Support for women ripening into their second bite of life.

Hi Reader,

As I’ve been telling people about an upcoming trip—the dates, the location, the solitude—I keep hearing myself say the same thing first:

“I feel guilty…”

I feel guilty planning a solo trip.
I feel guilty spending money on my own growth.
I feel guilty my husband and daughter will have to figure it out without me.
I feel guilty the retreat inn is so lovely and the shoreline close enough to taste the salt.

Guilt is such a fluent tongue for women.
And yet…

I’m going.

My bag will be zipped.
My audiobooks queued.
My heart open and tender.

Because the cost of denying our soul’s journey is always higher than the price of a hotel room.

The retreat is called Reclaiming Pleasure, inspired by Marion Woodman’s work.
Marion wrote:

And here’s the honest thing:
I do this mid-life soul work for a living.
​And I still feel the tug of Good Woman guilt. Of course I do.

My self-talk still bears her fingerprints:
Be available.
Don’t choose yourself.
Don’t spend time or money on your own becoming.

But that’s not my highest truth.
Not anymore.

Because when we dare to choose ourselves, old patterns flare.
We forget that ease was always ours.
Pleasure heals.
Presence liberates.

So I text my sister, and she replies:

LOL! Sometimes we need permission outside ourselves
until we can offer it from within.

And maybe this email can be that permission for you.

Love,
Brooke

P.S. It’s Election Day where I live, which reminds me:
Being a rested woman who tends her soul is a political act.

P.P.S. I love seeing so many of you stepping into my upcoming free workshop Unhooking from the Good Woman Myth! I’m creating a revolution of women in midlife – so I’d love you to invite your circles.

Here's a link you can share. 💛