"Good Morning, Rachel"

Nurture in. Overwhelm out.

Happy Monday and welcome to, from the desk of Rachel Leeke!

This newsletter is where I share weekly observations on two important forces in my life: love + travel.

In addition to narratives, I provide tools to support you in creating the confident, loving, and adventurous life you deserve. 

Read up on my last newsletter, where I inquired how separates can make a whole, here, or the entirety of my work, here.

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UPDATES:

I collaborated with

C. Elyse

to highlight one of my favorite reads, “Hunger” by

Roxane Gay

.

The Paradox of (Self-Loathing) Culture

In addition to providing a Sip, a Shout Out, and a Sentence,

C. Elyse

’s work is dynamic and community-centered. She provides helpful writing tips, submission and grant opportunities, and resources for writers and readers alike.

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"Good Morning, Rachel."

The other day, my mind was racing before I even got out of bed. I thought about all of the things I wanted to accomplish for the day, but nowhere on the list was anything nurturing.

My list of external tasks included tinkering around the home, errands out in the street, and phone conversations that, if lucky, might grant me communication with an actual human in under 10 minutes.

It was a list of boxes to check that, in theory (though not in reality), could be done by someone else.

"Nurture" comes from the Latin term "nutrire, "meaning to feed or cherish.

As a verb, Oxford Languages defines nurture as "care for and encourage the growth or development of."

Merriam-Webster dictionary characterizes it as "to supply with nourishment, educate, to further the development of."

However, I like the Cambridge Dictionary's designation as it goes further and points to an outcome. It outlines nurture as "to help a plan or a person to develop and be successful."

While a running to-do list does support certain forms of development, prioritization, organization, and often efficiency, none of that is the soul work we've been brought here to explore and relish.

"Good Morning, Rachel."

I shared this Note the other day:

Because they're a fresh start—a clean slate—the beginning of choice—an opportunity to decide all over again.

Mornings are for slow movements and restful imagination. It's the time when I sip hot tea while satin nightgowns crawl up my crossed leg. The quiet of the outdoors invites my inner world to match its stride. The morning is when birds chirp, and the flap of their wings isn't drowned out by honking cars, sirens, and a yelling person on the street—there's often someone yelling in the street.

It's when car radios and handheld speakers haven't yet reached full tilt, and last night's perfume still rises from my skin. Mornings are when I don't have to speak to anyone, but still, I part my lips to give thanks for today, my love, friends, truth, peace, and all that is.

So imagine the internal discord where my external list had hopped the fence of my inner world before my eyes could adjust to the soft morning light.

I leaned into it.

Yes, edit this week’s writing, yes, put away the dishes, yes -

“Good morning, Rachel.” A small voice said from within.

And suddenly the list was there, but it wasn’t there.

Inside of me. Taking up space. Trying to veil my purpose and value with mile-long productivity.

All of it could get done - none of it could get done - and it wouldn’t change the triumph of choosing to be me.

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TODAY’S TOOL:

Ways to spend your morning connecting to your inner landscape:

• Create a gratitude list

• Slowly eat a nourishing meal

• Journal

• Embrace silence (meditate, sit in contemplation)

• Move (gym, yoga, go for a walk, etc.)

• Create art

• Read

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COMMUNITY CORNER:

• After the unexpected loss of her youngest son, Taye,

  Dr. Carey Yazeed
  details how she chooses to celebrate his life and love of music in Good Grief: Life After Losing a Child. You can support the dreams of dynamic young musicians in South Louisiana by donating to the Taye Yazeed Arts Foundation.

• Patrick Muindi
  expounds on the myopic nature of jealousy and challenges us to view its presence as an invitation to improve ourselves in On Envy.

• Teleportation isn’t really a thing yet but,

  Deirdre Lewis
  makes me second-guess that. Her writing immerses the reader in travels, thoughts, and everyday happenings. She provides a pedestal to the beautifully mundane. I checked for tan lines after reading The Slide.

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Thank you to all four of my paid subscribers, M.C., C.F., L.C., and R.D.

Writing is my joy and, as I am witnessing within this journey, a form of meditation. Your support of heartfelt creativity frees not only me but all those who choose to read. Please accept my words as gratitude.

To tangibly support my work, consider buying me a coffee or purchasing a book for my library.

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LET ME KNOW:

-Drop a 👋🏾 in the comments if your mind sometimes races before you even get out of bed.

-Are you a morning, noon, or night person?

-Do you have any sustained rituals in the morning?

-How are you enjoying the COMMUNITY CORNER?

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My mind ~Tems voice~. Here’s more on the topic:

-Guests in my house

-Thoughts en route to D.C.

- Perspective and gifts in Cartagena

-The gym is more mental than physical