Monday Musings - 5.12.2025
Hello hello! Welcome to a brand new week!
I missed last week’s musings as I was preparing for something that I will mention briefly in this post, but I’m so happy to be back! Since I left everyone hanging last week, let’s go ahead and press play on this week’s musings!
Word of the Week: Commence
· begin; start
It seems this should have been my first word of the week, but in many ways, I am still very much on a journey of starting this entire adventure – business, website, pending content creation (!), etc. – and I want to ensure I celebrate every stage of it! This word holds special meaning for me this week as well, as I attended my baby brother’s university commencement this past weekend (hence, skipping last week’s post)! He graduated magna cum laude with a degree in Accounting, and I’m immensely proud of him. So much of this weekend reminded me that endings are beginnings, too. My brother is closing a major chapter of his life and starting a new one, fresh with a degree, a job he enjoys, and a partner who truly complements him. (My sister and I met her for the first time this weekend, and she’s so lovely!) Most don’t know, but I am six years older than my sister and sixteen years older than my brother, so big sister mode is a persistent and permanent thing for me. Watching him both end and begin significant journeys this weekend made me reflect on my own situation (you can learn more HERE if you haven’t). While losing my job in the way I did is vastly different from the major accomplishment of graduating from college, it was nonetheless a signal that it was time for a new journey to begin. And as I work to build this train while getting it started down its track, I want to embrace the wonder of what’s next rather than the disappointment of the past. So “commence” felt like the best word to reflect on this week, and I’m excited to keep pushing.
Quote of the Week: “Between stimulus and response, there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.” – Viktor E. Frankl
Similar to my reflections on the word of the week, this quote carries a lot of power in my current situation, and it’s also something that I believe regardless. I think many of us, myself included, often give up our power when we react immediately to any stimulus or trigger. Rather, it occurs when we don’t acknowledge the space between those two things, where we have control. When we do this, we relinquish power to the trigger instead of recognizing our autonomy to react in ways that serve us. As illustrated in the story linked above, when my position was eliminated, I was instantly bombarded with doubt and fear, yet I was also struck by the notion that I was free to move forward in ways I could define. I could have remained paralyzed by fear or jumped into a situation that serves neither me nor my career, just to make ends meet. That possibility could still be on the agenda in the near future, but starting this venture is a bet on myself. It is something I have chosen. And no matter what I must do to maintain financial stability, this is something I believe in and over which I have control. I could have let my doubts and fear push me away from this, but I chose to make my ideas and expertise work for me. This is where I grow.
Do not give up your power to your circumstances. There will always be tough situations and decisions to make, but make them in a way that honors you and your safety. Embrace the growth and freedom.
Book of the Week: Legendborn – Tracy Deonn
Another major coincidence – I just finished the third book in this series before coming to see my brother graduate, and I am truly enjoying it! This is a YA fantasy novel – an Arthurian story featuring a young, Black, female protagonist. I don’t want to give too much away, but it’s a great tale that highlights the significance of history, context, choice, and power. I often get extremely frustrated with the main character, which can be beneficial as it prompts me to reflect on her choices, what I might have done differently, and why. This is a key reason I disagree with the notion that we don’t learn from fiction novels. Considering why someone has made their choices, even in a meta way as we analyze the author's decisions in creating the characters and the context of the books, can be remarkably powerful, *especially* when those choices differ from what you would have done in a situation. Fiction provides a safe space to explore diverse perspectives and examine your own. This story is really good, and while it may not be for everyone, I think it’s highly suitable for this week’s running theme. I will say, though, that I thought it would be a trilogy, and I got about 72% of the way through this last (third) book and thought, “oh no...” Not because I don’t want to continue the story, but because I was really looking forward to seeing how everything wrapped up. Alas, this is also a lesson in anticipation and patience!
Ok! This was a bit longer than last week, but hopefully you enjoyed my musings, and they have inspired some of your own! See you soon!
Signing off,
Janae
