Some birthdays deserve more than cake.
The day after celebrating her 50th birthday—and after spending Monday evening laughing with us at Pull Up & Play—Tynisa met me at the pool.
As we talked, I found myself thinking about something I've been noticing in my own body.
Bracing.
Not because of one particular moment, but because life has a way of teaching us to stay ready. Ready for the next disappointment. All the responsibilities, and things that need our attention. Without realizing it, our shoulders tighten, our hips stiffen, knees lock, and eventually we forget what it feels like to simply exist without holding ourselves together.
The water has become one of my favorite teachers. It doesn't ask me to perform or push harder. It quietly reminds me that not everything has to be carried with effort. When you stop fighting the water, it holds you. That lesson has followed me long after I've climbed out of the pool.
Watching Tynisa smile, laugh, and settle into the water reminded me how healing can look so ordinary. No grand breakthrough. No dramatic moment. Just two women sharing space, moving gently, talking about life, and allowing our bodies a chance to remember softness.
I left thinking about how rarely we give ourselves permission to simply be somewhere without producing, solving, fixing, or proving anything.
That feeling stayed with me.
I started wondering how many of us have lived with tension for so long that we've stopped recognizing it. Not emotional tension. Physical tension. The kind that settles into your posture and quietly introduces itself as your personality.
You think,
"That's just how I stand."
" Dang, my back."
"I'm getting older, huh?"
Until something—water, stillness, a good stretch, a genuine laugh—interrupts the pattern long enough for your body to whisper, "You know... you don't have to do that all the time."
I don't know if that's healing.
I do know it feels like remembering something I forgot I knew.
That's one of the things I hope Existence Sanctuary continues to create.
Not places where people come to be fixed, but spaces where they can loosen their grip for a little while.
For Tynisa
Tynisa 💛
Thank you for spending part of your birthday week with me. Between celebrating you on Monday and sharing the pool. I left with more than just pictures—I left with a full heart. I appreciate your openness, your laughter, and simply allowing yourself to be present. Sometimes the most meaningful moments aren't planned at all. They're found in good conversation, floating in the water, and sharing space with someone who understands the value of slowing down. Thank you for trusting me with a little piece of your journey. I hope this new decade brings you more softness, more joy, and many moments where you can simply breathe and enjoy being you. Happy 50th again. I'm grateful our paths crossed.
XOXO,
Queenin
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