​​​​​​​It took me 38 years (well 38 and a half years to be precise), but I finally saw and more fully came to understand something about myself that I hadn't fully grasped until this past week. What was it you may be asking?

Connection. What real connection feels like. I have been reading Michaela Chung's The Irresistible Introvert each night this past week, and while Susan Cain's Quiet woke me up and provided an awareness and peace that I hadn't found until having read her best-selling book, Chung's book is the manual I have needed as it speaks to readers clearly and conversationally about the language of introversion.

Back to what I realized. The aspect that I regularly pushed back upon was that "everyone" needs social connection, meaning a connection to other people. And while I have always agreed we don't want to not be around people entirely, I do enjoy others' company, it was hard to explain the connection I felt in my own company which is to me priceless and absolutely necessary to thrive. And what Chung made me realize (and it was with a huge relief that I clearly understood and agreed wholeheartedly), as an introvert, my time alone is a source of connecting and when it is limited or taken away consistently, the best I can be is negated.

I share this not assuming all who are reading this are introverts, but because all of us understand truths about ourselves that we don't always know how to explain. And sometimes it takes a sage outsider, someone we may never meet face-to-face to speak or write in a way that connects with us to shed light on something we need to understand in order to find tranquility in our journey.

Each of our journeys will be unique to ourselves if we are being true to what we have to offer the world. The obstacle we must overcome is sliding into the journey that was laid before us. Because while our story through life may have similarities to those who came before, it will never be exactly the same so long as we are listening to our own marching band.

For me, in some ways it was acknowledgement that I wasn't misunderstanding myself, rather I simply didn't have the translation for what I was experiencing, but all along I knew what journey I should be traveling, and how I need to journey had to be.

Speaking of journeys, how is your journey into fall(spring) going? I am soaking in as much September warmth and beauty as I can (be sure to check out what Norman and I did yesterday after work), stopping by the farmers market for the final days it is open (oh how I will miss it these next seven months before it returns again), and slipping on my sandals one last time. However, wearing more cashmere scarves, bundling in wool coats and sipping hot chocolate are activities I look forward to as October offers ever more crisp temperatures which is how this week's Why Not . . . ?  post came to be. Four seasons. All of which offer something to savor, and something to look forward to until we see it again. Just as in life, we need time to gather our energy, time to spring forward and try new ventures, ridding ourselves of what no longer works, then time to play and go on adventures before returning to focused work and productivity. Mother Nature truly has endless lessons to teach us if only we'd be the eager student.

And if you're reading TSLL, you too, like myself, are a curious soul and thus a forever student of life. So without further adieu, I do hope you enjoy this week's newsletter. Have a lovely weekend and until next week, I'll see you on the blog.​​​​​​