Working through unclarity

To enter a new chapter

MY REFLECTION

Life’s currently teaching me to wait, be patient, and trust; and it’s uncomfortable and frustrating.

I’ve been practicing giving myself grace and reminding myself lately that I’ve been here before and that working through unclarity isn’t easy but it’s gotten easier. The situation looks a little bit different than in the past, but if I take a step back, the unclarity stems from the uneasiness of closing one chapter to start a new chapter. The old chapter is familiar, and though may not be in alignment with me anymore, it’s comfortable. The new chapter is unfamiliar which can bring up feelings of anxiety and worry, but also excitement and relief. Exiting and entering life chapters is overwhelming because usually, the change is disrupting every facet of my life - career, marriage, friendships, routine, and finances, which makes me revisit my purpose, my legacy, and my worth. Experiencing unclarity around who I am is challenging so I thought I’d share a few ways on how I’ve been supporting myself.

• Remind myself that my purpose is beyond what I do, it’s who I’m being in the world. I take inventory of who’s in my life, how I spend my time, what I’m doing to get inspired, and how I love the people in my life. Every interaction is a chance for me to leave an imprint in the world.

• Write a few sentences describing who I am. I started this exercise 10+ years ago and all of my rough drafts still live in my Notes app on my phone. It shows me that I’m consistently evolving but that I’m the same woman at my core.

• Do things that connect me back to what brings me joy and freedom and practice using my gifts. For me this looks like listening to other people’s stories, having intimate soulful conversations and gaining wisdom, writing this newsletter, and consulting and supporting people in my life to create and build their businesses. (More on this in a future newsletter!)

• “After birth is death and after death is rebirth.” - Claudia, my energy healer. Name what I love about the chapter I’m currently in and name what I’m letting go of and purging. This helps me stay present to what is and allows me to connect to the gratitude of now so that I don’t get fixated on the outcome of the next chapter.

Unclarity is a moment in time and using the tools above doesn’t make the time pass faster, but it does give me more peace and space to feel into the discomfort of change and transition.

Your life is like a book, waiting to be written. And if you want to be the author, you must learn when to close chapters.” ―Louise Kaufmann

Until next month…

xx Tash

PS. I’m approaching my 1 year anniversary with Tash’s Corner. I’m playing with how this can evolve so if you have any ideas, comment below or reply to this email. Thank you for being here.

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MY CHECKLIST

1. Summer walking calls for low impact sports bras. I’m slowly retiring my crop tops and bringing back simple no-fuss sports bras. I’m wearing the square neck from Girlfriend Collective which is true to size and the double scoop from OV Double Time Bra which I size up.

2. Went on a salt & pepper grinder hunt for work and got inspired to buy some new ones for our house. I’m working with CrushGrind - they’re from Stockholm so thoughtfully designed and made of quality. We did their classic 4” set of mills for on the table and the mid-century modern taller 7” set of mills to cook with next to the stove.

3. I own this wax canvas sunhat that I bought in Japan years ago that Zac wishes he owned as well. He found this one made in nylon and he couldn’t be happier. It’s unisex so I can borrow it too!

4. Searched for a pretty water filter for one of my best friends. She didn’t want plastic so this one is made of glass, doesn’t use plastic cartridges, and is dishwasher safe for easy-cleaning.

5. Oversized white button downs with just a little more style. Double button-shirt from Alex Mill, boxy with oversized chest pocket that I’ve own since 2018 from HOPE, and 100% linen for summer nights.

6. I’ve switched from powders to creams and have been using my fingers but I’ve noticed that I’m moving through product too fast. I decided to pick up this duo brush by Noto. Love that it’s retractable so easy to travel with and one side is for cheeks and the other side for lips. Here’s also their all-purpose makeup stick - great for contouring, eyeshadow, and lips in a matte finish.

summer walks, make-up, and outfits for her

7. Added a new cabinet in our ADU that we’ll utilize similarly to a sideboard. We love hosting so needed more storage to house additional glassware, dinnerware, candlesticks, etc. We chose something with glass doors and with a mix of dark and light oak wood so that it didn’t feel too heavy in the room. This one also has drawers for us to store napkins, placemats, serving utensils, tea lights, etc.

