Anxiety, traveling, and writing love letters

Hi friends,

I've drafted and deleted many posts before finally sharing this one with you all. That being said there is a lot on my heart so if you are more interested in reading a section or two here is what I'm diving into:

1. Working through anxiety

2. Staying grounded while traveling

3. Writing love letters to yourself (a practice from Elizabeth Gilbert)

Working through anxiety:

It has been a while since I’ve reached out. I’ve found myself caught up not only with work and fun adventures but also entangled in the cyclical pattern of thinking that anything I write isn’t worthy of sharing. Is anyone sometimes held captive by their anxieties and insecurities?

It feels ironic to admit I've been anxious recently as the basis of Rewilding Child is to create a space to talk about how to feel wild and free! But I am human as we all are, and it is just as important for me to share about the hard feelings and how through feeling it all we can connect more deeply with our authentic self.

Sometimes it isn’t as simple as deciding to feel wild and free. Being human means feeling a whole myriad of emotions including stress and dissonance and fear. Rewilding, to me, means carving out physical, emotional or mental space to re-ground, to check in with my needs and desires, to go dance outside in the rain if that feels calling, or to snuggle up on the couch and remind myself yes ava, I hear that you are insecure about xyz... but go on and do the brave thing by sharing your truth– this is how you can rewild today. 

For those of you who have been following along my journey, I’m currently living in Hobart, Tasmania, the island state of Australia down south near the bottom of the Earth. I am so grateful to be living out my lifelong dream of travel. I’ve always wished to see the world, be exposed to new cultures and expand myself in new situations. I’m doing just that! It is amazing and everything I hoped it would be.

And. 

Sometimes the anxiety creeps in.

Am I doing this all right? Am I now behind in having a career? How do I measure up compared to my friends and colleagues? Am I feeling free enough? Secure enough? How do I balance all the things I care about like exploring, having quality time with my partner, making space to be creative, working…? 

Staying grounded while traveling:

I am learning to have grace with myself. Living in a new country far away from a sense of community while embracing new customs and schedules is challenging! I'm finding that the more I share with my partner, friends and family, the less burdened I feel with my anxieties and the more present I can become.

My dear friend Carly gifted me a holistic planner before I departed on my trip. There are bubbles for each week to list and intention and something to let go of. This week I’ve written in big block letters that I intend to “GROUND” and my goal is to let go of “FUTURE TRIPPING.” 

I know that I feel more connected to my authentic self / inner child / wildest truest me when I share what is on my heart (the good, bad and ugly). I can allow my feelings to be heard and held and then come back to the present. This is especially important when in a new environment and still creating community and routine.

I feel a wave of relief writing this now. Without even realizing it, articulating some of the anxieties I’ve been holding is setting me free. How do you regulate your emotions when you feel anxious about being in new situations or planning for the future? What methods do you have for returning to your truest, wildest, most present self?

If you are looking for a new way to come home to yourself and practice radical self love maybe try writing a love letter to yourself. (sounds crazy, but seriously it is amazing... read below).

making time for self care (the ocean is the greatest healer)

Writing love letters to yourself:

A few months ago I was listening to an episode of my favorite podcast "We Can Do Hard Things" by author Glennon Doyle when I heard of an incredible practice of self love by interviewee and author Elizabeth Gilbert (Eat Pray Love!).

The practice is as follows. Sit with a pen and paper or your laptop and write the following: "dear love what would you have me know today?" Then, respond to your own question from the perspective of unconditional love. You can read more about this beautiful practice and even participate by sharing your own entries or reading others on Gilbert's substack here.

In following with this theme of vulberability this week I'll share a love letter of my own. I hope this will inspire you to connect with whatever hard or beautiful feelings on your heart today.

Dear Love, what would you have me know today?

Hi, dear Ava, thank you for reaching out today. As always I want to begin by saying that you are so so loved and that everything you are feeling is a testament to the fullness of your humanity. I hear you have been feeling anxious lately. I'm sorry you have been carying that heaviness. And it is okay. You are capable of holding all the big juicy feelings in the world, even the hard ones and I'm right here by your side through it all.

I'm so proud of you for living out your dreams by traveling, working hard and building such a loving partnership and relationship with yourself at the same time. It isn't always easy to balance how you spend your energy and you are doing an amazing job. You are doing beautiful, hard, incredible things my dear Ava.

Know that the energy you give out in the world matters. Your laughter matters as do your tears. We need more deep feeling in this world on all accounts. Your feeling is your power. You can find wildness and freeness in the rawness of everything in your heart. Keep doing the vulnberable things. You are so loved. So very loved.

Love,

Love

I'm sending love and hugs to you dear reader from Tasmania (or Tassie as the locals say). I hope this week you find tenderness and healing in whatever form is resonant for you.

And next week I'm excited to connect with you again and share more about traveling and working in Australia... I know I'm not the only one dreaming of big adventures!

Best,

Ava