😴 TREE 301: Take A Nap

Big news in this one!

Good morning.

Are you ready?

Here it is:

The FOREST is now a team!

In spring 2020 I (Jeff) decided I wanted to start my day with something besides social media and news. I couldn’t find a daily thing that I liked, so I decided to do it myself. I wrote a bunch of material over the summer and launched TREE in September 2020. In February this year I moved TREE from Mailchimp to Substack and called the site the FOREST to reflect my ambition for the email to become a community.

By the end of TREE’s first year I realised that I had neither the time nor the skills to build the FOREST on my own. At the end of October I sent an email to TREE’s 88 most engaged readers explaining what I wanted to do with the FOREST and asking for help.

Skyler Cail answered the call.

Her email started like this:

Hi Jeff,

My name is Skyler, and I have interest in helping you with TREE. I’m a stay at home mom to a little girl that just started school, and have an abundance of time.

I have a bachelors degree in philosophy and a masters in communications and love to read and write whenever the opportunity arises. This, to me, seems like an opportunity arisen!

It seemed too good to be true. Then We FaceTimed. We connected. We emailed. We FaceTimed some more. It turns out Skyler is exactly the right amount of good and true. So she got busy. The amount she has accomplished in the background the last few weeks still has my head spinning.

So what does this mean for you?

I will continue writing TREE. In January, we will be launching a new FOREST publication focussed on growing your curiosity and empathy. Skyler will be the Editor (and do most of the other jobs). We’ll tell you more about it as we get closer to the launch.

If you have any questions, ask away. We’re ready to answer.

For now, here’s an introduction from Skyler.

One.

Skyler Cail

This time of year is particularly inspiring for me. Change is absolutely everywhere. The colors surrounding us go from dark and deep to bright, fun, and lively. What’s inspiring about that is, these colors are present despite the fact that things are literally dying or taking a nap until Springtime. The trees are letting go of their foliage to make room for fuller, greener, shadier growth in the coming year.

Sometimes change is beautiful. Sometimes it isn’t. But in those times when it isn’t, you might just need a long nap (metaphorical or literal). Give yourself that time to reset. Give yourself the space to adjust. Grace is required where it is due.

Embrace the change, after all it is inevitable. Not every human is an annual, but your bloom is coming. When it does, it will transform your garden. Let go when it is necessary and make room for the bloom that will leave you fuller and more fulfilled.

Two.

Jeff: In case you are wondering, this is what Skyler and I look like. (Actually Skyler looks a little different right now because – true fact – she broke her nose last week.

Three.

Skyler: We can smoothly sail into Monday with this one. Just avoid any meetings with your face and asphalt today (and everyday), it’s not worth it, and is certainly not smooth.

This week I’m going to to carry on with what Skyler started above. It will be about things that keep me mentally healthy and creative. I hope you will find it useful.

Grow slowly
Jeff