Summit Everyday / October 8, 2024
…Summit Everyday.
Hey there!
I'm excited to reconnect and share some sweet time together as we explore the Wisdom Whispers deck. In my first newsletter, I shared the story behind the 'You Are Loved' card, explaining how it became a source of medicine during my travels and how I placed this card everywhere. Throughout the trip, I documented my journey with photographs and journal entries. Upon returning, I reflected on the experiences and lessons I had gathered. This reflection led me to explore not only the images and words from this adventure but from others as well. From this, the Wisdom Whispers deck was created, blending the photos I had taken with insights drawn from my journal entries.
I often get asked how I personally use this deck. It has become part of my daily practice to pull a card and sit with the image and words, allowing whatever needs to surface naturally, without expectations. I do my best to quiet the mind and let my heart lead the way. I also have a deck that I pull from to include in notes to friends and family, or to leave in random places for someone to find.
Today, I pulled the ‘Summit Everyday’ card for us. I took this photo while traveling with my two sisters, Christine and Sabine, in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. We had just arrived, and as I sat in the back seat with the windows down, I was in awe of the land's beauty. I remember feeling overwhelmed by the vastness of the mountains, yet deeply comforted and protected by their strength.
Our trip’s purpose was to spend time together and to support Christine on her journey to summit the Grand Teton as part of a fundraiser for the Summit for Someone Organization. I began to reflect on the word ‘summit’ as I watched her mentally and physically prepare during those final days before heading up the mountain with her team. I felt a bit envious, wanting to be part of this experience but I did not want to climb that mountain to achieve summit status!
I became a little bit obsessed, in a healthy way of course, with the idea of summiting. So, I looked it up and by definition, a summit is the highest point one can reach. What I love about this definition is that we each have the opportunity to define what that highest point looks like for ourselves in any given moment. I didn’t need to climb a mountain to reach my own version of summit status, and in my eyes, Christine had already summited the moment she committed to this project.
We summit every day, and I believe it's important to acknowledge those moments. Sometimes, a summit might be taking the last step toward a major goal, going for a walk, sharing a meal with a friend, signing up for a class, having a tough conversation, or simply taking a moment to breathe.
It takes a lot of courage to simply be here, so I’m learning to embrace where I am and celebrate all forms of movement. I’ve noticed when I honor these moments, I show up more and am more present in my life.
By the end of our time in Jackson Hole, all three of us had reached our own version of summit status with the mountains holding space for us every step of the way.
Today, my summit is writing this newsletter. Translating the feelings in my heart into words doesn’t come so easily to me…but I’m trying and I like being here with you!
May you take time today to be gentle with yourself, drop into your heart, and honor your summits. I’d love to hear about them if you would like to share!
Thank you for being here.
So much love to you,
Susi
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