Happy Monday Reader!

Ever heard of the poem "Desiderata"? That's actually where our affirmation this week comes from!

The full line I'm stealing from is:

But that felt like a bit too much of a mouthful to say 21 times daily, so I shortened it to the most important bit.

"The universe is unfolding as it should."

"Desiderata" became an important part of my life when I was in high school. You may have heard me talk about my favorite high school teacher, Mr. Farrell. He had this poem posted around his room and would quote from it frequently. When I went to college, he mailed me copies of the poem and I hung them in my dorm room, and later, next to my desk in my home office.

Over the years, "Desiderata" has become my secular prayer. I was raised Catholic, but I'm no longer particularly interested in organized religion. Instead, I now consider myself a humanist--a non-theistic view centered on human agency, and a reliance on science and reason.

I chose this portion of "Desiderata" this week because I'm still struggling a bit to truly forgive myself for the stupid wreck I told you about last time. I still find myself thinking "If only...." every time I pass by my neighbor's car, the obvious and very public evidence of my mistake.

I can't go back and change the past. I can only move forward now. And one way to be at peace with our past mistakes or regrets is to find the lesson in them. To decide it happened for a reason.

And this week's affirmation (as well as the entire "Desiderata" poem!) can help us do that by repeating 21x/day:

"The universe is unfolding as it should."

Virtual Workshop - 60 Second Self-Care at Work

Join me and NonProfit Connect for a personal & professional development webinar!

The holiday season is a time for joy, connection, and celebration – but it can also be incredibly stressful. Self-care often takes a backseat during this busy time, but it’s more important than ever to prioritize your well-being. Self-care often gets a bad rap for being expensive or time-consuming. But what if we told you it doesn't have to be?

Join us for a session packed with practical tips and easy-to-implement strategies for incorporating self-care into your busy life without breaking the bank.

• When: Oct. 16, 2024 • 9:30-10:30am
• Cost: $25 - Members / $45 - Nonmembers
• Where: Your desk! Webinar access instructions provided after registration.
• How: Register via NonProfit Connect​

As always, affirmations work best when you truly believe them. They need to resonate with you and feel achievable. So feel free to modify any I suggest, or develop entirely new ones!

Say them as long as you want. I'm sharing a new affirmation each week, but that doesn't mean you have to switch it up each week unless it feels right. You can add new ones as often as you want and have as many as you want. You can say a different affirmation every day, or at different times of the day. You choose!

I'd love to hear the impact it has! (But if you decide affirmations are not for you, click here to be removed from this weekly email.)

I hope this affirmation sets you up for a kick ass week and I'll see you next Monday for a new one to try!

I always have time for you. ❤️

-- Jen