Somewhere Between Comfort and Curiosity

For a long time, I was the kind of person who liked routine.

Not in a boring way. In a safe way.

Routine meant I knew what to expect. I knew how things would go. I knew how my body would react, how my mind would process it, and how my day would unfold.

But somewhere over the last year, something shifted.

Maybe it was healing.

Maybe it was curiosity.

Maybe it was simply realizing that growth sometimes requires stepping slightly outside of the version of yourself you’ve always known.

So this past year, I started saying yes to things I probably would have politely declined before.

Some of them felt spiritual.

Some felt physical.

Some felt small but still meaningful.

All of them, in their own way, felt like little doorways into a new version of myself.

Over the last year, I found myself exploring a mix of physical, emotional, and spiritual practices that I probably wouldn’t have considered before.

Acupuncture

If you had told me a few years ago that I would willingly let someone place tiny needles into my body for wellness, I probably would have laughed.

And yet.

Here we are.

Acupuncture is a practice rooted in traditional Chinese medicine where very thin needles are placed at specific points on the body. The idea is that these points help restore balance, support the body’s natural healing processes, and regulate energy flow. People often use it for things like stress, pain, hormone balance, and overall wellness.

I first tried Acupuncture because of two co-workers; whose opinions and read on things I’d trust with my eyes closed, constantly raved about how great it was and how Acupuncture helped each of them with various ailments and injuries. I’ve had low back pain since my early 20s; it was years of gymnastics and the constant pounding. I’ve tried all of the things for my pain – heat, ice, medicine, and PT. Nothing completely makes the pain stay away. X-Rays would revel that I have mildly bulging disc (L5) and the pain and discomfort will be riding shotgun with me forever. The flare ups come and go as they please and frankly I don’t love that. Until Acupuncture, I was just dealing with it as it came.

After much research, in true Tajuana fashion, I was fully convinced that Acupuncture was the answer to help me better manage my saga of low back pain. Plus, my insurance covers it and I have a very low, affordable co-pay.

I remember thinking this can’t be real; needles? Inserted into my body, willingly, to help with pain and discomfort? There is NO way I am allowing this to happen. I was TERRIFIED because I didn’t know my pain tolerance to small needles inserted into my body…to provide positive outcomes. After my first session I was converted and hooked; I slept like a baby that night. I still go regularly, which is monthly for me. Still hooked.

But what surprised me most was how calming yet energized I feel, still after every session.

Afterward, I noticed significant improvement in my low back pain and the frequency that I deal with it is much less now. I am able to trust my intuition, myself more because each session helps to clear clutter from my mind.

It made me realize that sometimes healing doesn’t always look like the things we already understand.

Sometimes it looks like trusting a process that’s been helping people for thousands of years.

Reiki Therapy

Reiki was something I had heard about before, but if I’m being honest, I didn’t fully understand it.

Reiki is a form of energy healing that originated in Japan. During a session, a practitioner gently places their hands on or just above the body with the intention of helping balance the body’s energy. Many people describe Reiki as deeply relaxing and use it to support emotional healing, stress relief, and overall well-being.

Energy work can sound a little mysterious when you first hear about it.

But the more I leaned into my healing journey, the more curious I became about how our bodies hold onto emotions, stress, and experiences.

During my first Reiki session, I felt so seen and heard by the practitioner and that may sound cheesy but when you go through life convincing yourself that no one understands you,

At one point, I was too comfy and fell right on asleep and my practitioner stopped sharing what was coming in and let me rest; God bless her!

And afterward, I felt very relaxed and like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders and my chest.

What surprised me the most was how seen I felt. Nothing I said to my practitioner was “weird” or “strange” and everything that came through for her it was delivered with such love and grace.

It reminded me that sometimes the work we’re doing internally shows up in ways we can actually feel in our bodies.

A Psychic Reading

Now this one might make some people raise an eyebrow.

But curiosity won.

A psychic reading is a session where a practitioner uses intuitive abilities to offer insight about different areas of a person’s life. Some people seek readings for guidance, clarity, or reflection about relationships, life decisions, or personal growth. Whether someone sees it as spiritual insight or simply an opportunity for reflection, many people find the experience thought-provoking.

I scheduled a psychic reading because I had always thought it was fake and woo woo. I wanted to see what it was actually like if I was going to continue to have those beliefs grounded in nothing except my own ignorance.

Going into it, I expected absolutely nothing; went in blind but excited and curious.

Instead, what happened was I received a fairly accurate reading and I was intrigued.

One thing that stuck with me afterward was that the world is SO damn loud and when we find the time and space to shut it out, the mind opens up to beautiful things.

Whether you believe in those kinds of experiences or not, it definitely made me reflect on getting quiet with myself and the necessity of that.

And honestly, sometimes reflection alone is worth it.

Reading… All the Ways

One thing that quietly became a bigger part of my life this year was reading.

Not just occasionally.

But really coming home to it again.

These days I read every possible way.

Kindle when I want convenience.

Physical books when I want the feeling of turning pages.

Audiobooks when I’m driving, cleaning, or just need a moment to escape into someone else’s story.

Lately I’ve been reading FANTASY!!!! WHAT?! For the longest time, I was a HUGE skeptic and now naturally after trying something, anything new, I am HOOKED.

Some books have made me think.

Some have made me cry.

Some have just been pure entertainment when my brain needed a break.

But what reading keeps reminding me is that stories expand us.

They help us see things differently.

They help us understand ourselves better too.

Reformer Pilates

If you’ve ever done reformer Pilates, then you know.

Those machines look innocent.

They are not.

I started reformer Pilates because for the longest time I hated mat Pilates, needed something different in my workout playbook, and because it’s not mat Pilates!

The first class made me realize that I love putting myself through necessary pain and torture; I love a challenge.

What I didn’t expect was how much it would make me more aware of my body.

Muscles I didn’t even realize existed suddenly had opinions.

But over time I’ve noticed that I’ve been waking up muscles that have been napping for years and I feel stronger.

It’s become less about the workout and more about the connection between my body and my mind.

And honestly, that’s been pretty powerful.

A Silk Press

This one might sound simple compared to the others.

But sometimes trying something new can be as small as doing something different with your hair.

I decided to get a silk press because I had never gotten one before and being a black woman, it’s a right of passage.

When I saw my hair afterward I thought why did I wait so long?!

It reminded me that sometimes change can be fun.

Sometimes it’s just about letting yourself experience something new without overthinking it.

Trying New Things in This Season of Life

If there’s one thing I’ve learned this past year, it’s that growth doesn’t always come from huge life changes.

Sometimes it comes from small yeses.

Yes to trying something unfamiliar.

Yes to curiosity.

Yes to experiences that stretch you just a little bit.

Some of the things I tried this year might stay part of my life.

Some might just be things I experienced once.

But either way, they reminded me of something important.

I’m still becoming.

Still learning.

Still discovering new layers of myself.

And honestly?

That feels pretty exciting.