HAPPY HOLIDAYS, my sweet and beautiful friend!
While it is a time where we celebrate different religious and cultural traditions, one value stands at the heart of all: unity. Many of us gather with our loved ones, friends and family, to celebrate the simple joy of being together.
Hosting dinner parties gives me great joy. We had to stop for a while, which makes me appreciate those gatherings even more now. My little girl gets fully involved in the process of decorating; she instantly fills the room with her warmth and creative light!
I wasn’t raised at home in the catholic tradition, it was more of a societal backdrop against which I navigated, without any uniform message. But truth is, I really missed not having a faith, or system. Some of my friends went to church, some people referred to passages in the Bible, and we had nothing to refer to. I felt a void and a disconnect from the world around me -manifest and un-manifest. I was thirsty for deep conversations, meaningful gatherings and a “thing” that would somehow be the source of the connection I needed.
Pregnant, I started writing a book: Waiting for Emma. I wanted to connect with my baby girl, and teach her everything I had learned so far. Looking back, it feels like this was the basis of my relationship with my daughter -intimate, honest and with room for mistake. I was fully immersed in my meditation and coaching trainings, and energy work. I needed to put ideas together and make the whole coherent.
I had also started drafting Odette, and this “putting together” was now giving it depth and layers. (I know! Odette has been yeeeaars in the making!!) I couldn’t be happier with the result, and I’m so excited to soon share this book with you! As I’m preparing for the FINAL phase of the process, it helps me to reflect on why I started it.
At the heart of Odette’s Alphabet is my desire to unite people around common values that build us, both as individuals and as communities. These are: Authenticity, Friendship, Adventure, Peace, Happiness, Purpose, Kindness… I dreamt of a fantastic bond between children and parents (and educators). It’s not always easy to find the right words to communicate what we think and feel, and having a book to support our ideas is helpful. It’s a common ground and a place to start great conversations! And that’s really my mission with Odette: creating meaningful connections.
Odette is my attempt to fill the gap I felt, growing up.
I hope it’ll initiate conversations that can help both kids and grown-ups walk with more confidence through challenges, and build enough resilience to overcome them.
Each of the concepts I explore in the letters have helped me on my own parenting journey -failing plenty at it and learning plenty too-, as well as my re-parenting journey. I’ll quickly explain the “Inner Child” we each have living inside of us. Without going too deep, the way we care for the child we once were is connected to the way we care for ourselves now (and possibly others too). Yes, it’s no joke! But how amazing is it that we get constant opportunities to heal and re-build?!
We all struggle, doubt ourselves and feel vulnerable at times. That’s the beauty of this human existence. But we don’t have to go through it alone… We are not alone! When we are in the same space, we are actually one, and feel whole. (That’s why Y is for Yoga ;) ) For this holiday season, I wish you to feel loved and at home, wherever you are and with whomever you go.
Sending you Big Love,
Sandrine
Did this inspire you? Please, share in comments below! What are the challenges you are currently going through, in your parenting or in life?
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