46. Hitha Palepu ON Cultivating A Soft Start To The New Year, "Wintering," & Why It's Ok To Not Be Ok

The Modern Millennial

As this year wraps up, I know I’m not alone in feeling pressured to make outrageous goals and sudden life overhauls, but this conversation with Hitha Palepu, a writer, creator, CEO of a pharmaceutical company, mother of two, and overall one of my favorite multi-hyphenates, is a balm to resolution urges. Hitha is so well versed in all things rest, wintering, and creating intentional rituals that her descriptions of adding more comfort to our lives are like meditations.

We discuss how to determine what wintering means to each of us by honoring the needs of the season we are in. Wintering looks different for everyone, but the through line is always finding lower-impact things, making fewer plans, refreshing our cozy nooks, and shifting focus to easing into the new year instead of rushing in to create drastic change. By keeping our life visions close to our hearts, it becomes simpler to identify priorities and let the rest fall away.

Hitha shares her experience of how a recent hysterectomy surgery, along with other major life events, forced her to consider what it means to pause. We must remember that after change, there is no going back to old versions of ourselves. Take the time to consider who you want to be in the next chapter.

One of my favorite ways to do this is to read what makes me happy! I recommend beginning with something you love, like reading cheesy romance novels and asking yourself how you can layer more soothing rituals on top. Wishing everyone gentleness and ease during this winter season.

Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, or on your favorite podcast platform.

Topics Covered:

• How to normalize being not ok, especially at the end and beginning of the year
• Why “new year, new you” is an outdated way of thinking
• The importance of questioning all narratives accepted as truth to ensure deep alignment
• Ways to live a softer life
• How to acknowledge the different seasons of life and consciously pause what’s not in season
• Tips for winter well-being
• Following what makes you happy instead of what you think you “should” be doing

Resources mentioned

• Wintering by Katherine Mae

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