I’m planning an informal Coffee Chat or Lunch & Learn toward the end of the month, and I’d love for you to be part of it. This will be a relaxed, come-as-you-are space. No presentations. No pressure. Just conversation and connection. Nothing is fixed yet. This space is shaped by what you want to talk about. Is there something you’d like us to chat about? Please drop your ideas or suggestions in the chat. Even a single word or question is welcome. More details on the date coming soon. I’m really looking forward to connecting with you.

Today’s challenge is about reconnecting, gently, with the natural world as a source of regulation, belonging, and perspective. Pause and consider: • When was the last time I felt connected to something natural, light, air, water, earth, or sky? • What part of nature feels most grounding or familiar to me right now? • What kind of connection feels possible today, even briefly? Activity: Spend a few intentional moments connecting with nature in whatever way is available to you. This could be: - stepping outside for fresh air - noticing the sky, trees, or clouds through a window - touching water, soil, a rock, or a plant - listening to wind, rain, or birds One word for what you noticed (calm / steady / distant / mixed / etc.)

Happy New Year, everyone 🎉I hope the year ahead brings moments of steadiness, growth, and care for you, both personally and professionally. As we begin this new year together, I’d love to open a conversation about reflexivity and reflective practice. So much of our work asks us not just to do, but to pause, notice, question, and reflect. Reflexivity invites us to consider how our values, identities, experiences, power, and context shape the way we show up in practice. Reflective practice gives us space to learn from what’s working, what feels uncomfortable, and what we might want to do differently as we move forward. As you step into this year, I’m curious: How do you see reflexivity or reflective practice shaping your work in the coming year? What makes it difficult to slow down and reflect in your current role or setting? What obstacles get in the way (time, systems, expectations, emotional load, or something else)? How can we support one another here to move past those barriers? This is a space to think out loud, share honestly, and learn together. Whether you post a few words or a longer reflection, your voice is welcome. Looking forward to learning alongside you this year.

Gratitude in self-care is about pausing long enough to notice what helped us get through, a small win, a moment of ease, or someone who showed up in a quiet way. Gratitude is about naming our unseen impact and affirming the ways we keep showing up, even when the systems around us make that difficult. These moments don’t erase stress or fatigue, but they can help steady us. Over time, noticing them can be a gentle way of caring for ourselves while we continue to carry the work we do. It says: “I see the work I do, even when no one else names it.” “I honour my persistence, my creativity, and my emotional labour.” “I am grateful for the strength I’ve cultivated and the values I’ve held onto.” Take a brief pause to notice one small thing that helped your day feel a little lighter. It could be: • a small win • a moment of ease • something that went okay • a routine that held you • a person (or animal) who had a positive impact Now take a moment to acknowledge someone who supported you today, this week, or even long ago. Please share one win, or one thing you are thankful today in the comments

Pause and consider: • What would feel most supportive for me right now? • What is one small thing I could do to care for myself without effort or pressure? • If I only had the capacity for one thing, what would I choose? Please share one