What I am currently reading & the power of rituals

OCTOBER 2026

back to school reflections

The importance of community and rituals

Happy daylight savings!

I started my Sunday jogging the beach bay trail near home, dropping off flyers for my Black Rock Tuesdays. It was glorious and sunny, and I felt really connected to gratitude just being out moving my body.

It got me reflecting on yesterday, my youngest's 12th birthday. I'm so proud of the gentle soul he is, and it was lovely to see all the friends he's made. (I also feel far too young to have a 12-year-old, so I'll take that as a sign I'm young at heart!) It really is the richness of life, the relationships we cultivate.

Last Friday I was listening to a podcast on rituals and traditions and it reminded me how much these simple, regular moments do for us. That's what I love about our pot luck dinners, a tradition I started about a year ago. Everyone brings a plate, the kids play, the adults muse about parenting and life, and it's become something we all look forward to. Last night, a friend's child asked, "Can we do pot luck once a week?"

I've been thinking about why these simple, regular moments matter so much. Rituals give us something predictable to lean on. In a busy week, knowing "Saturday is pot luck" is a small anchor, and that steadiness helps our nervous systems settle. For kids and teens especially, regular family rituals are a quiet way of saying you belong here, and that sense of belonging is one of the strongest protective factors for emotional wellbeing.

Community does something similar. We're wired for connection, and feeling part of a group, even a small one like a few families around a table, helps us feel safer, more resilient and less alone with the hard stuff. Often it's the unplanned moments, like the laughing, the games and the swapping of parenting stories, that do the real work. You don't need a big gesture, just something regular that people can count on.

That's what I try to bring into my work too: a space that feels steady, warm and human.

So I'm curious: is there a ritual or tradition you remember from your childhood, or one you're creating now? Hit reply and tell me.

 I hope you all have a great week ahead. 

with gratitude,

Julz

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ON THE BOOKSHELF

What I am reading this month.

I love audiobooks and especially love that I can now access them through my spotify account. I listen to them driving, walking, cleaning! Currently I'm listening to (and also buying the paperback of it) Dr Billy Garvey's book; 10 Things I wish you knew about raising boys.

I'm a few chapters in and what has really resonated for me so far is the realisation of just how differently boys are treated to girls right from being small babies. It has been such a great eye opener and given me some brilliant tools to think about with my son as he is about to reach high school. I highly recommend this read for parents raising boys but also anyone who works with boys as well.