Letter To Myself

Starting in January, I am involved in a 6-month program called Authentic Living here in Aspen, Colorado. It's a group of about 20 women who are looking for all kinds of things, whether it be personal or professional. I'm doing it for all the reasons you can think of. I've been in Aspen over a year now, and I'm ready to branch out a little. Meet new women. Forge new relationships outside of my job managing a yoga studio. I want to find myself professionally, too. And duh, I am always down to learn more about myself. In an exercise with Authentic Living leaders Beth Mobilion and Lindsay Patterson, we were all told to write a letter to ourselves. This was mine.

Dear Ashlyne,

You're feeling low today. Yesterday you felt better, and I know it's a blow to be back here. But here's the thing: You have gotten through worse, and you not only got through, you moved on. You moved forward and tried again. If you had given up once you wouldn't be where you are now.

Each time you decided to get creative with what you were handed (the pain and fear you felt), you made something absolutely beautiful, something that could be given to another person coping with the same problem.

So today, keep creating. Keep wrangling how you feel. Keep writing it down and making it available for the women around you. Keep wrestling with all your stuff and keep seeing them for what they truly are. Your approach could be a key to unlock more than just your struggles.

And keep singing, Ash. You love it and you feel most you with not only your pen in hand but also when you hit your high notes and feel your roots.

Keep showing up. For yourself. For your vision and your purpose. You finally found it after all and it wouldn't be right if you abandoned it now. And if you can't do it for you today, do it for Marcus and Nellie and Ollie...and your future children.

Love, Ashlyne

When I talk to myself in my head, I'm usually a little less gentle. Instead, I'm ragging on myself for all the things I've done wrong. I'm picking myself apart. But when I write to myself, I see myself as a real person...someone who needs a friend, a supporter. Not a nay-sayer.

What would you write to yourself if you did this exercise? (And if you do it, send it to me at connect@howtomoveonandbehappy.com) Show up for yourself. You need you more than you think!

#lettertoself #dearme #exercisie #howtomoveonandbehappy #bekind