Permission Granted
a life that leans yes and diamonds with t-shirts
Lately I’ve been thinking about the quiet ways we hold ourselves back.
Not the obvious ones. Not the big, dramatic refusals or the clear “no’s” we give to things that simply aren’t meant for us. I’m talking about the subtler ones—the almost automatic hesitations. The moments when something we’ve longed to do appears within reach and, almost instinctively, we lean away from it.
I’ve been noticing this in myself more than I’d like to admit.
For someone who generally moves through the world with a pretty optimistic lens, I’ve been surprised to realize that, in certain moments, my subconscious has leaned toward no rather than a full-body yes.
Sure, life has been life-ing. Schedules fill. Responsibilities stack. Timing isn’t always perfect. There is always a reason not to do something.
But if I’m being honest, some of my hesitations weren’t really about timing at all.
Some of them were shaped by what others expected of me.
What felt responsible.
What seemed practical.
What fit neatly into the version of me people had grown accustomed to.
And for a while, I let that influence my choices.
But what a valuable realization that has been. Because now I know. And once you see it, you can’t really unsee it.
Now there’s an awareness that wasn’t there before—a quiet understanding that the life we want doesn’t always arrive with perfect timing or unanimous approval. Sometimes it simply shows up as a pull. A curiosity. Something that feels exciting or expansive or just a little bit different.
And when that happens, the choice is ours.
Not later.
Not when everyone else is ready.
Not when it’s convenient for the room.
Now.
This idea of becoming has been sitting with me lately. Not becoming someone new, exactly—but becoming more honest with the parts of myself that have been asking for attention all along. Leaning into the yes.
Sometimes it’s something small: saying yes to the spontaneous dinner, the long walk, the class you’ve been talking about for months but haven’t booked.
Sometimes it’s bigger: a trip, a creative project, a conversation you’ve been avoiding, a risk that feels slightly out of character.
But in both cases, the principle is the same. You always have the option to find the yes. When you do, something shifts. Not in a dramatic, cinematic way—but in the quieter, more meaningful way where your life begins to feel more aligned with the things that genuinely light you up. The domino effect of your life begins to take shape.
The truth is, no one else can give you that permission.
And the beautiful part? You don’t need it ;)
Things That Made My Heartbeat
A homemade savory oatmeal bowl that completely hit.
I’ve been experimenting with savory oats using the Qi’a grains blend, and one bowl this week felt like a small masterpiece. A 7 minute, 45 second egg (timing matters), a generous spoon of cottage cheese, walnut butter, heirloom pumpkin seeds, kiwi, blueberries, cacao nibs, cinnamon, and a touch of coarse salt. Random, but trust.
Richard Serra at MoMA.
A reminder that scale and simplicity can coexist in a way that stops you in your tracks.
Sophie Bille Brahe
She’s long been one of my favorite jewelers. The mix of refined and casual is exactly the kind of balance I’m always drawn to.
Knead Love Bakery’s new black rice baguette.
A solid 10/10. One of those breads that reminds you how good simple things can be when they’re done exceptionally well.
Nature Nate’s popped sorghum.
The avocado oil and sea salt version is dangerously good.
Baskets as a purse.
Channeling the timeless style of Jane Birkin—slightly impractical, entirely charming.
Longer days and the return of evening light.
That moment when you glance at the clock and realize it’s still bright outside.
As I’ve been thinking about this idea of leaning into yes, I’ve also been reminded that the answer doesn’t always come from the mind first. More often, it shows up in the body.
A small hesitation. A little soreness that lingers longer than expected. A wave of fatigue that reminds you you’ve been moving a bit too quickly. Those subtle pings of inflammation or discomfort that gently nudge you to pause and check in.
For a long time, I brushed past those signals. I treated them like something to push through instead of something to listen to. But lately, I’ve been reminded just how connected it all really is—the body, the gut, intuition. They’re constantly communicating with us if we’re willing to slow down enough to hear what they’re saying.
Sometimes the message is to say yes. Other times, the message is to slow down.
To move a little more gently. To add in more restorative movement.
To take a breath before reacting. To choose the pace that allows you to stay present inside your own life.
Everything moves in cycles and seasons. Our energy does too.
The more I pay attention, the more I see that becoming isn’t about forcing or chasing anything forward. It’s about listening, adjusting, and trusting that inner compass when it quietly points you in a new direction.
And maybe that’s really what leaning yes is about—learning when to move forward, and when to simply soften into the moment you’re already in.
Thank you for being here!!! Starting a ShopMy account in the coming weeks. Stay tuned xx
-Shipper
