dear november

Dear, November. You complicated roller coaster of emotions, you.

You rocked us to our core with the election. You gifted us with unusually warmer weather. You blessed us with plates of Granny’s dressing.

As cliche as it may sound, I stood in front of the Hallmark Thanksgiving Cards the other night while running errands anticipating our full day of family on Thursday. As I stood in front of the cards — my eyes welled up with tears.

I don’t explicitly celebrate Thanksgiving. I haven’t since I saw this MTV Decoded video 9 years ago that rocked baby Jenna to her core. That short video came into my life around the same time that I was learning so much about racism in America, actively protesting the death of Dontre Hamilton at the hands of Milwaukee Police, and reading books like, Lies My Teacher Told Me, by James Loewen.

I still take the day to eat good food and be with family. But I’m not afraid to go out of my way and remind my family each year that it’s a genocidal holiday.

So — why were my eyes welling in the Hallmark card aisle?

Because I started to imagine how I might be able to put into words the gratitude I feel for my mom and both of Taj’s Grannies for how they’ve all supported us over this past year.

Because I started to remember the magic of last holiday season. Before Taj got sick.

There I was, with a quivering lip and glitter covered hands flooded with the realization that we get to have another holiday season together this year.

So I indulged. I got the cards and wrote from the heart. I cooked all my favorite family recipes. I held Taj’s hand as much as I could. I smiled at the Christmas lights that suddenly popped up across the city. I danced with my niece until I was sweating and dizzy. I enjoyed three different kinds of pies and my mom’s famous strawberry pretzel salad.

I gave into the gratitude of the season ❤️

Whether gratitude was able to find you this November or not, I hope you’re taking good care of yourself as we transition into the last month of 2024.

Whether you are a DSWL Planner user or not, this audio workshop is here to offer you heart-felt end of the month reflections, a guided hypnosis to help you pause in-between November and December and an opportunity to map out your December so you’re able to be present in this final month of the year.

What You Can Expect —

• Reflection questions to help you connect with all that unfolded in November

• I’m bringing out one of my favorite hypnosis tracks from the archives to share with you for this month’s workshop. Drop into Gratitude Elevator, a 20 minute guided hypnosis adventure that’ll take you to experiences you’re grateful for so you can evoke gratitude on a cellular level.

• A brain dump & extra support check-in for the month of December

• December Goals, affirmations, habit tracking and self-love prompts

What You Need For The Audio Workshop —

• 60ish minutes

• A quiet cozy place you can curl up without distractions

• Your DSWL Planner, journal or blank paper

• Your fav writing utensils

• Environment enhancers to satisfy the senses and make this space intentional — hot tea, your favorite incense, fidgets, your coziest blanket, a frequency you can get lost in (I’m obsessed with Canyon Echos by Diana Lopez right now), you get the idea ;)

Will you tell me how November treated you? What’s on your heart going into December?

With Love,

Jenna

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