Dear Reader,

The word "gentle" has come up in multiple conversations over the course of this past week. The desire for a gentle, slow start to the day. The need to be gentle with ourselves during periods of anxiety and grief. Treating someone with kindness and gentleness, even when it's hard. To go about something in a gentle way.

I've learned a great deal about gentleness from taking care of our chickens. It doesn't matter how much of a rush I find myself in - when it comes time to grab each egg out of the chicken coop, I must slow myself down and be gentle. Rushing the process won't get me anything, but a broken egg - or two.

Gentleness doesn't mean timid or fearful. It's not a sign of weakness.

In fact, I think gentleness shows a great deal of strength, patience, and understanding.

What are some ways you can invite more gentleness into your life?

Perhaps it means slowing down your pace a bit - making space for rest. Or maybe it looks like rephrasing the way you speak to yourself - adjusting your mindset.

To help end this week with gentleness, I've written a few reflection questions to ponder through.

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Lastly, just to end the week with a smile, I'll share a little video I made of precious winter moments, accompanied by a poem on Gentle Wintering. Click here to view the video on my Instagram's page or click on the picture below (even if you don't have Instagram). **Be sure to unmute the video, so that you can enjoy music accompaniment.

May you find rest this weekend and discover ways to invite gentleness into your life.

With peace and love,

P.S. Please don't hesitate to reach out to me directly — I'd love to hear from you. Introduce yourself or share any of your own reflections on gentleness and winter. Simply reply to this email and your message will go directly to my inbox.

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