I can't keep this to myself any longer! 🎁
I don't know about you, but when I find someone the perfect gift, I can hardly wait to give it to them.
Part of it is how much I love the person. Part of it is how much I love finding just the right thing. And part of it is imagining the look on their face when they realize, She really gets me.
That's how I've felt these past few months.
I've been dropping little hints about my Next Big Thing, wanting so badly to tell you all about it. More than once I almost spilled the beans, but it wasn't ready yet.
Today it is.
(Consider this the moment I slide the wrapped box across the table and say, "Go ahead. Open it.")
Introducing the Create Brave Collective.
For the past several years you've known me as the Grief and Creativity Midwife.
What you may not know is that for a long time I've been dreaming about creating a community—a place where women could keep gathering after retreats, deep dives and coaching, continuing the rich, joyful work of art journaling, self-discovery, and connection.
I just couldn't quite see what that community wanted to become.
Late last summer as I wrapped up The Geography of Grief, I realized that I felt numb. I wasn’t used to this feeling and I got curious. Looking back, I finally realized that life had handed me seven losses in the span of a year.
“You are in grief, Susie,” I said to myself. And you might be surprised to hear that I was surprised.
Grief Guide Shocked When Sidelined by Grief, read the headlines.
When January rolled around I realized it still wasn't time to return to my grief work. Every time I asked myself, Ready? the answer was, Not yet.
So instead of forcing it, I gave myself permission to get quiet.
My word for the year was Nourished. And to nourish my heart, mind and spirit…I read. I journaled. I made art. I listened.
One morning I was reading The Wisdom of the Unknown by Estelle Frankel when a single sentence stopped me. I put the book down, reached for my notebook, and started writing.
The words and ideas poured out of me. I felt a spark light inside me.
Over the next several weeks, that spark became a seed. I read more. I journaled more. I talked with women everywhere I went.
Something I'd been circling for a long time finally began to take shape. I kept having the same experience.
When I asked them how fear was a part of their life, they said things like: “I live under the radar.”
When I asked what their relationship was with courage they said things like: “I’m not sure I have one.”
When I asked how they were living a meaning-filled life, they said: “That’s the thing. I don’t think I really am.”
When I told them I was creating a community centered on joyful creativity as a way to build our courage muscles, examine our relationships with fear, and build a more meaningful Third Act of life, they gasped, “I need that.”
Here’s what I know:
Creativity is one of the most powerful ways to get quiet enough to hear your wordless heart speak...and brave enough to trust what you hear.
That's what the Create Brave Collective is.
It's an online community for women* in their Third Act who are ready to choose themselves and discover what feels meaningful now, in this season of life.
Inside, we'll gather to play, explore, reflect, witness, and support each other as we each take our own brave next steps.
So... surprise! 🎁
The Create Brave Collective is what I've been trying not to blurt out for months.
It's been so hard keeping this one to myself.
Doors to enroll are now open. The Collective's first cohort will officially begin on October 1st. I have lots to do to get it ready for you until then!
I hope, when you finally do get to experience it, you'll feel just how much love has gone into creating it. How much I've thought of you as I've put each piece in place.
I invite you to click the link below and visit the website with all the details! I hope when you see it you'll have that feeling we all love when someone gives us exactly the right gift.
