A Sweet Farewell from Maggie

Dearest members,

 

I have some sweetbitter news (yes, I meant to combine those words) — as endings and beginnings so often are. I am stepping away from my role as Community Connection Manager, and while this shift tugs at my heart, it has been an honor to support this community. I’m humbled to return to the cushion alongside you as a fellow member.

 

When I wrote my very first Pause Post the May before last, I reflected on impermanence through the lens of nature: the fleeting dew on a leaf, the blaze of a sunset before the storm, and the way one season softens into the next. Change invites us into presence, reminding us to release expectation and begin again. As I share this transition with you now, that same lesson feels alive: endings and beginnings tend to be beautifully intertwined.

 

I’ll forever carry the power of silence in a shared space, the glow of dawn light in the studio, and the laughter of community potlucks. What a gift it has been to witness Pause evolve and to have played a small part in its evolution.

 

I’m especially grateful to Rena and Ryan for their trust and guidance alongside the care they pour into this community every day. And to you, the members who bring Pause to life; thank you for your practice and your presence.

 

It has been a joy to write the Pause Posts 💌, to practice with each of you, and to tend the behind-the-scenes work that helps keep things flowing. Though I’m stepping back from this role, I’m still here as a resource and a fellow traveler. Please don’t hesitate to reach out—I’d love to stay connected.

 

To borrow words from the (un)official Pause poet laureate:

 

The bees in the garden are rumbling a little,

The fish leaping, the gnats getting eaten.

And so forth.

But I’m taking the day off…

 

- Mary Oliver

 

May we all remember the importance of pausing, taking the day off, and honoring the beginnings and endings that shape a day and a life.

 

With gratitude,

Maggie Frackenpohl