As I process my own hurt, grief & loss in this deeply spiritual yet healthy way & I lean into the inner journey of who I am, this helps me to unlock &heal shadow parts of me that sit in the crevices of my heart/ some conscious, some unconscious. I must look at them, feel them, own them & heal them & this is what this quiet time is all about. I will still post & do fb lives but maybe just not every day for a little bit - I’m taking this time to lean in, lean out & look up. Most importantly I want you - the many hundreds & thousands of people who have travelled my journey particularly of the last 4-5 years with me- I want you to see me compassionately taking care of myself so this might be the reminder you need to do the same. I want to lead by example in my actions and for you to see me not just talk the talk but walk the walk in how I am constantly & consistently working to find a way to not only cope with the dark parts of this life but as the true libra that I am, I am always trying to make my way to the middle ground of coping, surviving, hurting, feeling, sitting with the pain & then moving into healing those parts & maybe just maybe being a healing light to others too & most importantly leaning out with a loving, kind & compassionate heart. I want to always be willing to find my way back to joy no matter how many dark parts hit me. And no matter how many times I am knocked to the ground, I will get back up. I want you to see me fall so you then will know that you can fall too. And equally I want you to see me rise, so you will know that it was as you watched me fall, you said ‘Lou I know what that feels like’ and in time, as I rise, you too will rise with me, and we will feel the light on our face once again together.

This story is not about me, this is about us travelling through life together but no matter what, we have to work on ourselves before we can help anyone else. To give our best to others, we must be willing to own our faults, spot our weaknesses & to be willing to improve on who we are. Inner work leads to an outer light being able to shine even brighter than before & this is why I take this quiet time to become aware of my own shortcomings so I can bring the best of me forward while acknowledging all I’ve been through & also recognising my values, my positive traits & all those moments I showed bravery, courage and love in the last 13 months too. Balance in reflection is key to balance in my steps forward.

I hope you will still actively engage with the posts/newsletter as then you will be keeping the light on here for the many people who walk in the door of our substsck/fb family & id be eternally grateful to you too in that way always. I’m still writing the posts, I’m still reading all your messages but I just wanted to share the bigger picture plan of what I’m at right now & also I wanted you to know you are always in my heart & my prayers even when I’m taking some quiet time 💖✨🫶✨💖✨

Lou is still here, I’m just taking the path that is signposted ‘a little break’ & maybe just maybe I might inspire you to take that break too xx

Love ye lots & don’t forget keep looking up 💖

Lou x