commitments don't define us


Note: I planned this Note while in Arizona for a retreat to kick off my eight-month participation in the Anya Institute’s Integrated Wealth Advisor program. The three-day retreat was intense, and I decided to stay off my computer, except for work-related client needs. While this Note is technically published on 2.13.26, it was created on 2.12.26.


Yesterday, I had planned to write and publish my Daily Note in the evening once I was done with our group dinner at the retreat I’ve been at for the last couple of days.

But once dinner was done, I had the chance to spend more time with a good friend of mine and his fiancée. Earlier in the day, she had offered to do a tarot card reading for me for my birthday; since I had never had a reading before, I jumped at the opportunity. So when he texted me to see if I still wanted to do the reading, I decided to skip my writing and head down for an herbal tea nightcap and a Tarot card reading.

I could have passed on going back down to write my Daily Note–it is a Daily Note after all.

I’d be lying if I said I didn’t think about the daily part of my writing, but I quickly reminded my Self that time with people I love is more important than writing my Daily Note, especially since I could always publish it later, or not at all.

The Daily Notes are something I do—they don’t define who I am.

I’m not the “Daily Notes guy.”

While I have a loose commitment to show up in your inbox each day, I’m not bound by a legal contract to do so– I’ve missed a Note here and there over the last three plus years, so delaying my Daily Note yesterday to spend quality time with my friend and his fiancée was a no-brainer.

Besides the great conversation, quality time, and fantastic tea, I also received a really cool reading. I won’t share all of the cards and reading, but I will share one.

The first card drawn was a hummingbird with the number 44–the number 44 drawn on my birthday. I learned that the hummingbird represents joy, which was the topic of a partner conversation earlier in the day during our hike.

The synchronicity doesn’t end with the number 44.

This morning I received a text from a client asking me to call him at my earliest convenience, but that it was semi-urgent. I immediately called my client back and stepped out on the balcony of my room to make sure my signal was strong enough, and as I was talking with him, a hummingbird flew past me.

A reminder and wink from the Universe.

Had I prioritized my Daily Note over the evening with my friends, I would have missed the encouraging and special encounter with the Divine.

It’s easy to lose or intertwine our identity with what we do or who others think we are. But those are never our identity–they might be what we do or enjoy, but they don’t define us and shouldn’t come between us and what is most important to us.

See you tomorrow and keep pursuing,

JC

connect spirit, mind, body, and money w/ Justin Castelli

I'm on a mission to help more people find and live their authentic life. Check out my Daily Notes where I write a short note each day about the connection of spirit, mind, body and money on the Pursuit of your authentic life.

Read more from connect spirit, mind, body, and money w/ Justin Castelli

"Let yourself be silently drawn by the strange pull of what you really love. It will not lead you astray." -Rumi See you tomorrow and keep pursuing, JC

Note: I planned this Note while in Arizona for a retreat to kick off my eight-month participation in the Anya Institute’s Integrated Wealth Advisor program. The three-day retreat was intense, and I decided to stay off my computer, except for work-related client needs. While this Note is technically published on 2.13.26, it was created on 2.11.26. Today I turn 44. This is what I found the age of 44 to hold: “Your angels, the Universe, or your guides are with you, offering protection and...

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