Permission slips and daily offerings

On letting yourself off the hook.

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The Inner Traveler is a digital cafe where chairs are pulled up, warm beverages are poured, gorgeous pastries are on the bar, and baskets of warm blankets tucked into corners. It’s a humble invitation into my inner world.

If you’d like to show your appreciation, buy me a croissant. It pairs wonderfully with coffee...and life in general.

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A permission slip showed up on my feed today, and my goodness it was perfect timing.

Having just returned from a jaunt to my neighborhood bakery, croissant crumbs all over my face, I opened up my substack app, read Robin’s words and thought “oh thank god, maybe I don’t have to show up 10000% this month”.

Her words immediately became a permission slip to let myself off the hook from something that wasn't really working for me.

You see, I had accepted a “30 day challenge”, committing myself to write and publish every day for the month of August. I was all in. Let’s do this.

Let’s slay.

I conveniently forgot that I’m not, nor ever have been, someone who likes “challenges”. I can’t even plan outfits or stick to a meal plan - way too rigid for my liking.

What I especially loved about Robin’s post was her photo of a canang sari, daily offerings the Balinese leave for their gods and spirits. It brought me right back to my other home in the world.

I lived on that intense, magical island for nearly two years, arriving five months before the pandemic hit, and staying until August 2021. I returned last year, only to find so much had changed, not necessarily for the better.

I have more to say about Bali, but for now…

Thank you Robin Cangie, for inspiring me to offer up my own “I just don’t have it in me” post.

….Maybe we should start a permission slip chain?

Canang sari. Bali, Indonesia - February 2020. Photo by author.

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