Someone I Wish Everyone Knew
Happy Women’s History Month!
For this newsletter, I want to honor a friend and sister. I want to tell you about one of the most beautiful and brave women I have had the incredible honor of knowing, Suleika Jaouad.
I will never forget the first time I met Suleika. In 2018, I was in NYC for a job when a girlfriend invited me to a small women's gathering at her home. To be honest, I felt so awful that day I almost didn't go, but I am so deeply grateful that I did. Sitting in my friend's living room with about 8 other extroverted and outgoing women, I couldn't take my eyes off of Suleika. She was in a denim jumpsuit, and I was struck by the biggest, most soulful brown eyes I had ever seen. She was a little quiet (which felt very refreshing to me as the room was quite loud for my highly sensitive nervous system) but when she did speak, I just wanted to lean in. Her words felt coated in deep knowing.
I could tell right away she had been through a lot. I have a bit of radar for people who have overcome deep trauma yet aren't defined by it. Suleika held so much wisdom in her words, so much beauty. I knew that I wanted to know her. After the gathering, we walked next door to a restaurant and basically ignored everyone else the rest of the night. We shared our stories; there were so many parallels–losing partners, our health, C diff, hospital horror stories, being close to death, writing memoirs and so much more.
I was so taken with her and her resilience. I knew I was so lucky to have met her, and I felt deeply loved by the divine for allowing our paths to cross. Here is what I also know to be true about this beautiful human: everyone fortunate enough to cross paths with her feels the same way. Everyone feels her love, her beautiful otherworldly energy. Everyone wants to know her and be known by her; I was not unique in this at all.
Both of our books came out during the pandemic. Her magical book Between Two Kingdoms became an instant New York Times bestseller. I had the great honor of getting to interview her for her book tour. The conversation moved me deeply. She shared her cancer journey that consumed most of her twenties. Even though Suleika has lived through more trauma than one can imagine, she creates profound beauty for the world out of her pain, and she invites us to do the same. She created The Isolation Journals during the pandemic, a gorgeous newsletter with over 100,000 subscribers where she invites her friends to send readers journal prompts and so much more. Please consider signing up. I know you will be blessed by her Substack.
At the end of last year, exchanging voice notes, I asked her to come visit me again. The note back told me that her leukemia had returned. My heart sank, tears began streaming down. I couldn't believe it. My precious brave sister, facing cancer all over again. Right now our precious Suleika is in the hospital after getting another bone marrow transplant from her brother, praying it works. So many of us are praying it works.
While in the hospital she began watercolor painting and they are absolutely gorgeous. Watching her create art from this heartbreak and pain continues to blow my mind. She also lost her best puppy friend, Oscar, last week. He has been one of her greatest loves and companions, and if you read her glorious memoir you will understand why.
I have been trying to write this newsletter for a while now but words just don't do justice to this beautiful human and the impact she has had on my life and the lives of countless others. We all feel pretty helpless on how to help our girl but there are a few things we can do:
Between Two Kingdoms is out in paperback —grab a copy for someone you love, for someone whose life has been interrupted, for someone who loves reading books by flashlight in a tent under the stars. Or if you read Between Two Kingdoms and loved it, tell your people about it on social.
Share the Isolation Journals with someone you love and encourage them to subscribe—or give a gift subscription.
Join the bone marrow registry at BeTheMatch.org. It’s so very quick and easy, and you could save a life.
Thank you for letting me take this space to honor such a profound, beautiful human in my life.
And to my dear, Suleika. I love you. We are praying for your healing, your comfort, your peace, that you feel covered by the divine’s love for you, that you feel all the heavenly beings and friends that are on the other side supporting you and loving you, especially that sweet rascal puppy, Oscar. I love you with all my heart, dear sister, always and forever.
With love,
Ruthie
Offerings
Things are just starting to grow in the Love’s Invitation community, and I’m excited to share these special offerings with you.
Invitation Of Pain with Hillary McBride Returns
My dear sister, friend, and teacher, Dr. Hillary McBride, and I are going to be doing our Invitation Of Pain Course on March 13 from 4-6 PST. We would be so honored to have you join us.
Everyone knows pain, emotionally, physically, and/or spiritually, often all 3. When we experience pain, we are instructed to medicalize it to make it go away. We learn to see our bodies as the enemy and forget the identity outside of the pain. But we can learn to experience and understand pain differently, even coming to see pain as the route back home to who we really are. In this way, the pain becomes the invitation back to our bodily selves - reminding us how to love ourselves more fully, teaching us that we can heal regardless of if the pain goes away or not. We would be so thrilled to have you join us and explore what pain is teaching us.
Love In Action For The World Right Now
The state of the world has felt so heavy and heartbreaking. I know prayers matter and holding hope in our hearts and bodies is such a beautiful offering, but I also believe in love in action. I have been asking trusted sources on how we can support Ukraine and the beautiful trans children and their families in Texas. Here are the vetted reputable sources I have found so far. Every little bit helps.
And one little comment on these beautiful children. I believe we all hold the masculine and feminine within us. These profound humans hold both inside of them in such a profound way. They are our teachers, mystics, wise ones. We have so much to learn from them. Yet, they are crucified for the way they were made. It breaks my heart to see these brave, wise souls be treated the way they are. Some of the most profound teachers in my life are non binary and trans. I am so honored to learn from them.
Play this song <3
I heard this song for the first time at the beginning of the pandemic and it has been on constant rotation. It just started playing while writing this too! If you are anything like me and constantly wanting to rush through the pain and healing, then i think you will love this song too.
Experience Italy with me this summer!
When I was 22 I went to Europe for the first time, backpacking around Italy with my friend from church, Katie. I had not spent time out of the country and boy was it a culture shock… and amazing. I was a little basic (and perfect, I love that version of me) and would ask for diet soda at every winery and get annoyed at how long it took the food to come out. I didn't try to learn their language and was just very American (not that being American is a bad thing.)
That being said, I am so excited to go back for the first time as a very different version of myself, and I would be SO thrilled to have you join me!
I will be teaching on this Eat Pray Move Retreat. It's going to be absolutely amazing. We will spend a week amongst fertile red earth, gnarled olives, turquoise seas, beautiful trulli and some of Italy's best cuisine! We’ll enjoy daily yoga, trips to see the sea cliffs, time by the pool, spa treatments, tastings, cultural visits, and more. So luxurious!
Listen to Love’s Invitation Podcast
Our first podcast episode with Kate Baer!
I am so thrilled to share February’s podcast with you, a conversation with Kate Baer.
Kate Baer is the 2x New York Times bestselling author of What Kind Of Woman. and I Hope This Finds You Well. Her work has also been published in The New Yorker, Literary Hub, Huffington Post and The New York Times. She is one of my favorite people to follow. It was such fun having this conversation with Kate. She is such a breath of fresh air with her honesty and candor. We had such a wide range of topics we discussed, from her religious upbringing (reading Amish romance novels), the importance of women friendships in her life and what that looks like for her, all the way to vibrators. She is a delight and had me cracking up. I think you will love this conversation.
Here is a clip of our beautiful conversation:
And anyone that is a paying member can watch or listen to the full interview here. We can’t wait to hear what resonated with you! It was a beautiful conversation.
PS: I have decided to not record the first few interviews live as I am still figuring this space out and have lots to learn and explore.
A Card For You
I pulled this card for us today and it feels so applicable.
How can you take care of you and your beautiful body in this moment? How can you show yourself love today?
If you made it this far down, thank you, you are so loved, you are love and I am truly grateful that you are here sweet friend.
XX,
Ruthie