Sinéad, just a note from Ireland, to let you know that I adore your writing. Each essay you upload is a balm to the soul. I eagerly await your writing to appear in my email inbox every week! Thank you for sharing your thoughts, insights and experience with such candour. The world is in desperate need of more softness, more vulnerability, more authenticity. You are modelling that and, for Irish women like myself in particular, it is deeply inspiring. Thank you x
Gráinne, thank you so much for these gorgeous words, it honestly means the world. This is all so new for me but I am finding so much joy in turning feelings into words and receiving comments like this makes me feel like I'm on the right track - THANK YOU! I look forward to sharing more soon :)
Another Irish woman here to say I second this. A perfect summary!
I really loved your piece, Sinéad. I was so drawn to the gentle inner voice or inner wisdom that’s shining through in your writing. It feels like it’s guiding you, and it’s such a beautiful message about holding onto hope while stepping into uncharted, untrodden ground.
I relate so much. I’m also trying to cultivate that same sense of hope and excitement for the unknown. I’m travelling in the van now with no idea what’s next, having left behind my old career and London life. It’s daunting and unfamiliar, but there’s something amazing about pushing myself toward a more creative and attuned way of living.
P.S. In yet another crazy moment of synchronicity between us, I ordered Wintering this week too. You couldn’t write it! 😅
Thank you so much, Tracey - I love that it resonates for you - you're doing such a big, brave thing and you'll get so much from it, even though there'll inevitably tough times! That is so funny about Wintering!! You'll love it, it's perfect for those of us walking the pathless path! Can't wait to hear your thoughts and to read your next post, when you get to it! Replying to your DM now too :)
I love the idea of wintering/hibernating/pausing, it gives us permission to experience the inbetween with less panic, more patience and kindness. I do think we all need constant reminders to stay away from the panic and your article is a perfect hand hold to do that!
What a lovely way to put it, thank you! It’s so hard, we’re wired for productivity and progress and it can be very difficult and isolating to step off that treadmill but I trust that it will be rewarding in its own way!
Yes! I find that lately my wintering has gone into periods of spring and then back to wintering, and then summer and back to wintering, and then fall and back to wintering😂 doesn't quite fit the cycle of the "regular" seasons, but love thinking about it this way anyways😌🌿
I love this and it makes total sense. We’re told that life is linear - milestones to hit. But in my experience it is an absolute cluster of circles that can take us any which way, so of course it makes sense to dabble in each!
So wonderful to connect with you! I too am in a similar space. I found so many writing about great beginning or learnings at the end. I call mine the messy middle. As a painter I recognize it as what always felt like the ugly stage but now I’m seeing it as that in between. It’s really inspiring to hear your thoughts on it all! Excited to stay connected 🌸
This is so heartfelt Sinéad and really spoke to me both spiritually and emotionally. I am on a similar journey myself and reading about some of your experiences, has brought clarity to my own.✨
I also dislike the question that I get asked from people ‘what have you been up to?’ when there is so much going on inside of you privately, whilst you’re actively trying to take a step back and savour this season of wintering.❤️
Thank you for sharing a piece of your heart with me.☺️
Exactly that - that question covers the tip of the iceberg of what’s actually going on! I’m so glad it helped, thanks for reading and good luck on your own journey too!
I adore your writing!!!!i Have shared this article with a friend who is very drained by the ‘success stories ‘ of fertility issues because as she says she’s not one still. This is perfection.
And great for me in a weirdly different way . My last bird has flown away from home and this is a sticky middle of greif loss and glimmers to navigate indeed . Thanks so much you are a heavenly writer
Oh sending so much love to your friend, I highly recommend the book by Jennie Agg - life, almost. And thank you so much for your kind words, I appreciate you being here!! And that is also a huge life transition to navigate, lots to grieve and lots of opportunities, I imagine. Thank you 🥰
Doesn’t look like I can insert a picture here so you’ll have to take my word for it, but I love a good synchronicity and this is what I’m also reading right now! It had come across my path a few times in the past but never felt right for me until last week too. And in other strangeness, I began to read Katherine May’s other book Enchantment on the train down from the Blue Mountains to the Liz Gilbert workshop. And look how relevant that also turned out to be that weekend 😘
Agh! How amazing is that!? No such thing as coincidences, I love that! And her other book was perfect to set you up for that workshop! Would you recommend Enchantment?
