trusting the pivot

About a year ago, I invited a group of women to help me hold space throughout the month of September. Each week, we reminded others to stop pouring from an empty cup. At the time, I believed I was offering encouragement outward. I didn’t yet realize how much that message was quietly working on me.

Fast forward to yesterday. I found myself pouring tea with a group of veterans. But the most important part of that moment didn’t begin in the room. It began at midnight.

The day of the session, sometime around midnight, everything shifted.

I had a lesson planned for a month. Notes ready. Materials gathered. A clear direction in mind. But in that midnight hour, before the day could begin telling me who to be or what to do, my spirit of discernment kicked in.

Not loudly.

Not urgently.

Just clearly.

I could sense what the room would need before I ever stepped inside. This has been happening more frequently lately—those quiet moments where clarity arrives without effort. And instead of questioning it or trying to redirect myself back to what was planned, I’ve decided to embrace it.

I prayed for direction in the pivot and trusted the process. The answer came immediately: we would make tea.

That morning, I began cutting lavender, rosemary, and mint. I pulled honey from the cabinet. I moved slowly and intentionally. There was no rush—only preparation.

As someone who creates natural skincare products, I spend a lot of time thinking about herbs. In my natural skincare work, I often talk about how plants support the skin—how they calm inflammation, restore moisture, and protect what has been weathered. But herbs don’t stop at the skin. They move deeper. They support circulation, ease tension, and help the body soften during seasons that demand more of us.

Winter is one of those seasons.

We often talk about winter in terms of cold weather and dry skin, but winter settles in the body too. It shows up as stiff joints in the morning. Muscles that take longer to warm up. A heaviness that makes movement feel slower and rest feel necessary—even when we resist it.

When we gathered, we discussed and took a moment to notice how our bodies feel when we wake up. About stiffness. About tension. About listening before pushing. We practiced gentle movement—nothing forced, nothing rushed—just noticing what was present.

And then, based on what was shared, we began crafting tea blends together. Each man made a blend that catered to his specific need, using the information I shared as a guide. Much like how I create lotions, the process was thoughtful and intentional—rooted in respect for what the body was asking for in that moment.

No two bodies are the same.

No two needs are the same.

And no two moments require the same response.

That truth is something I return to often in my work. Whether blending herbs or creating skincare, there is no one-size-fits-all solution—especially in winter. This is a season that calls for routines that are gentler, slower, and more responsive.

A winter routine doesn’t have to be complicated. Sometimes it looks like warm tea in the morning instead of rushing into the day. Gentle stretching before movement. Choosing herbs that support circulation, ease inflammation, and bring warmth from the inside out. Allowing rest to be part of the plan instead of something you earn after exhaustion.

Winter invites us to tend—not push.

This moment wasn’t really about tea. It was about discernment. About presence. About honoring what’s needed now, even when it doesn’t match what was planned.

Maybe that’s what filling your own cup actually looks like in this season—not grand gestures or perfectly executed routines, but the willingness to pause, pivot, and respond with care.

Lately, I’ve learned that alignment often arrives quietly—sometimes in the middle of the night. And when you listen, when you trust the process, everything begins to flow differently.

Winter doesn’t ask us to produce more.

It asks us to listen more.

And sometimes, listening begins with something as simple—and as sacred—as making tea.

If This Resonated…

If this reflection met you where you are, you’re welcome to stay connected.

I share seasonal reflections, gentle routines, and stories about listening—to the body, the spirit, and the quiet nudges that guide us—especially during slower seasons like winter.

You can subscribe to receive new posts and reflections as they’re shared.

And if you’d like to go deeper, my book shares how to work with herbs, blend with intention, and create your own skincare as part of a simple, seasonal approach to care.

However you choose to engage, thank you for taking a moment to pause here.

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