My life as a new mom has become all about firsts.
These are firsts for me and for the baby,
As we both encounter new and unfamiliar territory.
And to be honest,
In the beginning months of her life,
Most of these firsts were a touch more anxiety-inducing than exciting.
But as my baby crosses that six-month mark,
There's been a big shift toward the more exciting side.
Some of my favorites thus far have been seeing her study herself in the mirror for the first time,
And watching her climb onto hands and knees for the first time.
Witnessing these firsts has been deeply satisfying in a way I hadn't expected,
In a way I almost can't explain,
And it has left me thinking about how we acknowledge our firsts throughout life.
As we get older,
Our firsts are far less frequently acknowledged,
By others and also by ourselves.
Think about it,
When was the last time you experienced a first in your life and celebrated it with as much excitement as we give to a baby who reaches a major developmental milestone?
I'm going to guess it was most likely a long time ago,
And you might not even remember for certain.
And as we get older,
We become less inclined to try new things,
Which means fewer firsts.
We're settled in our ways now,
We know our comforts,
We have our routines.
We might think there's nothing new to see here.
I even take becoming a mom for granted,
Not acknowledging this as a major first.
As I look back over the last six months of my life,
The first three to four months were purely focused on survival,
Making it pretty hard for me to acknowledge just what I had accomplished in birthing a baby.
But as she grows and I grow,
I realize this first led me to meet myself again.
I see myself more clearly,
I see the patterns and the conditioning,
The capacity for love and creativity,
The hope that has been hidden under all of the daily tasks,
Obligations,
And responsibilities I was holding onto so tightly.
More of myself is emerging.
I believe that these firsts we experience as adults,
If we pay attention to them,
Are here to remind us to reconnect,
To remind us that there's more to us than what we've become accustomed to seeing in the mirror.
We are continuously and slowly shedding layers of ourselves that no longer serve us,
That we've grown out of.
Reaching these milestones might not be as obvious as that of a child taking their first steps,
But I believe they are no less important.
I hope that someday we can all stop viewing self-appreciation as selfish or self-centered.
Reflection is not reserved just for the moments we mess up.
Reflection is important for any first,
For any moment of growth,
Because we grow through our successes too,
Not just our so-called failures.
I invite you to take some time to look at yourself with fresh eyes today and allow yourself to be pleased with what you discover.
Let's journal together.
Go ahead and find a comfortable position to settle in with your favorite writing utensil and journal.
I'll give you two minutes between each question to write,
And feel free to pause me if you need more time or revisit these prompts later.
Before we begin,
Bring your awareness to your breath.
Take a slow breath in and slow exhale out.
Inhale,
Welcome in any insights from your highest self or spirit team.
Exhale,
Release any friction or hesitation that might prevent you from writing and receiving your truth today.
Breathe in and breathe out.
Continue to breathe at your own pace for a few more breaths before we approach our first question.
Let's begin.
When was the last time I experienced a first in my life and how did I acknowledge it?
Begin to wrap up your thoughts now.
Next,
What firsts might I be able to embrace in the near future?
Release your final words onto the page.
For our next prompt,
How can I welcome and embrace more firsts in my life?
Let your final thoughts flow.
And finally,
What could it look like to meet myself again,
To get reacquainted with myself?
Let your final thoughts flow onto the page.
If you feel complete,
Go ahead and close your journal and reacquaint yourself with your space.
If you'd like to keep going,
Please do so.
With much love and gratitude,
I close our practice together.
May we journal together again soon.
Thank you so much.
