David's Journey
Current intention: Calm after active summer
August 2025
Current Intention
David intends to embrace calm after an intensely active summer, using Burning Man as the bookend before transitioning into a more grounded fall. He wants to lean into more time alone, focus on landing a new job with patience and discernment (avoiding red flags he's learned to spot), and eventually prioritize dating to meet someone for a longer-term connection. He's using his remaining time in Boston to be less active and more reflective, seeing this as a preview of the more balanced period he seeks. Most importantly, he wants to maintain the beautiful friendship with Andrea while creating space for new romantic possibilities.
Meditation
David, feel the profound grace in how you've navigated this challenging period. The car accident reminded you of life's fragility, yet you remain grateful and present. Your ability to find happiness amid setbacks shows true resilience.
Breathe into the transformation of your relationship with Andrea. What seemed like failure became a different kind of success - a friendship born from authentic communication and mutual respect. This is emotional alchemy at its finest.
As summer's intensity gives way to fall's grounding, trust that the right job and romantic connection will emerge. Your newfound ability to spot red flags and choose wisely is the gift of experience. Rest now, knowing that calm productivity awaits.
July 2025
What Happened
David navigated multiple challenging circumstances with remarkable resilience. He was in a minor car accident in Boston - his first in 20 years of driving - which will cost him $3,500 but left him unharmed. This added to an already expensive summer that included difficult experiences: his breakup with Andrea, precarious work situation after company restructuring, and general life uncertainty. Yet despite these setbacks, David feels genuinely happy. His summer included beautiful moments - traveling to Europe for a wedding, special times at camp, preparing for Burning Man. Most notably, his breakup with Andrea transformed into a beautiful friendship faster than expected. After initial anger and ultimatums, they reconnected, talked everything through, and healed their relationship, laying the foundation for a platonic bond that has already proven comfortable and supportive at social events.
June 2025
What Happened
David was absent from the June meeting but his situation was discussed. His boss, who had been 'a rock for him,' announced his departure following the company restructuring that eliminated 45% of staff. David and Andrea split after she gave him an ultimatum - 'full commitment or nothing' - when he expressed need for space. He's been oscillating between partying hard (sometimes abusively using ketamine) and staying in depressed. His work situation involves a 'dead market' that's challenging to navigate.
Intention
David intends to embrace his vacation period and try to let go of feeling accountable to his company and solving everything with Andrea immediately. He wants to recenter, focus on himself, and get back to his healthiest energy. His goal is to show up afterward with calm energy and intention, without the anxious need to solve everything quickly. He's excited to have an intentional period of being single and focusing on himself.
Meditation
David, as you prepare for this period of transition and rest, feel the liberation in releasing what no longer serves you. Each breath creates more space between you and the external pressures demanding immediate resolution.
Visualize yourself returning from vacation renewed and clear, approaching both professional opportunities and personal growth with wisdom rather than urgency. Your worth isn't measured by fixing everything but by how authentically you show up.
Embrace this time of being unpartnered as a gift - an opportunity to deepen your relationship with yourself and discover what you truly want, free from the need to accommodate or manage others' emotions.
May 2025
What Happened
David shared that he's experiencing significant professional turbulence - his boss, who had been a rock for him and deeply believed in him, announced he's leaving the company at the end of the week. This follows a restructuring where 45% of the company was laid off, including the entire leadership team. David is about to go on a 2.5-week vacation but feels anxious about what he'll return to, anticipating potential instability and preparing to look for new jobs. On the personal front, he and Andrea have split up. The breakup revealed layers of their relationship that weren't as transparent as he wished, with Andrea often telling him what she thought he wanted to hear rather than her true feelings. Now that they're broken up, Andrea is very angry and feels bailed on, causing social repercussions. David tried to address their need for more space lovingly, but she gave him an ultimatum - full commitment or nothing. He's disappointed but looking forward to being properly single after jumping quickly from his last relationship to this one. They had an uncomfortable encounter at a sex party where Andrea demanded he have no physical contact with anyone, which frustrated him.
Intention
David intends to actively work on feeling less unbalanced. A primary focus is to address his need for space in his relationship with Andrea by having a loving and honest conversation. He aims to navigate work pressures with greater resilience and find a healthier work-life balance. He also plans to be more mindful of his substance use, particularly ketamine, and to continue seeking clarity on his needs and how to meet them in both his professional and personal life.
Meditation
David, breathe into your center and find the calm strength within you. Visualize yourself navigating crucial conversations with Andrea and at work with compassion, clarity, and courage.
