Hey lovely Reader
I recorded this week’s episode as the light was fading, with the lamps left off and the shadows of the plants silhouetted on the wall behind me. It felt warm and safe, lit without being bright, and I think that quietly shaped where the episode went.
I’ve been writing a Field Note recently, sparked by listening back to an old episode from the podcast. Recorded in 2021, it centred on the idea of 'non-negotiables'. And while some of what I shared has shifted and matured for me, I was struck by how many of the threads I hold now were already there five years ago, some of them just the faintest single strand.
This feels such a rich seam to me. And new things arose as I spoke this time too.
From there I found myself wondering about certainty, and how it can anchor us and also, at times, limit us. And I felt into the impact of what's going on in the wider world; the courage so many people are showing and the hope inherent within that. Perhaps it helps us see what it feels like to be safe enough to keep moving forward.
I close with a poem from My Darling Girl - one that on the surface might not seem connected and yet, as I read it, felt like a description of how deep hope can feel.
Go straight to the episode or just search Everyday Compassion with Henny Flynn wherever you love to listen.
If you love to read, the new Field Note is here. And if you’d like to share how your own non-negotiables have changed, I’ve opened that question in Circle - you're welcome to join the reflections or simply reply to me here. I would love to hear your thoughts.
This is the last episode of season 21. Thank you so much for being here, for listening and reading along. The new season begins in a few weeks.
May we all be safe, well and happy. May we all feel safe enough to hope.
With love
PS: A couple of gentle notes:
- IMMERSE begins on 20 November. If you’ve been wondering whether it’s right for you, there’s still time to decide, and time for a chat with me if that would support you. Read more here.
- A gift with your books - order any of my books before the end of November and I’d love to send you one of the blank page journals from Inner Work Project, while stocks last. There’s also a bundle of books, as a gift from me. Read the original email here.
Go straight to the podcast episode: Safe enough to hope (S21E10) or search for the new show name 'Everyday Compassion with Henny Flynn' wherever you love to listen.