I’m glad your body has now recovered from the canopy opening jolt. A skydive has zero appeal for me. After all, what we break it first? The canopy opening jolt or the impact on landing.
I am working closely with a colleague on a new programme. It’s so refreshing to work with an equal who nudges me to turn up with my best game.
What stayed with me was the distinction between expansion and alignment.
We’re taught that growth always means more… more effort, more pushing, more proving. I hadn’t really considered that sometimes the wiser move isn’t stretching further, but listening sooner.
The way your body became the messenger made it impossible to spiritualize or intellectualize the lesson… it was real, physical, undeniable. That landed deeply for me.
It reframed “slowing down” not as retreat, but as precision.
Blimey, that’s no ordinary post, Donna! Hats off to you! I didn’t realise it could be so painful. I’ve never tried it and not sure I will! Dive aside, it’s wonderful to hear your enthusiasm and your story in this post. Keep rocking!
Wow! You touched my heart, Harriett, thank you 🤗! I never considered how painful it would be, and the skydivers are so physically fit, it never occurred to them, either.
Whatever the situation, I ask, what is the lesson here? In retrospect, I was asking that very question during the 55-second freefall. 😂
You impress me as an integrative psychotherapist! I blend methods as well through my MindShifting technology.
I'm looking forward to connecting with you, and I'm moved to collaborate in 2026. Let's connect in DM and compare our schedule so we can meetup on Zoom ❤️
You are THE badass Donna. I laughed and cried watching the video over and over. A beautiful reflection on the word expansion. You are always challenging how I think about myself.
That was such a classic Donnna Bevins thing for you to have done! Fearless and never turn down a new challenge - the more outrageous the better! Great video clip.
Makes me feel like a timid little mouse by comparison - the risks I take are seldom risks to bodily well being. In other words: "Were you out of your mind, Donna???" Glad you are never ever to ddo sky-diving again. We all need you here...
Of course, as usual, you don't just do adventures, you think about what the lessons learned may be. I resonate with all of them:
(1) Yes to "forced stretching damages tissue."
I've been getting unexplained pains in various limbs, and my usual response of stretching the pain out by pushing the stretch to the maximum has not been working. It seems that, especially for my tribe of hyper-flexible people, you absolutely have to follow the "more is less" philosophy. It works! And I've learned to think of myself as having become smart, as opposed to thinking I'm a wimp!!!
(2) Yes to "caregiving reshapes the day."
As you know, I too had years of caring for a deeply beloved but seriously ill husband. You give it all you have, and you would not do it any other way. But kidding yourself that you can continue the same pace of creative work is nuts. You have to recognize your limits and your needs. And also that your time with your beloved must include down time to talk and remember and reflect and laugh and cry together, not just the busywork of coping with medical details. I did not make enough of that time, and regret it to this day.
(3) Yes to "stop pretending you can carry everything alone."
Yes! And ouch! It means having to come down from your self-created strong woman pedestal and admit that even you can function better if you are in a mutually supportive partnership with someone else, and need the help of others.
(4) And sort of yes to "releasing what no longer serves."
I'm not there yet. I love new ventures, but also love what I've done before, and try to continue to the old things even as I undertake new things. The result is predictable: too many competing undertakings, don't do full justice to any of them. I'm hoping this wisdom will descend on me soon!
Thanks for taking us along on this adventure with you!
This struck home for me, Donna. I just turned 74, and my word for 2026 is expansion. Now I realize I need to add "with discernment." I'm so impressed you took that skydive, even if it did scare the shit out of you. But I get the message that we need to respect our bodies' limitations even as we expand in other ways.
I’m glad your body has now recovered from the canopy opening jolt. A skydive has zero appeal for me. After all, what we break it first? The canopy opening jolt or the impact on landing.
I am working closely with a colleague on a new programme. It’s so refreshing to work with an equal who nudges me to turn up with my best game.
Glad to hear you have a peer collaborator, too! It is pure bliss for me!
Your perspective always adds nuance I hadn't considered before. Love this so much.
Gotta ask, Priya. What got your attention that you hadn't considered before? Tell me more 🤗
What stayed with me was the distinction between expansion and alignment.
We’re taught that growth always means more… more effort, more pushing, more proving. I hadn’t really considered that sometimes the wiser move isn’t stretching further, but listening sooner.
