Contemplation, Camp, Confirmation
Lately, I’ve been reflecting on the music that’s carried me through—and honestly, amused by just how wide-ranging my musical taste really is. It started when my website partner asked what was on my playlist back in 2020. I had to dig deep to remember the voices and tunes that pulled me through such a challenging season. What surfaced? A wild, beautiful mix of holy and ratchet.
That theme came up again when a friend recently asked for a “get pumped for a presentation” playlist. It got me wondering…which songs have pulled you through hard times? Or help you lock in and focus? I’d love to hear what’s on your personal soundtrack. Who knows? Your go-to jam might earn a spot on my all-over-the-place playlist.
Grounding
"Contemplative" has surfaced again and again in response to my daily check-ins these past few weeks. I’ve just emerged from a stretch of quiet - one where I felt deeply inward, without much to say...yet.
I used to try to push through those moments. Fill the silence. Force the words. But now, I wait. When I mentioned this to my coach and a close friend, they not only understood - they shared similar experiences. That affirmation reminded me: these internal seasons are not only valid, they’re often essential.
I’ve come to value days, weeks, even months of simply being with myself. Especially when I’m reflecting or preparing to shift something in my business. In a culture where outward expression is often equated with progress or success, I have to remind myself that stillness is movement. What did your last inward season reveal to you?
Gripping
My son kicked off his summer with an art camp at the High Museum. The camp is in the city; we live in the suburbs. That means a 45-minute commute each way - if traffic is perfect (spoiler: it never is).
I was excited about this new adventure for him - a different environment, new people, fresh experiences. I was also a little nervous. Would my five-year-old’s energy and expectations align with my own hopes? Thankfully, they did. He had the best time. His favorite parts? Taking a packed lunch every day and closing out the week with a full-on art exhibit.
What I didn't expect was the joy l'd find beyond his excitement. I gained 1.5+ hours of "new" time. On the way there, I got to connect with my son in a deeper, slower way - something our usual 15-minute morning commute rarely allows (especially since his little sister usually has plenty to say, too). On the return trip, I had uninterrupted space to soak in podcasts about leadership, parenting, and spirituality. That kind of intentional content is rare for me to sit with uninterrupted.
It turned out to be an exciting week for both of us. Not because it was extravagant - but because it wasn’t. We simply shook up our routine. This week, we’re gratefully settling into a more familiar rhythm with a local camp. But we’re carrying that spark of newness with us into the rest of the summer. How are you shifting your summer rhythm?
Gifting
Y’all - Forever is that show.
I was fully engrossed in every single frame. I’m still processing so much of it. Honestly? I might rewatch the whole series. It’s that good. For me, it was personal. I’ve never seen my lived experience portrayed so beautifully and accurately on screen. As a Black girl who attended a PWI and ran track, Forever touched so many parts of me.
Let me be clear - my parents didn’t have the kind of means portrayed in the show. But they did have the love, protection, and intentionality that shaped my childhood in powerful ways. The series captured Black family dynamics with such authenticity - the tenderness, the tension, the care. And the rollercoaster of navigating two different worlds? Whew. It hit home. I’ll forever treasure this portrayal of a story that feels so similar to mine.
And the soundtrack? Absolutely perfect. The emotional companion to every episode, every moment. I’ve been reliving it all through the episode-by-episode playlist. What’s on your soundtrack for the summer? I’d love to know.
I’d also love hear how you’re intentionally leaning into this season. Let’s flow, one beautiful sunny day at a time.
Joyfully,
Elandria
