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As I type, the snow is blowing sideways and a near white-out in the middle of the afternoon is the view from my reading nook window. Winter has a few more things to say before it ebbs into spring and it is not being shy.

I began thinking about how and when we know we are stepping into a new chapter of our lives, a chapter that reveals growth that grounds us, gives us more clarity and strengthens and permits us to let go of something (a habit, a relationship, a way of thinking) that doesn't serve us constructively. And often, it is a moment much like the last deluge of snowfall that winter is bringing to Bend and part of the states at the moment as we near the season's end: one last frustrating test giving us the opportunity to clearly understand that we no longer want to be stuck living as we once did for so long. 

Don't get me wrong, I adore winter and snow. After all, I chose to live in Bend, and when the snow falls, Bendites cheer whole-heartedly and I am right there with them; however, as we know spring will inevitably arrive, these final snowstorms remind us that in order to move forward we have to appreciate that remaining where we are would be unproductive and not conducive to living a life that is deeply fulfilling. 

We all have to go through chapters (go through certain seasons) to learn certain lessons before we can move on to the next chapter, but unlike the seasons of Mother Nature, moving forward is not a guarantee. We must choose to acknowledge we are discomfited by something in our lives currently in order to be motivated to grow. And often as a last confirmation that we indeed are moving forward in the right direction is a very uncomfortable, perhaps upsetting-to-the-point-of-agitation event that reveals to us the way or what we used to allow or do habitually is not a way to live any longer if we wish to live well and with contentment. 

I appreciate such moments (moreso upon reflection than in real time, I will admit honestly, but as I bcome more aware of why they are happening, I am able to understand why they are occurring more frequently in real time in hindsight) because they are a sign from the universe that I am making progress. The mere fact that I can see how blatantly obvious living in such a way does not support the life that brings me peace and contentment is the evidence that I have grown. And you are as well. This is something to celebrate. 

As you intentionally choose to grow and welcome new habits and new skills into your life, you will still run into dreadful, unwanted moments, and/or hiccups, but funny enough, many of these moments will be situations you didn't think twice about in the past, or they didn’t register as intensely as being ill-aligned with living well because you didn’t know better; however now you will know why those moments occur, you will know they are temporary, and you will see them in a different context. The context being, you have grown and you are now moving forward. You passed the test. Now celebrate the beginning of the new chapter and let this build your self-confidence that you are more capable than you may have realized. A deeply contented life is being realized.

In this month's newsletter, I have included the just released Annual Spring Shopping Guide which is FULL of more than 90 shopping finds hand-picked as you navigate which trends to invest in for your capsule wardrobe. Now released at the first of March as opposed to the first of April, you will have more time and more options as collections are just being released to fill the gaps and zhush up your attire for spring. As well, all of the regular weekly and monthly posts are included below, along with a recipe for what one reader shared after making it was absolutely delicious and their entire household enjoyed (I too was ecstatic by the flavor in this classic dish), and a new bundle of podcast episodes on the topic of love (14 episodes included).

I do hope you enjoy perusing, and thank you for choosing to subscribe to the monthly newsletter. Wishing you a wonderful Tuesday, and until the final day in March (Friday), the 31st, I will see you on the blog.

—Shannon

~To explore every post you wish to read, be sure to become a member to one of the two tiers - BASIC or TOP as non-members can only read five posts a month (it will reset on the first of each month - tomorrow!).