“Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end” ~Semisonic
 
I have experienced several endings this month, endings that, while long anticipated, have hinted at an important new cycle that is set to begin in my life. This is why I find myself advising clients to double down on faith; why the uncertainty I feel around not knowing what this new chapter entails brings great anxiety; why I am both excited and grieving; why my inner knowing feels calm and clear on what I must do to prepare and surrender to all that is being conjured on my behalf, similar to how a woman’s body knows exactly what to do prior to giving birth.

Life often requires that we remain steadfast at the center of all that is bleak. ~Hard Faith in Times of Hard Truth  
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I have been here before. The heartache is all too familiar. I know this tune; I sing it well. I have memorized the lyrics, my body sways to the melody, and my tears drop with the beat of the percussion.

A true leader is someone who becomes the authority of their own life.

People who know me know that I do not like to be referred to as a “leader.” Too often leaders in our society are supposed to look a certain way, have certain accomplishments underneath their belts, and are expected to live up to certain standards and expectations. They also often experience great pressure to perform – to reach goals that have been set by systems, experts, and other proclaimed leaders, who take their cues from other proclaimed leaders. No thanks. While I get that being a leader affords you privileges, respect, recognition and honor, so too does living an honorable life, respecting yourself and others, showing kindness, and being true to your soul.

“To act is to be committed, and to be committed is to be in danger” ~James Baldwin
 
I have been fighting battles all week. Battles for human rights. Battles for proper medical care. Battles for love. Battles for my own self. And nope, I do not feel exhausted. I feel alive.