Extra•Ordinary ~ Impulse Edition
A pocket full of rocks.
“I’m always collecting emotions for future reference.” ~Harlan Howard
My dear one,
Here we are… standing at the foothills of 2025, hiking shoes on, peering up at the trail before us, and wondering what view the summit holds. Are you feeling optimistic and open to change? Full of potential and determination? Or simply reflective? I’m nurturing all these sentiments, along with a healthy dose of holding plans lightly, letting go of expectations and pressure to perform.
I’m laser-focused on being more present, noticing when I seek distraction to ease my discomfort, and putting energy into what is within my control: staying committed to self-awareness and emotional balance.
Creating space for connection, meaningful conversations, and a bit of magic are my top priorities this year. I’m shifting from a mindset of “striving, wanting, doing, and owning” to simply “being,” allowing for a more intentional, flowing daily rhythm — a soft place to land.
I hope to foster heart-centered, community-led spaces where we savor the journey together, sharing ideas, restful practices, and interesting perspectives that inspire curiosity and connection.
Let’s dive into this journey together. What’s calling you forward this year?
I’ve spent my life carrying around a pocket full of rocks, metaphorically and literally. This fixation permeates every aspect of my life. I find myself hyper-aware of my surroundings, compelled to look for the next ‘perfect’ keepsake to add to my collection. My impulse to acquire has intensified over the years and moved beyond physical objects to include ideas, knowledge, processes, and experiences.
I’m captivated by the act of collecting. It’s the thrill of the find, the quiet contemplation, the thoughtful categorization, arrangement, and display, and how it fuels conversations and connections with others who share similar passions.
The paradox is that what I really desire is freedom.
I continue to dwell on the question: How do I inhabit a physical, mental, and emotional space that allows for appreciation without obsessing over possession?
I’ve been examining the primal impulse, questioning what truly provides the sense of security I crave. Somehow, my desire to fulfill fundamental needs has morphed into a preoccupation with surrounding myself with so many of life’s artifacts. I suspect that I’m not alone here.
Collecting reveals how we seek validation and belonging while offering a window into how our inner child has learned to self-soothe. It’s a direct connection to the Self.
Perhaps collecting is not about possession but reflection. It’s a way to explore what we value and why. Each object, each idea, is a fragment of self-awareness, a touchstone for what resonates with the core of who we are. Gathering becomes an exercise in mindfulness, an opportunity to sift through the layers of longing to uncover what truly matters.
I wonder if freedom lies not in surrendering the impulse to collect but in redefining its purpose. By seeing ourselves not as owners but as stewards, we can shift from accumulation toward a more nuanced appreciation. The gratification lives in the stories we get to share, memories held lightly rather than clutched tightly.
Collecting can transform into a contemplative practice. It’s an invitation to sit with what we have and ask: Does this serve me? Does it nourish the life I want to create? Does it promote peace from within? When we navigate from this place, the impulse to collect stops being a fixation but a conversation with the Self; it’s a path to a more profound presence and connection.
In stillness and curiosity,
Tina
Perspective: The Heart of Collecting
Pep Talk
How can you transform your impulse to collect — whether objects, ideas, or experiences — into a mindful practice that promotes freedom, self-awareness, and connection?
Power Statement
I hold the essence, not the object. I seek connection, not possession. In stillness, I find what truly matters.