Enchantment had plenty of elements that resonated with me but I think I’m enjoying Wintering more. It’s one that I think I’ll come back to for a re-read down the track. It’ll pop up again when I need to get different info from it 😉
Sinéad, just a note from Ireland, to let you know that I adore your writing. Each essay you upload is a balm to the soul. I eagerly await your writing to appear in my email inbox every week! Thank you for sharing your thoughts, insights and experience with such candour. The world is in desperate need of more softness, more vulnerability, more authenticity. You are modelling that and, for Irish women like myself in particular, it is deeply inspiring. Thank you x
Gráinne, thank you so much for these gorgeous words, it honestly means the world. This is all so new for me but I am finding so much joy in turning feelings into words and receiving comments like this makes me feel like I'm on the right track - THANK YOU! I look forward to sharing more soon :)
Another Irish woman here to say I second this. A perfect summary!
I really loved your piece, Sinéad. I was so drawn to the gentle inner voice or inner wisdom that’s shining through in your writing. It feels like it’s guiding you, and it’s such a beautiful message about holding onto hope while stepping into uncharted, untrodden ground.
I relate so much. I’m also trying to cultivate that same sense of hope and excitement for the unknown. I’m travelling in the van now with no idea what’s next, having left behind my old career and London life. It’s daunting and unfamiliar, but there’s something amazing about pushing myself toward a more creative and attuned way of living.
P.S. In yet another crazy moment of synchronicity between us, I ordered Wintering this week too. You couldn’t write it! 😅
Thank you so much, Tracey - I love that it resonates for you - you're doing such a big, brave thing and you'll get so much from it, even though there'll inevitably tough times! That is so funny about Wintering!! You'll love it, it's perfect for those of us walking the pathless path! Can't wait to hear your thoughts and to read your next post, when you get to it! Replying to your DM now too :)
It's so great to find the right book at the right time. And those burgers...... now I'm hungry.
They were too good! And it really is, thanks for reading 😊
I love the idea of wintering/hibernating/pausing, it gives us permission to experience the inbetween with less panic, more patience and kindness. I do think we all need constant reminders to stay away from the panic and your article is a perfect hand hold to do that!
What a lovely way to put it, thank you! It’s so hard, we’re wired for productivity and progress and it can be very difficult and isolating to step off that treadmill but I trust that it will be rewarding in its own way!
Yes! I find that lately my wintering has gone into periods of spring and then back to wintering, and then summer and back to wintering, and then fall and back to wintering😂 doesn't quite fit the cycle of the "regular" seasons, but love thinking about it this way anyways😌🌿
I love this and it makes total sense. We’re told that life is linear - milestones to hit. But in my experience it is an absolute cluster of circles that can take us any which way, so of course it makes sense to dabble in each!
So wonderful to connect with you! I too am in a similar space. I found so many writing about great beginning or learnings at the end. I call mine the messy middle. As a painter I recognize it as what always felt like the ugly stage but now I’m seeing it as that in between. It’s really inspiring to hear your thoughts on it all! Excited to stay connected 🌸
Thank you for reading - the messy middle, that’s exactly it!!
This is so heartfelt Sinéad and really spoke to me both spiritually and emotionally. I am on a similar journey myself and reading about some of your experiences, has brought clarity to my own.✨
I also dislike the question that I get asked from people ‘what have you been up to?’ when there is so much going on inside of you privately, whilst you’re actively trying to take a step back and savour this season of wintering.❤️
Thank you for sharing a piece of your heart with me.☺️
Exactly that - that question covers the tip of the iceberg of what’s actually going on! I’m so glad it helped, thanks for reading and good luck on your own journey too!
I have been embracing trusting, surrendering to The Divine Plan; not always easy but when I can relax into that I am surprisingly peaceful.
Most definitely not easy! But agree, there is peace to found in it. Thanks for reading
I adore your writing!!!!i Have shared this article with a friend who is very drained by the ‘success stories ‘ of fertility issues because as she says she’s not one still. This is perfection.
And great for me in a weirdly different way . My last bird has flown away from home and this is a sticky middle of greif loss and glimmers to navigate indeed . Thanks so much you are a heavenly writer
Oh sending so much love to your friend, I highly recommend the book by Jennie Agg - life, almost. And thank you so much for your kind words, I appreciate you being here!! And that is also a huge life transition to navigate, lots to grieve and lots of opportunities, I imagine. Thank you 🥰
Doesn’t look like I can insert a picture here so you’ll have to take my word for it, but I love a good synchronicity and this is what I’m also reading right now! It had come across my path a few times in the past but never felt right for me until last week too. And in other strangeness, I began to read Katherine May’s other book Enchantment on the train down from the Blue Mountains to the Liz Gilbert workshop. And look how relevant that also turned out to be that weekend 😘
Agh! How amazing is that!? No such thing as coincidences, I love that! And her other book was perfect to set you up for that workshop! Would you recommend Enchantment?
Enchantment had plenty of elements that resonated with me but I think I’m enjoying Wintering more. It’s one that I think I’ll come back to for a re-read down the track. It’ll pop up again when I need to get different info from it 😉
That's good to know, I do enjoy her writing style. And yes, totally agree - there'll be something in there next time too