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Dear Subscriber First Name, “Okay. I trust you.” These are the first words my dad said to me that Tuesday afternoon after I broke the news of how I’d left my full-time job a month prior without another lined up to take a break and reassess… life. I waited a month to tell my parents because I was protecting them—or so I told myself. Their opinions and general emotional wellbeing have always been important to me, and increasingly so as they’ve aged. In full honesty, though, I was worried that hearing their concerns would dampen the courage and self-belief I’d built over half a year to make this little leap. Because as happy as I am that I made this choice, there’s an uncertainty to this grey area I’ve willingly stepped into. What I needed were words of encouragement, not doubt. Somehow they knew. Tears of gratitude and relief welled up in my eyes as my dad expressed his confidence that I’d thought it through and could stay on my feet. My mom thought aloud how I’m now an adult responsible for my own decisions, and she knew that jan-sori or “nagging” wouldn’t be helpful. Perhaps sharing my thought process also helped them see the planning I’d done and mitigated worry. This exchange with my parents felt like life reminding me to be open, to refrain from projecting my own expectations (however informed they are by life experiences), and to give my loved ones a chance to stay involved and respond with love. I’m still learning this lesson, as it’s hard to rewire decades of experience and behavioral habit, but I’m trying! That Tuesday afternoon, my heart opened up a bit more. What’s something you want to share with your loved ones, but are nervous to do so? Thanks for reading! 💌 With openness,
Haemee
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