YES to spaciousness.

A couple of weeks ago, I mentioned quitting my volunteer gig at the Botanical Garden.

I'm soooo glad that I did, and I realized this week that I need even more space in my life.

Funny how that works, huh?

You give yourself permission to say no to one thing and then you start to see even more opportunities to go for what you really want.

I'd said yes to too many things and I hadn't created enough space for myself to recharge my batteries in between those things.

And this is a theme that has and likely will revisit me from throughout my life.

I can remember in high school I wanted to play the cello, act in school plays, be on the dance team, and have an after-school job... all at the same time.

Those of you who know me well know that I love to access unbridled enthusiasm.

Ohhhhh I sure do love a big, fat, juicy YES!

And as you can probably imagine, with all of these delightful and dynamic yesses, I needed some space to rest and recharge so I could be a full YES when I show up to these yesses.

It's way more fun to do them justice!

So this week, to nurture myself and recharge my energy, I blocked out time on my calendar and I drove to the Grove Park Inn in Asheville, North Carolina for a solo retreat and spa day.

The spa there is absolutely GORGEOUS.

There are mineral pools, a eucalyptus steam room, and a subterranean spa with rock walls, arches and tunnels and big windows where the sun peaks through (a pic below from the Grove Park Inn website of where I was floating four days ago).

BUT... here's the catch.

It's a 100% no ifs, ands or buts about it, electronics-free environment.

So when I checked in for my Spa Day, the woman at the front desk asked me to initial and sign an agreement that I would keep my phone off and locked in my locker.

It now sounds silly to admit this, but I couldn't believe they were being so strict!

I did want spaciousness for myself [annnnnnndddddd...] I also felt a pit in my stomach about the two emails I just had to send that day.

I thought to myself, what will I do in there?!

After the novelty of soaking and steaming and sauna-ing wears off and my fingers are pruney, won't I be bored?

No phone means...

• ❌ Those two emails are gonna have to wait.

• ❌ No designing Mediterranean-style living rooms in my Design Home app.

• ❌ Or refreshing my email to see what's come in to add to my growing total of 12,564 unread emails.

• ❌ And certainly no checking Instagram or FB for a little dopamine hit in the form of a tiny red notification!

Yikes!!

And even though I was worried about it, a part of me knew that electronics-free relaxation was 💯 EXACTLY what I needed.

And let me tell ya, the creativity that I was able to access that day was unbelievable!

I processed some feelings that I'd been trying to stuff down.

I came up with an idea for a tool I can use with my clients.

I started to design a new offering that I can start planting seeds for.

I got clear on some big decisions and boundaries that I've been needing to make around my time and energy, even if it may disappoint others.

All of my yesses absolutely require some no's!

It also got me thinking about how doggone dependent I've gotten on technology and how time away from my phone is something that I can initiate when I need more spaciousness. (Do I need a phone locker at home?! 😜)

And guess what?! I sent the two emails after my spa day and everyone was fine.

This email you're reading right now was sent later than I normally send it, but who really cares?!

Sometimes, the decision to press pause and give yourself more S P A C E (even from the yesses!) is the perfect prescription.

And you're the only one who can give yourself permission to make that decision.

How can you give yourself more space in this upcoming week?

xo,

Stacy

P.S. Two new episodes of Outgrow the Grind came out last week!

In "Openness Creates Opportunity", you'll learn Sarah Giffrow's journey after being let go from a job she didn't even like, which led to a serendipitous side-hustle and then the thriving business she leads today. In "You Deserve Your Desires", Parijat Deshpande shares how she outgrew both grinds before and after her high-risk pregnancy and how she decided she deserves time to be and not always do.