Dear Reader,

It has been two weeks since I last landed in your inbox. I’ve been away for one of those weeks, and my focus shifted entirely to my kids while they were on school holidays.

If you've ever navigated the holiday shift, you know it isn't necessarily an easier time. For me, it required adapting to a completely different rhythm of life, accepting what cannot be controlled, and constantly reminding myself to be gentle with myself as stress levels—and sibling rivalry—inevitably increased.

During those higher-stress moments, I found myself faced with old mental habits and familiar stories of guilt, whispering that I wasn't being a "good enough" mother. I had to consciously work to remind myself of the positives—to intentionally look at the good things I had done amongst the not-so-good things, and to anchor back into the reality that I am human, not perfect, after all.

Amidst that juggle, we were lucky enough to spend a week in Far North Queensland. It was a beautiful reprieve where I was able to defrost my fingers and toes, and all of us had time to bask in the sun and the water.

But beyond the warmth, the thing that struck me most while up there was the plant life and the sheer presence of nature.

Unlike the subtle natural rhythms we experience here in Melbourne, up there, the symbiosis is loud. Everything is obviously living in relationship with everything else. You see it when you learn about the intricate, protective loop between the Great Barrier Reef, the Daintree Rainforest, and the mangroves. And you see it just by looking up at almost every single tree, where smaller plants are attached to the bark, both living harmoniously and supportively with one another.

Watching that up there made me reflect deeply on us as humans.

How often do we stop to appreciate our own symbioticness? From the macro level—like the farmers who grow the food that sustains us—to the intimate spaces of our daily lives. And how often do we actually allow ourselves to intentionally live that way?

Seeing that interconnected forest made me appreciate how vital the collective is to our individual wellbeing. How vital community, relationships, and interdependent networks are. We are simply not meant to do this life in isolation. We aren't built to carry the mental load, the maternal guilt, or the daily stressors entirely on our own.

It made me incredibly grateful for the family, friends, and trusted spaces that I can lean on to sustain me. And it deeply validated my love for creating spaces—especially for women—where this exact kind of remembering and mutual support can happen.

If you've felt a bit stretched or isolated lately, please remember you're not designed to navigate life alone. Allow yourself to reach out, to lean on something or someone that's not just your internal strength.

And if you're in Melbourne, do reach out. I'd love to hear from you and I read every reply. I have upcoming offerings designed to explore these themes further, in a supportive community of women and I'd love for you to join me.

With love and warmth, Zac ♥

A Note for Your Calendar:

On Sunday 26 July, I'm co-hosting our next workshop immersion, Honouring Your Needs in Times of Stress. It will be an intentional space to step out of the daily grind and lean into the kind of human symbiosis we so desperately need when our nerves are frayed Come as you are - imperfect, tired, or simply longing to be part of the collective. Only 3 spots remaining.

Dr Zac Elizabeth Buchanan | Clinical Psychologist​
The Return
​drzacelizabeth.com @dr.zacelizabeth​