I Didn’t Rest for 21 Days... Here’s What I Learned 😬 - Edition 12 // 10.22.25

Dear curious explorer of the world 💗,

October has been a full and beautiful month — maybe too full. When I look back through the lens of the five pillars of my Grounded Harmony Life I created for myself, it’s easy to see just how much life I’ve lived.

🌿 Connection & Community
I celebrated two of my best friends’ birthdays, championed a dear friend’s milestone in his cancer journey, and attended five networking events — reconnecting with familiar faces and meeting new ones. My heart felt full from the laughter, stories, and shared moments.

💫 Making a Difference
I poured energy into the things that matter — supporting my community, leading events, and guiding my mastermind group through meaningful transformation. Being part of others’ growth always reminds me why I do this work.

🏔️ Adventure & Exploration
The month began in Yosemite, surrounded by towering cliffs and quiet stillness. That trip set the tone — a reminder of how alive I feel when I’m out in nature, exploring new places and reconnecting with wonder.

🌸 Self-Development
I stepped outside my comfort zone to enter a pitching competition — and after two intense weeks of preparation, I placed 3rd! That experience reminded me how powerful it feels to stand in my story and share my mission with confidence.

🔥 Being Active
I played LOTS of volleyball, went for runs, practiced yoga, and even managed two spa days. My body has been in motion — energized, strong, and grateful for movement.

Looking at it all, this month was rich in meaning and fulfillment.
And yet — when I paused to reflect — I realized I hadn’t created much intentional space for rest.

By the time the third week rolled around, I felt it. Monday came, and I was tired — the kind of tired that lingers behind your eyes and sits quietly in your chest. So, I stayed home, played a few phone games, and binge-watched the new season of The Diplomat (SO good, highly recommend!!! ).

But even as I rested, guilt crept in. That little voice whispered:
It’s Monday — shouldn’t you be doing something?

It’s funny how deep that conditioning runs — the belief that productivity only counts if it happens in a certain rhythm. My life doesn’t move like that anymore. My work flows between weekends, evenings, and events. Yet somewhere inside, I still expect Monday to be the start of everything.

So I did what I’ve learned to do when I feel out of sync: I paused intentionally.

I looked back at the month — the giving, the connecting, the creating — and saw how full it had been. That reflection softened my expectations. It allowed me to acknowledge how much I’d already done, and release the guilt that I hadn’t “done enough.”

That pause changed everything. I didn’t need to earn my rest; I needed to honor it.

It reminded me why I build small rituals into my days and weeks — anchors that bring me back to myself.
Every morning, I set my top three priorities and decide how I’ll celebrate when the day is done.
Every Friday, I take time to review my week — to reflect, reset, and intentionally create what’s next.

These small, intentional pauses are how I live my Grounded Harmony Life.

Stillness, I’m reminded, isn’t the absence of motion — it’s what restores the rhythm underneath it.

As Autumn deepens, nature mirrors this truth back to us: the trees don’t rush to hold onto their leaves; they let them go, trusting the cycle of renewal. Maybe slowing down isn’t the opposite of progress — maybe it’s what makes progress possible.

What about you?
What’s your ritual for coming back to the ground — for reconnecting when life feels too full?
And if you don’t have one yet, what’s one simple practice you’d like to try this week?

Looking Ahead: The Grounding Room 🧘

If this reflection resonated — if you, too, are craving space to slow down and realign — I created The Grounding Room for exactly that.

It’s a monthly practice space for our community to pause, reflect, and return to stillness — together. Through guided journaling, seasonal reflection, and community sharing, we use this structure to ground, release, and create what’s next in alignment with the natural rhythm of life.

You don’t need to come with a plan — just bring your presence, your reflections, and the willingness to breathe.

✨ Two ways to join this month:

Thursday, October 30 | 4:00–6:00 PM PT | In Person — Mud\Wtr, Santa Monica

Monday, November 3 | 7:00–8:30 PM PT | Online (First Monday of the Month)

Whether in person or online, both gatherings are designed to help you come home to yourself — to find stillness, clarity, and alignment amidst the fullness of life.

With grounded harmony,
Shanshan 🌿

P.S. A reflection for you:
“Where in your life are you being called to pause — and can you do it without guilt?”