What if we slowed down instead of rushing to return to the way things were?

Dear Clients, Partners, and Friends,

My spirit is unsettled today. As I reflect on this past year, there is no way to process all of it. I sense a churning happening; it feels like a collective quest for more. These external shifts seem to be mirrored in my personal life, as everything around and within me has been shifting—and I know I’m not the only one. I choose to see the points of tension as invitations to grow, shift, and sharpen my priorities, to reach the next level of spiritual, emotional, physical, and professional wellness. As external realities become more and more uncertain; internally, I seek to create more peace, ease, and love in myself.

While I’m affirmed by PJS Consultants’ unforeseeable growth this year, which resulted from increased demand for our particular approach to communications work, the past 20 months also presented challenging implications for my business, family life, friend circles, and extended community. In the midst of the buzz of change and hope for a brighter future, there’s also been sudden loss of life, with many families experiencing the passing of multiple loved ones. Collective grief alongside heightened financial stress seems to be leading to a sense of hopelessness, desperation, and degradation in a time when we need motivation to keep pushing toward a brighter tomorrow that might not always be visible on the horizon.

Through it all, I’m leaning into the vibration of change, and looking in new directions to embark upon new journeys; your ongoing commitment to your work in this context is a great source of inspiration. Our collective contribution to the community and society that we share make a difference, and together we are reshaping our reality with every life we touch, through careful design and implementation of people-centered projects.

This energy of shared responsibility and action is the champion of this moment. And each of us is a vessel carrying this energy through these rapidly evolving times. 

At PJS Consultants, our contribution is the help we provide our clients in telling stories through an asset-based lens, supporting them to honor themselves, their constituents, and the young people they serve as they shape more honest narratives that bring about more just conditions. From providing educational services and tending to fundamental human needs to writing and implementing policy change, you are writing our future as you live a life of service in our present. Thank you.

The artistry and action that such historically significant periods yield are masterful and inventive. Your work is part of the story helping us to understand where we’ve been, where we are, and where we’re headed. If you haven’t already, I encourage you to take some time to reflect and document what you’ve accomplished this year. The effort and energy that this moment has propelled you to invest in the communities you serve is worthy of acknowledgment and celebration.

I’m hearing the call of this time of year for comfort, clearing, and attending to self. While it can be hard to quiet the static coming off of pulling together budgets for 2022 and racing toward end-of-year goals, now is the time to slow down, reflect, and relax. I’m embracing the fact that I simply cannot do more before a rest and reset. I feel called to sit, make my living space more cozy, and focus on grounding myself in preparation for the new challenges that the new year is sure to present. We know that this period and the years ahead will be studied for decades to come relative to mental health and other secondary impacts of the disorienting changes we continue to experience.

As you sustain your service to grantees, clients, and community, I invite you to remember that in order to persevere and keep showing up for them, you have to replenish by showing up for you. Consider adding this gentle stretch led by Dr. Phyllis Hubbard into your day: Spinal Stretch for Sheltering in Place.

Respectfully yours,
Precious and the PJS Consultants Team

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