The Invisible Phase

It is no secret that many people retreat into an emotional and physical cocoon during the winter months. Colder temperatures, shorter days, and the social lull that follows the New Year make it easy to become less active and less engaged. For some, this cycle never breaks, and they snowball into a state of poor health that becomes increasingly difficult to reverse.

This winter, your fearless founder (me!) decided to break that cycle.

I had a real conversation with myself and laid out what I wanted my life to look like and what I needed to do to give myself the best chance of getting there. While this reflection required me to acknowledge both my strengths and weaknesses, it also helped me realize that my "weaknesses" were really just areas of my life that needed some long-overdue attention and focus to become strengths.

While everyone's goals are different, the common denominator is that only you can make them a reality. The work required to achieve those goals is rarely seen by others. They only see the results, which often leads them to assume that you are "just lucky" or an "overnight success." We both know that couldn't be further from the truth.

This invisible phase can vary in length, but it often begins with self-doubt, sweat, and tears. It also requires determination, discipline, and sometimes a healthy dose of stubbornness.

I love being outdoors and have spent many years exploring trails along my coastal shoreline and in the steep mountains of New Hampshire. One thing I was always afraid to admit to myself was that my physical fitness never quite matched the demands of the mountains. It was also affecting my surfing.

This winter, I made the conscious decision to change that.

That shift has required a great deal of discipline and consistency. It has also helped me realize that if I want to live the life I envision, I can give myself permission to shed much of the unnecessary noise and distraction that I once thought were important. I think many people begin to feel this way as they get older, and I believe it is a true sign of maturing and finding your path in life.

In many ways, this is why I developed the Wave + Summit tallow balm formula as well. I was tired of the commercial marketing noise and synthetic ingredients. I simply wanted something clean, healthy, simple, and REAL.

My invisible phase is still a work in progress. I love the journey and am in no rush to reach the finish line. Every day I know I am growing stronger, both emotionally and physically, and I am excited to see where these newfound strengths will take me.

To be honest, one of the biggest steps was simply giving myself permission to make my own goals a priority. Yes, being a mother will always be my number one responsibility, but that does not mean my own life and dreams should be placed aside.

As I continue through this invisible phase, I have come to realize that my child has a front-row seat to the journey. I believe he is learning a great deal from it, not only about physical health and perseverance, but also about emotional strength and personal growth.

Don't be discouraged during your own invisible phase. You may stumble. You may wonder if anything is changing at all. You may feel as though your efforts are going unnoticed.

But growth rarely happens in plain sight.

Nature may pivot, but it never gives up, and it always delivers beauty.

The same goes for you and me.