See a path toward greater balance unfolding, where your needs are honored and your energy is sustained. Envision healthy boundaries creating space for both professional success and personal peace.
Trust your inner wisdom to guide you towards choices that nourish your well-being. Embrace this period of clarification as a powerful catalyst for growth and alignment.
April 2025
What Happened
David felt very worn out and has been dealing with more negative emotion. His April was the opposite of his stated intention to cultivate calm. Work has been a rollercoaster since half his company was laid off two months ago; he's under immense pressure as a sales director to bring in revenue in a dead market, with the risk of more layoffs. He's executing leadership's vision but not converting many sales, trying to be present and confident but aware of job insecurity. He's working longer hours and wearing more hats, which is exciting but unsustainable. Concurrently, he's facing existential questions about his partnership with Andrea. After a beautiful first 6-9 months, living together has become bumpy. Andrea is launching her art career, facing vulnerability and anxiety, and needing reassurance, which David feels overwhelmed providing daily. He wonders if they rushed moving in and is craving space, questioning if the relationship can last in its current form. He's preparing to have a direct, loving conversation about this need for space, aware it could be disruptive. The combined stress from work and his relationship has depleted his emotional capacity, making April a dark month where he oscillated between partying hard (sometimes abusively using ketamine) and staying in depressed. He feels unbalanced but notes the month provided clarity on his needs as a professional and partner.
Intention
David intends to cultivate more calm amid the intensity of his work situation, being more intentional about not feeling pulled in multiple directions at once. He wants to embrace the concept of abundance in his life through a daily 15-minute meditation practice with Andrea and be more selective about where he directs his energy, sometimes choosing to focus solely on himself rather than responding to all external demands.
Meditation
David, as you navigate this period of professional intensity, visualize yourself having the clarity to see your life vividly, appreciating what's going well even amidst challenges. Each breath reinforces your capacity to choose one path at a time.
The daily meditation on abundance reveals what you already have, what you continue to receive, and what will remain available to you regardless of external circumstances. Let this awareness create spaciousness within the demands of your days.
Your relationship with Andrea offers a beautiful balance to your structured work life. As you hold space for her uncertainties, you're also practicing holding space for your own vulnerability and strength simultaneously.
March 2025
What Happened
David's month has been overwhelming following a major restructuring at his company after its acquisition. Two days after the last men's group meeting, half his company was laid off, including both CEOs, and the heads of finance, IT, marketing, and most of the legal team, reducing from 45 people to 25. While this created turbulence, it also removed bureaucratic barriers that had been hindering his work, presenting both an opportunity and significant pressure, as he's now primarily responsible for generating revenue. This increased responsibility has led him to work longer and more intensely than he has in years, shifting from his previous 'work to live' mentality to something closer to 'living to work.' He's trying to manage both his professional demands and his social life, resulting in fatigue and a feeling of being ungrounded despite physically being back in New York. David has started being more selective about social commitments, making weekends feel sacred after intense work weeks. He and Andrea are planning an exciting summer together, and their relationship continues to flourish, though she's experiencing some anxiety about finances as she establishes herself as a full-time painter in New York. David has been holding space for her concerns while affirming his commitment to their relationship and his belief in her eventual success.
Intention
David aims to find more stillness and mental grounding as he prepares for spring and beyond. He wants to be intentional about any sacrifices he makes for work, potentially being less social temporarily to make time for work and other hobbies. He's processing concerns about American political identity and seeking ways to be more intentionally giving back on a daily basis, particularly as his partner Andrea (who is Mexican) faces immigration uncertainty in the current political climate.
Meditation
David, visualize yourself planting roots even amidst movement. Your breath connects you to the earth beneath you, whether you're traveling or at home. Feel the grounding that comes from knowing your purpose and living your values.
As you navigate work pressure and political concerns, recognize that your foundation remains stable. Your relationship with Andrea flourishes because you both honor the balance between togetherness and individual expression.
As you seek more intentional ways of giving back, trust that your conscious awareness is already shifting the world around you. Your concern is itself a form of action.
February 2025
What Happened
David spent the entire month traveling with his partner Andrea, leaving him feeling somewhat burnt out both physically and mentally. His company was acquired after a year of discussions, and while he was well-received by the new ownership, he learned many of his colleagues will be let go. He's feeling pressure to deliver results in a challenging market (carbon project development in the forestry space). Despite the work stress, his relationship with Andrea is progressing well - she met his various parents during their travels, and they're looking forward to establishing a home base in New York.