Tragedy or comedy?

First the tragedy. Here comes a sad story...

At the time of writing this newsletter, both my parents have just passed away. First my mother five weeks ago, and then, just this week, my father also left his body. My parents had been divorced for 45 years, so their passing was somewhat of a tragic coincidence.

As you can imagine, it's an overwhelming experience. Two funerals to attend and all that comes with them. I've been deep in reflection. Part of that reflection is about my relationship with self-care.

How do I look after myself in such a time?

I relate so much to what Melis shared last week about finding it hard to rest, to stop, to be anything but productive. I'm a busy person and I take my contribution to the world seriously.

Now for the comedy(ish) part.

I don't take myself too seriously. I am good at having perspective and seeing the lighter side of life. And what is clear to me at this time is that I've been roaming around the earth wanting to be a superhero, but I'm really just a human who is doing the best he can.

In the case of my current situation, which is so unfathomable that it's (almost) comical, this notion of just being a human is very present for me.

All I can do is surrender into each moment and listen to my body and my heart, because it won't be my head and thinking brain that will get me through this time. There is no logic to explain these circumstances. We're way past that.

So, I'm listening to my need for rest, to do less, to stop pushing.

It's a relief. I'm finding it easier to say no to things, to respect my own limits, to set and maintain boundaries.

I'm also seeing the lighter side of it all. I come from a family with lots of funny people in it. We've done a lot of laughing over the past 5 weeks. It really is the best medicine.

If you can take anything away from this post, please make time to rest, to pause and to laugh. It opens your heart and reminds you it's all going to be OK.

You've got this.

Love,

PS. Next week we'll take a spin of the wellness wheel. ☸️

If you like this, please share it.

If you believe in our work and think we can support people in your network, please forward this newsletter on.

PO Box 455
Ashburton, 3147
Unsubscribe · Preferences

Read more from This Human by Melis Senova

🔨 The hard truth about soft skills 🧁

"These skills are not the icing on the cake. They are the cake." We call them soft skills, but they’re anything but soft. These are the human skills; the ones that help us listen deeply, navigate tension, build trust, and get things done with style and grace. In this week’s article, we explore why it’s time to stop treating these skills as optional. In a world of AI, rapid change, and rising complexity, human skills are what truly set us apart. Empathy, communication, adaptability; these...

4 days ago • 1 min read

💓 Here's the kicker about your ticker...

"We cannot lead what we are disconnected from. And we cannot connect unless we slow down enough to feel." We often treat leadership as a cerebral exercise: charts, KPIs, strategy decks. But what if our most profound insights come not from our heads, but from our hearts? This week's article invites us to reconnect with the heart, not just as a metaphor, but as a genuine organ of perception. True leadership arises from attunement, presence, and embodied awareness. When we slow down and listen...

15 days ago • 1 min read

🌏 Want a whole scoop of wholeness in your leadership diet?

"Leadership-real leadership- is not a performance of perfection. It is a practice of wholeness." We’re often taught to aim for perfection; to get it right, to hold it all together, to lead without cracks. But what if that’s not what’s needed? This week's article continues an open invitation to lead differently through the lens of nature. Nature doesn’t strive for flawlessness; it works with what’s real, messy, and alive. And so can we. True leadership isn’t about polish, it’s about presence....

about 1 month ago • 1 min read