8. A Japanese brand we used to carry for Men’s at Seldom Seen that I still love. Sale items so get them ASAP: black/navy cardigan, shirt jacket in sand, and relaxed jersey pants.

9. Having a strapless top moment in lightweight cotton or linen. More feminine with the bow, scarf-inspired to wear tucked in or out, and this one with just the right amount of flowy.

10. It’s nearly impossible to live with my hair down in the summer. To hold my hair without the kinks, I use claw clips instead of hair ties. Found these beautiful claw clips that are more $$ but the spring closure is tight so they feel like they’ll last forever. I bought their 4” claw set in the milky white and bordeaux. Also I couldn’t resist and replaced my in-shower comb with this marble one.

11. Living in cotton-stretch tanks but sizing can be weird and given my short torso, I wear mostly cropped styles. I try to find tanks ~19” in length. ARQ’s organic cotton is soft and I like their classic solid neutrals. It’s designed to wear snug, but for just overall comfort, I wear the size large. A cotton rib that I can own in all of the colors and I wear the size small. Toteme’s fits beautifully at a higher price and is more of a racerback style so I usually wear without a bra and purely for layering.

12. A Salomon style that I think Zac would be into. Aesthetics of the 2000’s but technical.

13. Always looking for a new and interesting candle brand. Learned about Hazeltine at a local favorite shop here in Denver. Two favorites: Terre Bonne that smells like summer and River Daze is smoky yet calming.

for our home

14. When I saw this brand, I gasped out of pure joy! Curio, a brand that designs kitchen brushes and sponges with curiosity. Zac and I are replacing our Amazon-bought items with these black sponges and this beautiful brass palm brush. Love that each comes with either a magnetic sink mount or magnetic pedestal so that they each have a “home” to dry.

15. Zac owns these shorts in every color. He loves the 5” inseam and they don’t look like he’s going to the gym or beach.

16. He’s also a big fan of John Elliott. Oversized t-shirts that are perfectly stonewashed, another 5” inseam short with the most simple details, and new to Zac’s wardrobe this summer are sleeveless tees.

17. Visited a local floral farm this month and enjoyed picking up a seasonal bunch of dahlias. My family also gifted me a monthly floral subscription for my birthday so I’m revisiting my vase collection. I realized that I have too many bud vases and glass vases and was in need for a ~8” table vase with a smaller opening that holds a range of 5-10 stems. I found a vintage one at one of my favorite local shops, Conifer Shop but also wanted to share a few options that I found less than $200 and are in stock. A big fan of Notary Ceramics, Katie Von Lehmen, Giselle Hicks and Signe Ceramics.

18. 90 degree weather calls for dresses, lightweight cotton/linen pants, or shorts. Rotating between distressed denim shorts (I size down 1 size) and washed black denim shorts.

summer outfits for him

19. Testing these Nike Escape running shoes the last 2 weeks and it’s still too early for a product review. I really bought them for the color and the price (Nike’s having a 20% sale!) Because I went from wearing Hoka’s Arahi 6 which are a stability shoe with cushioning to these, I started wearing my insoles again. I stopped wearing them after I retired from marathon training, but now that I’m older, the arches of my feet need a bit more support. If you want an expert’s opinion on run shoes, head over to my gf Katie’s Substack here. She’s convinced me that I need a pair of these SUPERBLAST Asics so just waiting for a new color drop.

20. What you write with says so much about who you are…do you agree?! My gf Abigail does and when she came over for a co-working session, she showed me these pens and I quickly bought both sets. Fell for the vintage colors (if you’ve been following my newsletter, I have a thing for chocolate brown), the perfect 0.5 gel point, and it’s an easy click pen.

21. Zac owns the hoodie in a few colors and the crewneck will be next up when summer’s over. He loves that the fleece fabric is on the reverse, it’s a weight that feels good and easy to layer with, and that it’s unbleached and undyed.

22. Trying on some Raey pieces that are 65%-70% off! Lightweight front silk tie dress with a front slit, comfy and easy organic cotton tank dress to transition into Fall with an oversized sweater (also would wear the tshirt dress over and over again), and this printed skirt.