Every year, for the past 17+ years, I have read Anne Morrow Lindbergh’s book Gift from the Sea. It’s the book I selected for my first book club, The Babylon Book Club of Bodega Bay, back in 2007 and remains an absolute classic. It's a book about the magic of days spent by the sea, to be sure, but it's about so much more. It's also about the value of learning patience, finding space for solitude, and remaining strong during both busy and not-so-busy seasons of life. It is timeless. It is wise. It will never go out of style.
When it came time to launch my creative online weekly salon, The Ray of Light Community, this book was our first assignment back on September 1, 2021. The Ray of Light Community celebrated three years together this week. Gathering with these women every Wednesday for three straight years has been an absolute joy + an up-leveling of my creative and spiritual self. They have held me through cancer (twice!), my divorce, my empty-nesting, as well as teaching me so much about holding space, sharing + creating just for the fun of it. Thank you to the Ray of Light women (past, present + future) who are + remain total beacons in my life.
To kick off the month of September, I found myself in the sea on my birthday. The San Francisco Bay to be exact, where I was joined by my dearest + closest friend, Stephanie. This was a conscious choice, by the way. I did it on purpose. I wanted to hit the reset button on my life + my nervous system. Check. Check. I also wanted to embark on this 54th yearwith intention + purpose. Check. Check. The Virgo New Moon was arriving this week and it felt timely for an ocean dip with women who are important to me.
A few days later, I found myself walking off a plane in Dublin, Ireland, to be greeted by another of my dear friends, Amanda Grace. At the airport luggage claim area, I used the public restroom and quickly changed into my swimming suit (togs, as she called it!).
After a quick hug + hellos, off we went to the Bull Wall at the Port of Dublin.
Poolbeg Towers, the iconic and unofficial mascot of Dublin, are looming in the background. And, the water was cold. I mean take-your-breath-away-cold. After watching several women just saunter in, I had to join them. Amanda documented my bravery, my lunacy…whatever you want to call it. Ha!
I spent 24 hours in Ireland and it was absolutely not enough. I will return.
I’ll be sharing more about this 7-week adventure for my paid subscribers, but this is just the beginning of it. I’ll be sharing more about how I did planned, paid + saved for it, as well as how I packed my creative toolbox for the trip. Maybe I’ll even share how I fit all 7 weeks’ worth of clothing in this little yellow suitcase! If that interests you, please consider becoming a paid subscriber to my substack.
I just landed in Nice yesterday, my yellow luggage deciding to take an alternate route back to San Francisco, so I’m wearing the same outfit I’ve had on all week and…it’s not the end of the world. I have my carry-on (pictured above right) with most of my essentials for working + connecting with my creativity.
I just have to share a bit about acceptance here. It’s a reading from the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, Fourth Edition, Page 417. This is a passage I read daily in early sobriety + continues to guide me back to some form of serenity + peace of mind. Maybe it will resonate with you, too?
“Acceptance is the answer to all my problems today. When I am disturbed, it is because I find some person, place, thing or situation—some fact of my life—unacceptable to me, and I can find no serenity until I accept that person, place, thing or situation as being exactly the way it is supposed to be at this moment. Nothing, absolutely nothing, happens in God’s world by mistake. Until I could accept my alcoholism, I could not stay sober; unless I accept life completely on life’s terms, I cannot be happy. I need to concentrate not so much on what needs to be changed in the world as on what needs to be changed in me and my attitudes.”
It’s 5 am in the morning here in France. Jet lag is real. Lost luggage is real. Acceptance is a process. I accept the lost luggage, but I did take action to help it find its way back to me. We’ll see if it works.
Thanks for following along with me as I traverse the world this month and next.
More will be revealed. Stay tuned.
Last Sunday, I held the only live call for this 3-part self-paced course. A replay is now living in the course + you can watch it at your leisure. As a reminder, this course is going to focus on the basics: The Toolbox, The Blank Page + Logging Your Life.
This introductory course is being offered at the special price of $54 in honor of this Virgo’s birthday. Since it is self-paced, it’s always a good time to join. The community sharing aspect has begun + I’m so inspired by the logbook pages being shared visually within the course. You are cordially invited hang out with us there.
I’m signing off for now.
Or, as they say in France…
Au revoir,
Tammi
Good morning, Tammi! Salut 🥰
Love this, of course and I look forward to the next time.
Hope that yellow mary Poppins makes her way back to you soon!
Amanda x
Ahh I loved reading this and all your adventures my friend. I miss you. Love Miranda 🫶🇫🇷🇮🇪🫶