I don’t know.

I was trying to think of what to share with my Karen’s Notes list today.

And the truth is, i don’t know.

I’ve never pretended to have all the answers – these notes simply share what I’m thinking and how I’m feeling and I hope they help encourage a few.

But after considering this topic and that topic, and thinking “no I already wrote about that” or “everyone in the world is writing about that” or “that’s not what I want to say”, I sat down and admitted I don’t know what to write.

I don’t know what to say. How to help. What to do, sometimes.

Most days I simply get on with the work before me (which I’m so grateful for). I’ve even begun to settle into a weird new temporary normal which is odd in some of its similarity to my old normal. Quiet times, walking in the mornings, working from home, Zoom calls, Facetimes with friends and family, writing content, helping clients. Some of it is the same, but all of it feels imbued with this strange oddness, this new different which changes every day.

And I am sticking with my pattern of Karen’s Notes, but today I don’t know what to say.

And then I thought about how maybe that’s the message.

I don’t know.

You don’t know.

We all as a world, gloriously in some ways, don’t know.

It’s a collective admission of the unknown. That as much as we plan and consider and try and forecast and analyse based on today, it’s all going to change again tomorrow in ways no human could have foreseen.

And that’s okay.

Because the truth is, we never knew.

We were never these paragons of wisdom and knowledge – and even though we were aware of our own humanity and most of us didn’t pretend we knew it all, still, we felt like we knew a lot. Those of us who are business owners knew the patterns and were able to predict fairly well based on those. Mothers, fathers, government leaders, teachers, nurses – whatever your role, you knew some things. We had expertise and things to base our decisions on and historical patterns and were able to plan.

Now we just take it one day at a time. Our daily bread, as it were.

What do we do today? Whatever is before us. And do that to the best of our ability – whether it’s resting or working or writing or sending emails or playing with the kids or leaving them on screentime or having virtual drinks with friends or reading a book or sitting out in the sunshine (if you have some) and staring at the sky.

And when you catch yourself thinking, for the thousandth time in a week that’s felt like a year, “I really don’t know”…

…welcome.

Welcome to the collective unknown. We’re glad you’re here. I’m glad you’re here.

I know that, for sure.

Follow me

ON THE GRAM

Popped into a fave local coffee shop in York this week and this was the mug they gave me. ❤️✨

Wasn’t feeling so superwomanny when I got it - this week was very full, plus period cramps and multiple migraines and my ankle being wonky and more travel than I’ve done in a while. I had intended to get coffee but the cramps were so bad I had to go for mint tea and just sit until they faded enough for me to walk again. 

At the same time, I also had an amazing time during this week with the @weare_pf Board meeting in person for the first time. Getting to know each other better as humans and sharing ideas and making plans and most of all appreciating that the weight of all the business decisions doesn’t rest solely on my shoulders. 

This is just one of your reminders that being a superwoman looks different at different times, and whether you’re striding along strongly or sitting weakly with mint tea, your superwoman status still applies. 

#justkeepgoing #superwoman #muglife #wegotthis #onedayatatime
Every single time I go sailing past this lighthouse on the mull-to-Oban ferry I think “this time I’ll just watch it and not take any pictures” 

And then something wild happens like A SAILBOAT GOES BY and of course I have to capture that, surely I haven’t taken that photo before (spoiler: I have), and then I have about seventeen lighthouse photos to add to my collection of seven thousand lighthouse photos from the last twenty years. 

But, I figure, what’s the harm anyway. It’s my photos and my memories and it brings me joy. I love the lighthouse as a visual of my journey from the mainland to the island (or a reminder I’ll be back soon). 

So, see you soon lighthouse. Thanks for standing there. 

#lismorelighthouse #eileanmusdile #lighthouse #lighthousesofinstagram #oban #ferry #calmac #isleofmull #sailaway #sailboat #scotland #travelscotland
I read. A lot. My list of “books to read” has over 100 titles listed, and every time I mention a book I’ve appreciated, I get another recommendation of a new one and the list gets longer. 

One of the books recommended to me years ago was “The Buddha in Me the Buddha in You”. She mentioned it had some helpful principles about how we navigate life - and whether you’re a buddhist or not, there are principles you can learn from and apply in life.

I wrote it down, forgot about it, and moved on with life. Read lots of other books.

And then when I broke my ankle, and was sitting and resting a LOT, with loads of time for reading, I went back to my list and started reconsidering some of the titles on it.

When I looked up “The Buddha in Me the Buddha in You”, the subtitle was “A Handbook for Happiness”, and that struck me.

Dealing with an injury is difficult. Sad. Wearying. It can be hard to find happiness and every day feels about the same. (Very Groundhog Day.)

So I bought the book, and put it by my bed. I started getting into a pattern of reading a chapter every morning with my coffee.

I thought I’d share some of the principles I appreciated and which are already helping me as I continue to navigate my life right now: 

[the full post on these is too long for an Insta post so click the link in bio or story if u want to read more!]

Thank the spoon - a spoon stirs up the mud in what had appeared to be clear water. Same with life: hard things stir up what you haven’t dealt with yet. So you thank them. “Thank you, spoon”

The Fundamental darkness (FD) - the “Survival Obsessed Self” who responds in a way based on survival but not growth

There’s a gift in the struggle - He describes it visually as “the lotus flower in the muddy pond”. You can focus on the mud, or on the flower, but they’re both there.

Nam - myo - ho - renge - kyo : The happiness soundtrack - I pulled out the core concepts of each of these words as they applied to me, and they are: 

Purpose
Mystery
Potential 
Bloom in the struggle
Flow of life

#karensnotes #buddhainmebuddhainyou #books #reading #happysaturday 

[full note link in bio!]
The snow is swirling the wind is howling IT’S FROZEN OUT THERE 
#snowing #happyspringeveryone #inlikealion