Have you noticed that when something matters to you, it’s really easy to spiral into overthinking? The mind is incredibly good at inventing problems that don’t yet exist and elaborating stories with the intention of keeping us safe.

Last week marked the spring equinox for those of us in the northern hemisphere.

These moments highlight the interconnected cycles of life, reminding us that endings, death, and letting go are vital for new beginnings and transformation.

Recently, I spent a weekend visiting my daughter at law school. I arrived carrying goodies from home, and a good bit of worry—that is, until I saw life through her eyes.

For a long time, I believed that if I learned enough—read the right books, reflected deeply, went to therapy, and led with good intentions—my life would stay more or less on track and under control.

My Death Doula training reminds me that endings are not failures — they are natural and essential parts of living. Every goodbye, every change, every release asks something of us: to trust the unfolding, to stay present, and to love even as we let go.

Life holds up a mirror and asks us to look a little closer, to notice what’s being stirred, and to tend to it with compassion.  Sometimes that reflection comes through our children, sometimes through our partners, and sometimes—unexpectedly—through a mischievous cat.