Lift the Paddle

Releasing Resistance - as Parent, Creator, Partner and Soul-Friend to Self ~ SoulFull Shifting Series (Part 1 of 4) ~

This is Part 1 of 4 in the SoulFull Shifting Series exploring life's sacred transitions - from parenting changes to creative cycles, relational recalibrations, and inner renewal. Each installment offers soulful reflection, insight, and practical tools to help you navigate life with more calm, clarity and meaning.

• Part 1 | When Our Kids Grow Up: Navigating the Emotional Shift for SoulFull Parents

• Part #2 - The Soulpreneur’s Journey: Riding the Waves of Gain and Loss in Business.

• Part #3 - Evolving Love - Change and the Dance Between Intimacy and Independence.

• Part #4 - The Sacred Art of Soulful Self-Care - Expanding the loving adventure within.
  

If you're a parent finding your way through the tides of your child’s growth, this one’s for you. Subscribe to The SoulFull Way and join kindreds finding presence, peace, and purpose ~ Just One Soulful Thing at a time.

Careening Through Change: The Emotional Rapids of Parenthood

I spent years paddling the wild waters of class V rapids. That’s when everyone in the boat has to take the water, oars in, at full-throttle or we all end up sputtering in the drink. I’ve seen it happen; it’s messy. Now, my excursions in nature this way were quite few; however, in life, there were torrent ebbs and rides in this manner aplenty.

But I did grow up with a wiser mentor on the water; as I age, in my business, my relationships and my life, I take better heed of his whisperings first uttered along The Severn River of my childhood.

This is my papa, and the break of day and sunset paddles … in quiet awe of blue jays and herons soaring, the contented turtle sunning on a log, beavers busy building, whippoorwills calling it a day … these treasured moments gave me a glimpse of the glorious, became a beacon in my heart, illuminating my way home in any dark.

All encompassing darkness and the shadows of life do not often announce themselves; they creep silently, slowly making way. They seep into our thoughts and well in our frustrations unchecked; they turn our logic to mush, and let fear run amuck; they slowly the poison the opportunity for insights to be gleaned and lead to undesired outcomes and we stand in surprise. But are we really?

If we are paddling upstream, with our relationships, in our business, with our health … I’m going to hedge my bet … we know, we all know. Somewhere, either blatantly on the surface or deep within, we are well aware of the waters. And I’ll take it one further, we long for more, for sense-making, for rest, for ease and grace to take the place of the churning.

Oh we’re not afraid of hard work, but at some point we have to feel like we’re getting somewhere right? We have to feel as though our efforts, the lessons, our desires, are making way. We want to know our life is our own, that our choices matter … and God knows we’d love a little whisper of insight - okay maybe even a giant flashing sign warning of the plummeting waterfall ahead and an arrow pointing to another, a safer way.

The subtleties in our thoughts and actions, are all worth noting, because the ways we take - in increments - ultimately do determine where we end up.

It often goes that we get a groove on, dip, pull, lift, dip, pull, lift and then, and then … the terrain shifts. We thought we had it all figured out, our role, our cruise control, and then all the rules change, and we … must … adapt.

Adaptation is key - and it does not begin with movement actually, but with stillness, silence. This makes all the difference.

Adapt or Let Die the person I long to be - a choice is ever-pressing and inevitable.

The Parental Plight and Flight

I had no idea the love that would be born the moment my children were. Sounds cliche I know, but gob-smackingly true for me. I went from business woman to juggling my entrepreneurial pursuits and LifeSchooling our boys. Wandering in awe became our days; I came to realize I knew so much more about trees, bugs, geographical features, the night sky, seasons, soul wondering and play for no other purpose than giggling, speaking in accents, and silly song writing than I ever, ever imagined.

On Wonder and Presence: What our Children Offer Us

They brought out the Jiji in me - the little girl who once trusted in all and followed and flowed with nature and life and believed in fairies and that everything one imagines is possible. They brought me back from the brink and gave me new life, taught me about God and Goddess and Oneness in all.

They shot up from wee wonders to 6’1” and 6’ 2” gentle giants who make this towering woman feel small and larger than life all in one breath. But even in the delight of watching them grow, near daily, if I allow my mind to wander back to lazy days, learning together, risking it all in a game of weeping willow sword play, “on guard” as our battle cry, I will weep. I weep - at the beauty of what was when it was just us, that that was all that mattered, every single day - even as I glow with pride at who they’ve become.

I have rarely wanted to turn back time; I love life’s trajectory. But if I were a wizard, back we’d go to the woods and picnic by a river, striping to our underclothes and spontaneously taking the day to swim and splash and BE.

The Shift: From Safe Nest to Savvy Leap

So when both our boys told us they’re off in the fall, at first I was just dazzled by their tenacity, helped them sort applications and plans and practically applied all my skills to support. This is what we worked for, this is why I LifeSchooled, to give them the wings and tools to soar - to move to Guatemala for a year, learn a new language and how to run an adventure tour group and business at 19 - to apply to an private academy on an island to engage in project-based learning for grade 12 that gives so much more than an academic education (with a full scholarship no less).

But as September creeps closer, tears well more often, in the quiet of my bed, in the corners of my heart and mind.

So, How Do I Lift My Paddle ~ Let Go and Let the Life That IS Lead?

I let the tears fall for a time - I let my mind wander to what was … for moments. We can go there, but we don’t want to live there OR we’ll miss the seconds that are unfolding now.

I choose Just This - a full immersion into the time I am in, knowing this will be another I’ll miss as time flies by. I hone right in on the task at hand, the breath, the birds twittering, the tap of the keys as I type and the hum of my heart.

