House of Hazel Newsletter: Change

August, 24, 2020

My dear friends, 

What a difference a week 5 months makes. Pretty much since the beginning of quarantine I've been wearing the same DIY bandana masks, using my bike as primary transportation, holding off on making any kind of travel plans (and cancelling the few that I had,) not going to restaurants or getting takeout, connecting with friends on zoom for hours each week, just pausing, holding my breath, ducking and covering with the idea that eventually I could put my foot on solid ground and take a step forward. I made some initial shifts that felt like they could hold me until this was all over and then I just held on tight. These shifts have held me pretty well for 5 months. About 3 weeks ago, however, I started to notice some feelings that reminded me of early March. It was as if I peeked out from under my quarantine helmet to find a different terrain. Definitely not the old familiar stuff, but not the stuff I had initially adjusted to, either. What had kept me feeling safe and steady at the beginning was now feeling a little ragged and heavy. What were designed as temporary solutions were predictably ill-fitting for long-term use.

Talking about this with a friend, I described what I'm now feeling: I'm burning out the motor by trying to resist what is likely a longer term reality. Like driving in autopilot with the emergency break on. If I turn off autopilot and release the e-brake, I might actually be able to steer the car towards something a little more life-giving, both for me and for those around me. 

My daily schedule, once wide open and overwhelming in its possibility, has become relatively anchored and structured again. Where I initially craved constant connection to feel seen in quarantine, I'm now recognizing my own increased need for solo time. The House of Hazel site gave me a way to be of service by collecting digital resources to help us all help each other and stay engaged through a finite period of social distancing. That finite period has passed and our social distancing has evolved. We've all been affected, made adjustments, and reconnected to parts that we momentarily paused. I've loved practicing with you over the last several months and, if you haven't made it to a class, I've still loved these weekly opportunities to connect with you here. As my terrain has changed, I imagine yours may have, as well. 

With that, I'm shifting the yoga schedule to one live class per week. I'm also developing some on-demand videos that you can access at your leisure, allowing you to practice whenever and wherever it fits your schedule. Your weekly House of Hazel email will be shifting to a once-a-month email, starting early September with some more info on new offerings. I will also be updating the House of Hazel website to reflect where we are as a changed and changing community.  I'm going to continue thinking about what I am now able to offer, what I now need, and how I can tell when it's time to steer in a new direction.

The mission of House of Hazel is still to help us all take care of ourselves to take care of each other. What that looks like is going to keep changing but the basic idea will hopefully remain adaptable. If you've read Octavia Butler's Parable series, you know the gist: 

All that you touch
You Change.
All that you Change
Changes you.
The only lasting truth
Is Change.
God
Is Change.

With you in loving change, constant change, 

becca love