The way your body became the messenger made it impossible to spiritualize or intellectualize the lesson… it was real, physical, undeniable. That landed deeply for me.
It reframed “slowing down” not as retreat, but as precision.
That felt important. 🙌🤗
Blimey, that’s no ordinary post, Donna! Hats off to you! I didn’t realise it could be so painful. I’ve never tried it and not sure I will! Dive aside, it’s wonderful to hear your enthusiasm and your story in this post. Keep rocking!
Wow! You touched my heart, Harriett, thank you 🤗! I never considered how painful it would be, and the skydivers are so physically fit, it never occurred to them, either.
Whatever the situation, I ask, what is the lesson here? In retrospect, I was asking that very question during the 55-second freefall. 😂
You impress me as an integrative psychotherapist! I blend methods as well through my MindShifting technology.
I'm looking forward to connecting with you, and I'm moved to collaborate in 2026. Let's connect in DM and compare our schedule so we can meetup on Zoom ❤️
You are THE badass Donna. I laughed and cried watching the video over and over. A beautiful reflection on the word expansion. You are always challenging how I think about myself.
Thank you Brad! I've watched the video over and over again, too. I'm grateful I invested in the video taping.
What I left out in the post was that after they helped me stand as they were taking off my gear, I collapsed like a Gumby... Or rag doll.
I was conscious and remember falling, but I'm unsure how that happene. Unless the adrenaline had sapped my strength.
That was such a classic Donnna Bevins thing for you to have done! Fearless and never turn down a new challenge - the more outrageous the better! Great video clip.
Makes me feel like a timid little mouse by comparison - the risks I take are seldom risks to bodily well being. In other words: "Were you out of your mind, Donna???" Glad you are never ever to ddo sky-diving again. We all need you here...
Of course, as usual, you don't just do adventures, you think about what the lessons learned may be. I resonate with all of them:
(1) Yes to "forced stretching damages tissue."
I've been getting unexplained pains in various limbs, and my usual response of stretching the pain out by pushing the stretch to the maximum has not been working. It seems that, especially for my tribe of hyper-flexible people, you absolutely have to follow the "more is less" philosophy. It works! And I've learned to think of myself as having become smart, as opposed to thinking I'm a wimp!!!
(2) Yes to "caregiving reshapes the day."
As you know, I too had years of caring for a deeply beloved but seriously ill husband. You give it all you have, and you would not do it any other way. But kidding yourself that you can continue the same pace of creative work is nuts. You have to recognize your limits and your needs. And also that your time with your beloved must include down time to talk and remember and reflect and laugh and cry together, not just the busywork of coping with medical details. I did not make enough of that time, and regret it to this day.
(3) Yes to "stop pretending you can carry everything alone."
Yes! And ouch! It means having to come down from your self-created strong woman pedestal and admit that even you can function better if you are in a mutually supportive partnership with someone else, and need the help of others.
(4) And sort of yes to "releasing what no longer serves."
I'm not there yet. I love new ventures, but also love what I've done before, and try to continue to the old things even as I undertake new things. The result is predictable: too many competing undertakings, don't do full justice to any of them. I'm hoping this wisdom will descend on me soon!
Thanks for taking us along on this adventure with you!
Yes. Yes. Yes. And sorta yes.
How good is that Karine!?!
Releasing and letting go is becoming my new standard.
"Out of my mind?" I figured it was the last opportunity to do something I've wanted to do for a long time.
I admit the resultant pain from the freefall was excruciating and, as you said, I was looking for the lesson within the experience.
Thank you for being in my life! Rather than being weak, you are a unique, authentic soul who is a scholarly writer.
I love you just the way you are.
💜
This struck home for me, Donna. I just turned 74, and my word for 2026 is expansion. Now I realize I need to add "with discernment." I'm so impressed you took that skydive, even if it did scare the shit out of you. But I get the message that we need to respect our bodies' limitations even as we expand in other ways.
Ah yes... with discernment. Think about asking this when something comes up... Is this in the highest and best interest?
Then, listen to what your body says
A good reminder that self-awareness often needs a jolt to get it started!
Yes, we are stubborn 😁
Welcome back my badass friend. ❤️
Hello sister 💞
Hey there 👋