Quarterly Review | Q2 2025
With five Sundays in June, an extra post, and as we enter summer, I find myself in a season of change; of letting go of those things which no longer serve me, and trusting in the next step.
Welcome to Rediscover · Reconnect · Re-Emerge. If you find the fleeting changes of modern life wearisome, maybe even overwhelming, join me on a journey, a path well-trodden, as I share heartfelt and often nostalgic reflections on living slowly, simply, and in tune with the seasons.
June is bustin’ out all over…
So goes the song, and it’s true. The garden, resplendent in every shade of pink, purple, white, and red, brings unrivaled joy. A feast for the eyes, tantalising the senses at every turn. We often reflect on nature’s inspirational ability to come to life again. The once desolate and monochrome borders of winter, with just a few worn-out shrubs left behind, are almost unimaginable now. How far it’s come.
How far we’ve come.
We forget that.
I think that all of us at one time or another have been those desolate shrubs. We’ve been worn out, burnt out, and lifeless. We lived in a monochrome world where we could barely imagine we’d see bright colours again. Life has many seasons; of course, there is autumn, winter, spring, and summer, but what about all the micro-seasons too? What about the liminal seasons where we feel slightly adrift, not quite in one space or another.
I wonder which season you’re in now?
It might be summer outside, but inside, you may find yourself in a sepia or monochrome season, the bright colours and sunshine, so close, yet so far. We can only feel as we feel, and sometimes we need a little reminder that’s OK.
The garden of winter is the same garden of summer. The soil has been nourished and the plants nurtured, yet it is the same soil, and they are the same plants.
Our season will come.
Whether you’ve been part of this journey for a while, or if you’re new here, you’re very welcome. If you’d like to read about why I started Rediscover · Reconnect · Re-Emerge on Substack, then here is my very first post:
You can read more about me here, and also, don’t forget to visit the A Life More Creative website.
When I look back at some of the posts I’ve written over the past three months, some common themes emerge. I’ve revisited, as I often do, the notion of home, but also those spaces and communities in which I felt I belonged; which offered solace and comfort, maybe even an escape. I’ve thought deeply about the kindred spirits, those people who walked beside me on life’s journey, who quietly and gently shaped my creative soul. Life’s journey is rarely straightforward, it comes with tears, and at times, a sense of failure. So with those things in mind, what might I take from these writings of the past three months?
Seek those people (if you like, find your tribe) who will nurture and nourish your creative soul; who will support and encourage, and walk beside whether the ground below is rocky or smooth.
Keep exploring the notion of home, and the deep sense of belonging which comes not just from those physical places and spaces we call ‘home’, but from those feelings deep inside our soul.
Gently support and encourage others; seek those with whom you share the same values, and accompany them on their journey through life, just as you would wish them to do for you.
Be open, always, to new ideas, to unexpected openings, to surprising twists and turns, as you gently tread the path ahead.
Life is full of seasons; accept and embrace them. Light always follows darkness; spring always follows winter. Feel as you feel.
As for me, I find myself in a season of change. I sense deeply the need to let go of those things which no longer serve me, and to trust in the next step, even if I don’t know what it might be. Life is short. We have to be willing to take risks, to trust in the unknown.
‘A ship in harbour is safe, but that is not what ships are built for.’
~ John A. Shedd
We don’t have to stay in the harbour and accept the status quo. What if the next door which opens offers us something even more beautiful than we could ever imagine? We have to make time and space to explore, to lift the latch, and to peek behind the door. It’s not easy, by any means, but I carry
’s mantra with me:‘If not now, when?’
And whatever happens, if we take the risk and somehow, nothing works out as we expected, it’s not the end of the world. As I so often say, Sainsbury’s will still be open in the morning.
Go gently, but with bold steps, and to quote another song, “into the unknown”.
Those Who Shaped My Creative Soul
Many will never know how deep their legacy runs. They’ll never know that the tender, if a little shy, creative soul they nourished, is still drinking from an overflowing cup of nourishment they filled. This post in the Inspirations & Connections series was my most popular this quarter. If you missed it, catch up below:
A Place to Linger, A Way to Weave
Every letter written, every word read, and every quiet moment shared; these are the threads we weave together, shaping a beautiful tapestry of belonging. Each and every person who reads, comments, and shares becomes a thread in that rich tapestry, each tiny one vital in holding together the whole.
In these spaces, these communities, there is a gift in simply being there, in slowing down enough to listen, to notice and to ponder. I feel immense gratitude for every single person who shows up here as a thread in that tapestry, and perhaps, my one wish is that amongst the words I share, you might find a greater sense of meaning as you journey through life. Last month I shared an extra post, and in case you missed it, you can catch up below:
Slow Spotlight: Emma Connolly of A Bunch of Wild
Emma Connolly is an artist, gardener and floral stylist. She lives in a small Bedfordshire village with her family. She creates atmospheric paintings, floral-inspired ceramics and puts together seasonal arrangements from the garden. She also teaches from her garden, encouraging others to slow down and connect with nature.
Her work is influenced by the seasons and landscape. She spends a lot of time in Suffolk for the quality of the light, and exhibits her work at small fairs and shops. In case you missed this Slow Spotlight, she shares more of her own journey towards a slower, simpler and more seasonal life. Catch up here.
If this space has brought you a moment of stillness, a new perspective, or a feeling of home, and if you’d like to help sustain it, becoming a Patron Member is simply a way to say, “I believe in this; I want it to continue”. There’s no paywall, no exclusive content, just immense gratitude and the quiet joy of knowing you’re part of something meaningful. £4 a month or £35 a year. No pressure, just possibility.
By supporting this space, you’ll help nurture its roots, ensuring it continues to grow, bloom, and remain a place where we can all slow down, breathe deeply, and find our place in the rhythms of the changing seasons.
Summer Cottage Garden
My beautiful wife,
, recently released a seasonal nature photo pack. It contains 20 images of gorgeous summer blooms, and was created for small business owners and kindred spirits who, like her, find comfort and inspiration in the gentle rhythms of nature. They are totally unique, never used before, and a great way to add a personal touch to your summer content. You can find out more here, and purchase them for just £15 here.Thank you so much for sharing this journey with me, for all your likes, comments, shares, and recommendations, and a we head into summer, I look forward to bringing you more thoughts and reflections in the months and seasons to come.
If you’re not already doing so, I’d love you to follow me over on Instagram. You can also visit the A Life More Creative website, where you can find out more about My Story, and read articles from my online Journal. Subscribe on Substack to receive new posts and to support my work:
Really enjoyed reading this post, thanks David 🌿
This is so reflective and heartfelt. I particularly love 'Life is full of seasons; accept and embrace them. Light always follows darkness; spring always follows winter. Feel as you feel.'—feel as you feel, so simple and powerful. 🙏