Friday, August 28. Welcome back. :) Or, welcome for the first time. And if this is a forward, get yo-self on the list at abeandisaac.com/newsletter.

Slow breath in through the nose: one, two, three, four, five. Hold. Slow breath out: one, two, three, four, five. Hold.

Let’s begin.

I do not have to do it
that way.

I’m recognizing, slowly, inexorably, the opportunities I have to remain in choice. It feels a little like installing flags in my brain – reminders for myself for when I pass that way again, through that path of gripping fear or that story of insecurity, putting a little white flag in the ground to jog the memory of the realization that I am not bound to any specific way of doing anything ever. Including, and especially, the fear paths. When I am passing through fear, I am not bound to silence. Getting really fucking specific to my own life, I have options that are not hold and hide it all inside until it comes out in a way that hurts my partner.

I do not have to do it that way. I do not have to do it that way. I do not have to do it that way.

I like this language for the distance it puts between me and that way. It’s a way, but it is not the way, and – for all my myopia in that moment – it needn’t even be the most available way. It’s like how Spanish distinguishes between this thing, that thing, and that thing over there. It is not este vía, it is aquella vía, and I do not have to do it that way.

Abe reminded me, in a moment where I had completely failed to remind myself, that it’s also okay to just say, out loud, “I know that path of fear is not the only way, and also right this second I can’t find a path that is different”. He’s here to help. He recognizes, crucially, the difference between me and my fear. (Find the people who recognize that for you.)

I am learning to stay conscious. I am learning to stay free. I am learning that I do not need to know the way; it can be enough to identify the way that I do not want, and then ask (of myself, of my partner, of the world) for another way to appear. It always does.

This kind of learning feels like trying to remember a dream, you know? These lessons are so clear in a moment, and then heartbeats later the memory can fade. And so I embrace the repetition that life gives me, taking each opportunity to revisit the lesson and layer it further into my soul, so that someday I won’t have to watch for that little white flag in the ground. At least, not for this.

Wellness for you,
and for me

Our minds think a lot of things during the day. Thousands of thoughts per day. Of those thousands, according to researchers, some 80% are negative and 95% of them are exactly the same thoughts as the day before. Now, if those numbers are anywhere close to accurate, it begs the question: how many your thoughts in your day are life-giving, and pro-you? From my own experience and also from working with clients, I know that it’s so easy to have self-limiting and sometimes destructive thoughts, and to let those thoughts run rampant. But: imagine a life where most of your thoughts were PRO-YOU! What if your thoughts were focused on productive, life-giving solutions for helping you live an empowered, positive, authentic life? A life where you choose not to beat yourself up over the smallest thing, but to focus on and celebrate your strengths? (And you have so many strengths!)

It’s possible. It takes practice! And you can practice.

In the next week, I encourage you to just pay attention to how many of your thoughts are unhealthy ones on repeat, and how many thoughts are actually serving you. Watch for the thoughts that bring you to a more holistic, healthy place and feeling in your day. :) No shame or judgement in this exploration / assessment – we get better by intentionally focusing on what we want to create, and this takes time, patience, and practice. :)

I’m doing a three-part miniseries on this topic the week of September 7th, with my long-time friend and certified health coach Chloe Shovein. I’ll share the sign-up link next week.

I’d love to know some of your limiting thoughts that you observe, over this next week. I mean that, because recognizing these is where this progress starts. Feel free to email them to me – zero judgement, only space to explore and share. I’d love to connect! :) Just hit reply.

Last encouragement of the week: take a moment to quiet your mind. Forget for a moment the to-do list, the state of the world, and any limiting beliefs, whatever they may be – take three minutes to and for yourself after reading this message. You have everything inside of you to feel amazing.

I believe in you.

I found something!
Can I show you?

Abe here! I love scents and fragrances. They make me remember. And feel. They inspire me in more ways that I can count. I remember the scent of a gorgeous hotel in Barcelona, where we had a conversation with an awesome guy from Argentina about life and art and exploration. I remember the cologne that I wore every time I talked to my now-late mother, every time I came home from my restaurant serving job in college.

I want to share with you one of my favorite candles: Coastal Juniper, in scented soy, by Sydney Hale Co. It reminds me of flying into Nashville two years ago, arriving at midnight, and being taken in by our dear friend Rebekah Pahl (an incredible musician, by the way!). We sang and chatted until 2am — and this was the candle burning that night. I’ve been lighting it every day since we arrived to the Fort v5.

I’m giving away one of these candles to y’all. (No sponsors, just a gift.) Enter below, and before you click, think about this question (because it’s on the form!): what is your favorite scent, and why? How does it make you feel? :)

A bit about us

But wait – who are we? (And who are you??)

Identity is a funny thing, you know? There are the things that we do, the places we are, the things we like, and all of them – without really being us – hint at that which we are.

Isaac likes finding patterns. Isaac likes live, high-production concerts a whole fucking lot. Isaac likes making bread. Isaac likes finding patterns and making tools out of them and seeing those tools get used every second of the day to serve people across the planet. Isaac likes old pianos.

Abe likes learning. Abe likes expression, to the fullest. Abe likes tiaras and dumbbells. Abe likes exploring beauty, exploring design. Abe likes knowing what life is about, and seeing life pour out its abundance and light. Abe likes keeping his camera within 20 feet at all times. Abe likes feeling good.

We like experimenting. We like having an idea, and feeling it out, and then allowing it to become real, something we can touch. We like moving – our bodies, our minds, between homes, cities, states of being.

Isaac’s mom once said, “I like being.” I think that’s it, ultimately.

Wishing you knowledge of true self, this day. You are more than any of this, and yet you will find yourself in all that is. Steady on, steady on. 🌱