Captured by the exceptional Tom Atkin 💖💖💖💖💖
Before I hung up the phone he said “love you”, and I wrote it in my calendar so I wouldn’t forget. It’s funny how much our habits shape our actions. When saying “I love you” isn’t a part of our routine, we don’t often pause to question whether this behavior still serves us. What if we allowed ourselves to explore new language, emotions, and expressions in our relationships?
Just because we don’t say things, doesn’t mean we don’t feel them. Yesterday, while on the phone, she cried about her parents and the anniversary of their passing. As I lay on my side, resting the phone next to me on FaceTime, I shed a tear too—but I didn’t tell her. I thought about the future, about a time when she might not be here anymore. It hit me: how would I feel looking back, knowing I didn’t share this vulnerable moment with her? The intimacy of it all scared me.
This moment made me question the emotional habits I’ve built over time. How much do they limit me? Am I avoiding intimacy because it feels uncomfortable, or because it’s simply a habit I’ve never challenged?
Our habits run deep—like the roots of a tree. Each year, they grow longer, spreading further, solidifying their place in the earth. If you could see the roots beneath the surface, you’d see their complexity, their strength. They sustain the tree, but they also hold it in place. I’ve started to wonder: do I want to keep all these roots? Or is it time for a little autumn cleaning—some clearing out?
How does the Tish of today want to show up? Who does she want to nurture, and how does she want to be nurtured? What does she need, and how does she want to be present for the people in her life?
Be brave. I love you.
xxxxxxxx
Find me Instagram