The Art of Coming Home to Yourself
A gentle invitation to reconnect with who you already are
Welcome to the Michelle Seguin MD newsletter. I’m Dr. Michelle—thank you for being a part of this growing community! As we begin the new year, I’m reflecting on winter as a season of reconnection with the parts of ourselves we’ve overlooked or forgotten. Plus, you’ll find our first Savor the Seasons Cookbook Club Guide for January!
Hello friends,
The start of a new year often comes with a rush of expectations—a relentless push to reinvent ourselves under the banner of “New Year, New You.”
But what if, instead of striving to become someone else, we used this season to reconnect with who we already are? To accept, love, and nurture the parts of ourselves we’ve neglected, forgotten, or never fully explored?
Winter, with its quiet rhythms, offers us this opportunity. Beneath its stillness lies an invitation to turn inward, to pause and reflect, and to tend to the seeds of self we’ve left dormant for too long.
With gratitude,
Dr. Michelle
Reclaiming the Artist Within
A mentor recently said, “You know you’re an artist, right?” I paused, caught off guard. Me? An artist?
It’s not how I’ve ever seen myself, but as I reflect, I realize there’s artistry in the way we shape our lives—in the meals we create, the stories we tell, and the connections we nurture. There is an artist in each and every one of us.
Winter, with its quiet invitation to pause and reflect, is the perfect time to embrace the artist within. To explore this, I created a vision board (my first) for 2025, filled with what inspires me—seasonal rhythms, nourishing food, and intentional living. I allowed flow and ease to wash over me, setting aside expectations and simply letting inspiration guide me.
This year, I’m stepping into this idea of the artist within, allowing creativity to guide me in unexpected ways. It’s a gentle nudge to lean into curiosity and to trust the process, whether it’s a meal, a piece of writing, or a quiet moment of reflection.
This practice feels like a homecoming. It’s not about becoming someone new, but about embracing the parts of me that I’ve overlooked or pushed aside along the way.
Have you ever created a vision board? If not, try it this winter. Gather magazines, photos, or digital tools, and let inspiration guide you. Focus on what brings you joy and a sense of (re)connection—images of seasonal rhythms, favorite foods, or meaningful words—and allow it to be a process of discovery.
Winter as a Season of Reconnection
Nature models this beautifully. In winter, nothing rushes. Trees stand bare, conserving energy. Seeds rest quietly beneath the soil, gathering strength for the seasons ahead. The land itself embraces stillness, trusting in the cyclical rhythm of growth and renewal.
This truth isn’t just poetic—it’s essential. Science tells us that rest is when we heal, grow, and repair, both physically and emotionally. Winter offers us this same opportunity: to pause, reflect, and reconnect.
For me, this season is about leaning into practices that feel soft, nurturing, and true. It’s about finding joy in the small moments—a candlelit journaling session, the act of knitting on a snowy afternoon, or the peaceful stillness of a winter walk through the woods. These moments remind me that self-love and reconnection aren’t luxuries; they are necessities.
Cooking, too, has become a way to reconnect. There’s something deeply grounding in returning to the basics of good food—nourishing whole foods that are seasonal, flavorful, and colorful. The warmth of a simmering pot of soup, the vibrant hues of winter vegetables, and the earthy aroma of freshly chopped herbs remind me that food nourishes us in ways far beyond its nutrients. It connects us to the seasons, to our senses, and to one another.
What does reconnection mean to you this season? Are there parts of yourself—creative, restful, or curious—that you’d like to nurture? I’d love to hear how you’re embracing this quieter rhythm of winter. Feel free to share your reflections, whether it’s a small daily ritual, a favorite winter practice, or a moment that has helped you feel more connected to yourself.
It’s official—the Savor the Seasons, monthly cookbook club, is here! For January, we’ll explore True Food by Andrew Weil, MD—a cookbook that blends seasonal eating with the principles of integrative health. This book was instrumental in my food-as-medicine journey, and I’m excited to revisit its nourishing recipes (& stories) with you.
To help you get started, I’ve created a guide highlighting selected recipes for the month and ways to participate in the club. The full cookbook club post, with more details and reflections, will be featured in the Week 3 newsletter later this month. It’s been so fun to hear from many of you who’ve already picked up the book and are excited to dive in—I can’t wait to see what we create together!
In case you missed the Savor the Seasons Cookbook Club announcement, click the button to learn more:
An Invitation to Reconnect
As I’ve shared, this year I’m reconnecting with my inner creative. I invite you to do the same—not by taking up a paintbrush (unless you want to!), but by seeing the artistry in the way you shape your days, the connections you nurture, and the beauty you create.
Reconnection doesn’t have to be complicated. It might look like early morning journaling, making a nourishing meal, or letting yourself create something without expectation. It’s about making space for what feels meaningful, trusting that your value lies not in what you do, but in who you are.
Let’s let go of “New Year, New You.” Instead, let’s honor the unique, vibrant, and whole person you already are. Like seeds resting in winter, everything you need is already within you, waiting to bloom.
With love and care,
Dr. Michelle
Physician, Gardener, Home Cook, and Forever Curious
P.S. Spread the word! If you know someone who would enjoy reconnecting with the seasons and cooking along with us, please share this newsletter. Together, let’s make this a year of creativity, connection, and flavorful, seasonal living. Thank you for being part of this journey!
Here are my most recent Substack sharings:
Every Christmas my husband puts up three trees from our woods on our deck with white lights. We have bird feeders on our slider door so the birds fly to the trees and feed from the feeders. We watch them all winter and keep the trees up until spring. Our grandchildren love watching them too. I get so much joy from watching nature, how unique and special it is. It grounds me, makes me get my mind off myself, and appreciate God’s creation.
Love your statement about not trying to be someone else this new year, but embracing who we are!