I was at a workshop on Saturday, and something one of the students said got me thinking about a concept that’s come up in past spiritual classes I’ve taken: the idea that your body’s cells completely replace and recycle themselves over the course of 7 years.

(N.B.: This isn’t precisely true, though it’s a potent metaphor, and one that is linked in some ways to scientific reality.*)

And as I thought briefly about this concept of 7-year cycles in human life, it hit me like a ton of bricks.

‘That’s why my year is off to such a start!’

It was my 49th birthday early in September.** Seven times seven.

And in the summer leading into this birthday and the few short weeks since, I have been faced with a breast biopsy, sleep apnea, and a diagnosis of pre-diabetes. Those are just the medical headlines. Then there’s this crazy cultural moment around sexual assault and the patriarchy and #WhyIDidn’tReport and #DoesItEvenMatterIfHesGuilty.

And crazy times at work, and moving towards some big personal development shifts, and, and, and….

So, lots to unpack in future posts.

* See that summary statement on how “Your body mostly replaces itself every 7-15 years.”

** Yup, I’m old.