May Flourish & Flow
Notes on creativity, connection, and seasonal wisdom
Hi friend! I'm Vanessa - writer, certified life coach, and midlife menopausal maven. I share honest reflections on creativity, energy, and finding flow during midlife and menopausal transitions. If my words resonate, consider joining my Flourish & Flow membership community for deeper support through audio reflections and creative workshops, and special events.
I almost came here to write about the cray cray that is May, but I don’t need to tell you.
It’s long understood that May can feel like the winter holiday season, just dressed up with warmer temps and flowers.
I’m currently holding so much space and grace for myself.
I haven’t planned (much) or prepared (much) for a few big things happening for my family this month.
The overwhelm is real.
But my mental and physical health are more important right now.
Full stop.
How about we approach May with a sense of peace and humor?
I am setting this intention right here, right now.
🖋️ Creativity & Connection
“It takes a lot of courage to show your dreams to someone else.” -Erma Bombeck
Something soul-filling I’ve been doing is taking creativity walks.
These are walks I do with another creative friend/writer/coach/multi-passionate biz owner.
Sometimes they are in person (like with a local author I’ve had the immense pleasure to connect with), or on the phone or on Voxer.
Things we discuss during these creativity walks:
Current projects
Brainstorming ideas for our own projects or collaborations
Project/product reviews and insights
Ways to get unstuck
Frustrations or creative blocks
I find that I need to be intentional and cultivate these creative connections. So often, weeks can go by and I start feeling off or I’ve spent too long in my head mulling around on a project or a piece of writing.
Walking and talking things through with another person has been key. I also thoroughly enjoy being a sounding board for others and reflecting back what I hear, sharing my thoughts, or simply offering an, “I get it.”
With spring officially sprung and warmer and longer days, I invite you to reach out to someone and schedule a creativity walk this week.
Let me know how it goes.
🪄 Practical-ish Magic
I know it’s cheesy to say, “Laughter is the best medicine.”
But I think it might be true.
And we all need more laughter—I’m talking hold-your-belly, tinkle-a-bit, tears-streaming-down-your-face laughter.
Watch a short comedy clip
Call a friend who always makes you laugh
Read a funny book or comic memoir
Listen to a comedy podcast snippet
Follow comedians on social media
Share a ridiculous meme (or 100, let’s be honest, it’s never just one)
Humor and laughter and joy isn’t frivolous.
It’s something you get to experience when things are smooth sailing and hunky dory.
Don’t hold your laughter in.
Don’t hold your laughter back.
Find something, one thing, today, that makes you LOL!
My inbox is always open for all the fun and funny things.
🌷 Rituals & Rhythms
In order to keep some sense of peace in this frantic spring energy, I wrote this poem/ simple list of things that bring sustained and simple joy.
These days my anchors are homemade matcha lattes fiction stickers and washi tape pens and highlighters Scotland Magazine haiku poetry hot, hot bubble baths elastic waist pants after-meal walks sisterhood talks Julia Whelan audiobooks Substack posts 90s alternative music playlists luscious skincare charcoal body soap dumbbells and walking shoes supportive foods saying no saying hell yes I'm anchoring down so I don't drown I'm navigating a turbulent sea It's up to me
Write down a list of your spring anchors. Keep it close by and refer back to it when you to need to ground down and come back to yourself.
Okay, May, let’s do this. But slowly, with lots of breathing room.
Please and thank you.
Vanessa 🦋
P.S. If you need a little something to get you laughing, check out a Note I posted the other day regarding me and my oh-so-early-90s prom dress. Photo below.
Instead of afternoon caffeine, I've been opting for YouTube comedy clips as a pick-me-up. Highly recommend, and does a better job than any tea or coffee would have.