Movement Snacks: In a difficult year, what are the bright spots?
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Hey Reader, This past week, I've been reflecting on 2025. I'm probably not alone in this. 'Tis the season to contemplate and consider, especially now that the chaos of the holiday season is largely over and the dust has settled. Honestly, it's been a crazy year. I don't even know how to write about the horrible things that have happened within this country. It's been terrifying to watch the dismantling of democracy, communities terrorized by ICE, innocent people disappeared, and hate normalized. All of that and more has been in the background of everything this year. Some of it has impacted my life and my work. It's not an overstatement to say this has been a difficult year for me, personally and professionally. I nearly had to close my online studio due to low enrollment and not making enough to afford running it. I had no private clients this year. The winter retreat I have coming up is so undersold that as of right now I might actually be paying to teach it. And I lost more subscribers than I gained to my substack. Personally, it's been a hard year of parenting an almost teenager and navigating some really difficult things with her. I'm not sharing any of this for pity. It's been a rough year for a lot of people. I'm fortunate in so many other ways: I have a roof over my head and access to food and relatively affordable healthcare. I am sharing it because I value transparency, so I'd rather be honest about how I feel about the year than gloss over what has felt frustrating and like multiple crushing defeats. (This leads me to my Movement Snack this week) Movement Snack this week: Even as I've had a difficult year, there have been some bright spots. I wrote about them in my latest substack -- moments that I am exceptionally proud of -- but I'll share a few here, too. I ran a half marathon and completed it a few minutes shy of my goal time. I did an unassisted chin-up for the first time ever I leveled up in my tap class and danced onstage with an incredible group of women, several of whom are actual dance professionals. What connects all of these things is that even when things were hard, I kept showing up for myself without burning myself out. Showing up for me was the greatest gift I gave to myself this year. Looking at the list of things I am proud of makes me think about how I want to show up for myself in the year ahead. I want to know how you showed up for YOU this year. What are you proud of? What do you feel really good about? LAST CHANCE TO PRACTICE WITH ME IN 2025! I'm offering a special LIVE class on zoom on December 31st. It's my annual RESOLVE TO EVOLVE class to celebrate the end of this year and kick off the year to come with movement and community. We have a lot of fun. (P.S. MOVE members attend as part of your membership, so no need to purchase if you're a member of MOVE) LAST CHANCE FOR WINTER RETREAT: JANUARY 2026 In case you haven't heard, this is the final year that I am offering my annual Winter Retreat. If you want to join me on retreat this January and start the year on your mat, in the woods, and with the best community of people, there are 5 spots left. I'd love for you to come. There is more information here. And if you know you want to join in, you can put your deposit down here Thanks for being a part of my community this year. I am so grateful for you. I hope that the year ahead is full of light and joy and ease. Warmly, Naomi Want to stay in touch during the week? Here are a 2 easy ways: Follow me on Bluesky, where I try to share daily movement practices as acts of resistance, connection, and strength. Follow me on substack, where I write about the intersection of movement, motherhood, and the culture that we are all moving through. Or better yet, subscribe so you have immediate access to regular essays, including my most recent substack, which is a personal one. I wrote about interfaith marriages -- what JD Vance gets so wrong about them and the perspectives of 4 women in interfaith marriages. Their stories are so beautiful and I am so grateful I get to share them with you. Read it here. There are many ways to support my writing on substack, which focuses on women's health and motherhood during perimenopause through an anti-diet and pro-science lens: 😍 Become a free subscriber |