I see the opportunity for What’s Next - I focus on the JOY of this next stage of independence for our beautiful boys and I’ll be cheering from the sidelines and supporting as they let me know their needs.

I still for guidance - Emotions are the plight of a mama, a dad, a loved one who deeply cares. Sometimes I will act from worry. Sometimes I will say things that may not reflect my truest, my highest values. Sometimes I will be simply human. And I will forgive myself.

Just One Soulful Thing at a Time: Affirmations for We All

As often as I can, I will:

Still,

Breathe in the silence,

Take my worries to the only place that truly allays my fears, offers perspective, gives me relief, delivers insightful details on what to do next,

Listen with all my being,

Follow where the wise whispering leads, and then

Take inspired action … Just One Soulful Thing at a time.

Now You: Parent Reflections to Inspire Soulful Action

How can you listen to your little, or not-so-little one, more? Are you hearing them truly, what’s being said, what’s not being said, what’s subtly or not-so-subtly showing up by way of their behaviour?

Are there ways in which you can better listen, understand, honour, inspire, empower them?

How can you let yourself rest, reset, tenderly care for yourself in life’s busy?

Who can you ask for support in small and grand ways (a meal, a few hours off, a break from your work, a time for retreat, a bath, a night out with friends)?

What other tools do you need for support (guidance on meditation, tools to still your mind, ideas on how to review the different areas of your life and suggestions for simple ways to make soulful change?)

I would love to know …
In this, we come to realize, we are not alone paddling, finding a way to serenely drift and be, breathe, listen and flow with whatever life brings our way.

From one parent learning to strike a balance between fiercely wanting our babes close to celebrating their soaring … I see you.

I’m in the shift - those rapids, wild and serene, learning to lift that paddle, hone in on the wonders in sight and sound, pulsing all around - with you.
I’m honoured to traverse the waters together … Just One Soulful Thing at a time.

Do Subscribe. Share. Stay connected. I delight in answering every message. ~ jenni

💫 More Along The SoulFull Way

The SoulFull Way publication is free, but we invite you to dive in further, as you feel a resonance for more, require a boost on your SoulFull Way and want to find solace and connection to kindreds on the adventure.

Let me list the ways:

✨BOOKS: Get your Copy of “Just One Soulful Thing: A Simple Adventure in Reclaiming Your Wild Wisdom”. On Amazon Canada / US

✨VIDEO PODCAST: Tap The SoulFull Way Video Cast ~ Readings, Reflections, Expansion with the Author of Just One Soulful Thing

✨CHAT: Where we set soulful intentions, share and celebrate our Yes! Moments, hold space for and give breath to our hearts’ hopes and visions for how we soulfully show up, create and serve in life. JOIN our Free Subscriber CHAT Here.

✨SoulFull RETREATS ~Adventure The Way with us in person:

Guatemala ~ October 2025

After 20+ years of offering retreats and workshops in Canada and online, I’m taking them to the world. Rio Dulce (Sweet River) in Guatemala, to be precise.

A week spent:

✨flowing in stillness, meditative flow, wandering and in awe of our surroundings,

✨diving deeper into life Just One Soulful Thing at a time,

✨immersing in the wonder, culture and beauty of the Guatemalan people and mystical place - from Mayan Ruins and stories to stir the spirit to boat rides through the rainforest canyon.

☀️We will emerge rejuvenated and enriched.

🦋Spots are limited to ensure an intimate gathering between kindreds.

Each retreatant will receive a copy of my book Just One Soulful Thing and my new JOST Guided Journal - as we’ll be tapping your innate inner wisdom and flow to make 2025-26 your most glorious and soulful year yet. Reach out it you feel a tingle of resonance friends.

If this tingles you through, reach out and I’ll put you on the contact list for details.

✨A Glimpse into Jennifer M. Maki

Biz Background

Jennifer has a background in psychology and communications and spent the last 20+ years canvasing the human spirit, across business and non-profit sectors in Canada, the US, Europe and British West Indies, working with and gleaning from dynamic people, seekers, leaders and community members.

An author, soulpreneur coach, renowned speaker and workshop facilitator, she has been privileged to design workshops, coaching programs and keynotes, addressing:

• values/action alignment,

• soulful communications, service and living, and

• cultivating and celebrating heroism in the workplace, for myriad clients:

  • community and business leaders, mental health professionals, the YWCA, women’s shelters, Easter Seals, educational groups, Alberta Health Services (AHS), AHS Volunteer Services - to name a few.

She is also a sought-after public relations, marketing and crisis communications specialist, empowering organizations to align brand integrity with powerful, purposeful messaging.

On the Home Front

Jennifer had the privilege of LifeSchooling her two boys, with a keen desire to instill and apply the values she shared in the world with her precious family.

Together they launched The Mad Hero Project, engaging in Missions of the Me and We kind - practices in:

• mindfulness,

• soulful communication,

• social responsibility, and

• community building.

Having lost dear friends at a young age, Jennifer has also been drawn to supporting those living with illness and loss. She trained as a hospice volunteer with Scripps Hospital in San Diego, spent years as a volunteer, ultimately seeing her own parents through end of life and offers supportive workshops to those working in hospice support, this vital field of service.

The lessons learned in all these experiences have undoubtedly shaped Jennifer’s perspectives, passions and service to her family and in the world.

Jennifer is president of Maolog Communications Inc., owner of Project Yes! Life, founder of The Mad Hero Project and author of The Mad Hero’s Manifesto and Just One Soulful Thing: A Simple Adventure in Reclaiming Your Wild Wisdom.

If what you read stirred you, share the wonder and SoulFull Way with others.

And for me, the most magical element of writing, is the kindred souls it draws around the fire. I always appreciate your thoughts, questions, subjects you’d love to see emerge here. Reach out any time; I answer every message.