A Novel Approach > Recent Status Updates

“If you keep giving, people will just keep taking.” On overextending yourself

“Remember to remember yourself.”

Our society expects persistent busi-ness…when we finally slow down, emotions unsurprisingly make their way to the surface.

Take a moment to check in with yourself in the morning before you check in with the world.

“Practice moving slower. Slowing down is one of the key pathways to healing your nervous system.” Do your daily tasks a little more slowly and notice what happens.

“Gently release yourself from the shame of not being able to do it all.”

Be mindful of how often “trauma consumption” from media real or fiction

It takes time to de-program from urgency culture.

I wish we would have gotten more of Ransom’s story in the earlier part of the book (before the events of 50%)

Increasing the margins in our days.

Exercises to calm your nervous system: supportive social engagement and social connection, trauma-sensitive breath work, walking, slowness and releasing urgency, time in nature, track experiences of awe and wonder, journaling, soothing self-compassion holds, meditation, stretching, yoga, nourishing meals, sleeping, emotional safety ritual, movements that brings you joy, creativity, and grounding practices.

“Doing less is medicine for your nervous system. Slowing down is medicine for your nervous system. Pacing yourself is medicine for your nervous system. Integration is...Being gentle with yourself is…Honoring your changing capacity…Tending to your needs is…Managing your energy instead of your time is…Self-compassion is…Rest is medicine for your nervous system.”

I feel like rather than a dual timeline / flashback system, we needed the book to start a little earlier on so that we don’t just jump straight into the “enemies” portion of what will likely be ”enemies to lovers.” I feel like I needed some more time to adjust and get to know the characters. It just feels a little rushed and intense from the start.

I’m enjoying this book but the first half definitely had a fantasy-book-in-the-middle-of-the-series-transition feel to it.

Sometimes I forget that a little over 100 years ago kids were sent to work houses 😥

Okay unrelated, but the kids at this boarding school eat delicious-sounding meals. 😂