All things considered Quarantine (are we still using that incorrect terminology?) has had its perks. I know we’re all a bit fatigued of hearing about people learning to make bread, experimenting in Dalgona coffee, shifting to matcha and posting sweaty selfies (dear lord I know I am). But there’s a quirk to everyone’s q-tine.

Mine has been diving into my Bean Club, finally busting out my birthday-gifted Le Creuset in light pink (if there ever was the prettiest cooking vessel ladies and gents, THIS IS IT) and investing more in athlesisure than I ever thought imaginable. Not to mention my rediscovery of the scrunchie with a deeper love than my first go-around in the 90s.

No, I haven’t learned a new language and I haven’t knit as much as a trivet but I’ll tell ya something, I feel more clear on who I want to be around, what fills me up and where my energy best lies. That, my friends, is a gift. Having fallen at the whim of FOMO in the ‘before-times’, I no longer wrack my brain on if I should do one thing or another. Instead, it’s either simply not an option, there are less options, plans are made way far in advance (giving time to mentally prepare), and it’s a hard no when it won’t serve me.

I’ve also feel more space to sit with things (not that I always do this) but I feel there is time and room for it. Long walks with a growth-mindset podcast, catching up with friends, finding a new therapist to bounce patterns off of and to dive into. I am working on things, evaluating why I show up the way I do and learn new patterning so I can show up more in alignment with how I want to be instead of what my subconscious beliefs tell me how I should show up.

The frustrating part of patterning is that often we act on beliefs that were engrained in us from an age too early to remember. It makes it hard to re-program, so to speak, when you don’t even remember where a certain belief became truth. I’ve been feeling protective of some of my personal belongings with new roommates moving in, feeling short-changed of connection and partnership without a solid chunk of time to spend with someone. These gut reactions come as a surprise to me — I’m always one to share my things with the people in my life and genuinely okay spending time with just me. It feels good to actually look at this and to feel into speaking up about it or get to work.

So here’s to getting to work. To having space to do some work. Not necessarily to learn Dutch or embroider an inspirational quote on a pillow. It’s about space, looking inward, finding your ‘why’ and then the ‘why’ to that ‘why’. It’s also totally okay if this work is not happening and you’re doing absolutely nothing. Because nothing is something too. I give you permission, I hope you give you permission too.

Wishing you whatever is serving your right now (and always) knowing it’s exactly where you need to be.

The title of this post just brings me joy. There’s nothing more to it than that. Just a casual favorite francophile word for ya on a Tuesday.