Let it burn and let it go...

School just ended, and my kid in classic dramatic form had friends over. They burned all of their homework in the fire pit. They cheered as each page got tossed into the pile.

Watching those math notebooks and quizzes disappear in the flames, I laughed at first.

But then I realized: they were instinctively doing something we all do in life.They were marking a transition.They were saying: 7th grade is over. Bring on the summer!

And isn’t that kind of normal?

As grown-ups, we throw parties for weddings, funerals, and graduations. We mark the moment one part of life is done and another begins. It allows time and space to process our emotions and prepare for the next phase of life.

That got me thinking about the smaller, everyday transitions—the ones that get ignored.

We go from a hard day at work to dinner with our families without pausing. Sometimes this leaves us tired, drained.

We don’t have the emotional bandwidth to give the ones we love the most the time and space they deserve. We might find ourselves cranky or annoyed when they ask for attention or help with homework

What if we created a ritual to manage those transitions better? “I’m leaving something behind. I’m stepping into something new.”

• A five-minute walk to clear your head before entering the house.

• A playlist you play only when you're switching modes—from work self to home self.

• A breath at the end of the week to ask: What do I want to bring into next week? What can I leave behind?

These tiny rituals can ground you. They let you move into each situation with intention that resonates within you.

Transitions deserve reverence.

Not because they’re always big, but because you are constantly in transition.

And who you’re becoming on the other side? She deserves to be welcomed.

So here's your invitation this month: Pick one small transition in your day or life. It could be moving from your bed and into your day, from meal time to a time of rest, or from one month into the next.  The possibilities are endless.  

Mark it. Burn something if you want. Or just breathe.

You don’t have to rush through.

You get to arrive when and how you would like. That’s something to celebrate.

With love, Melissa

Would you do me a favor? If you know someone who might enjoy it, please share! I believe that everyone deserves to live a fulfilled and joyful life. I hope that these tools help readers get closer to that each month.