Not the Intro I Had Planned

Everything to Do with the LA Wildfires—and Also Nothing to Do with the LA Wildfires

Jan 24, 2025

Welcome to 963

This isn’t the welcome introduction I had planned, but it’s the one that feels most honest.

Like most of you, I had big ideas for how this new year would begin—one of them being the launch of my highly-anticipated (anticipated by one—hi, it’s me) newsletter. I had it all mapped out: I would kick things off with a polished article about the ethos that shapes how I live my life and what will serve as the cornerstone for everything you’ll find here—a philosophy on alignment. Because it’s my belief that alignment is the foundation of both personal and professional fulfillment. Maybe I’d even post a teaser in the weeks prior, inviting my (albeit small) following to subscribe.

But life really decided to throw us some major curveballs in just the first couple of weeks of 2025, didn’t she? Testing our resilience, our flexibility, our priorities, our beliefs—and causing us to question… well, everything.

When the Sky Turned Red

Maybe you’ve guessed that I’m talking about the wildfires in Los Angeles. The fires began on January 7th, and as I publish this on January 24th, four remain active: the Palisades Fire is 77% contained, the Eaton Fire is 95% contained, the Hughes Fire is 56% contained, and the newly ignited Sepulveda Fire is 60% contained. And those statistics don’t even begin to cover all they’ve left in their wake.

First and foremost, let me say: I am safe. My home is safe. And for that, I am grateful. But I was—and continue to be—deeply affected by the loss and trauma my city has experienced.

I guess you could call me an LA native. I grew up in Los Angeles, and aside from a few years in Orange County during high school and my time in New York City for undergrad, LA has always been my constant. It’s where I was raised, where I attended law school, where I began my career in entertainment, where I met my husband, where I pivoted to the advisory work I do today—and now, it’s where I’m raising my two young children (ages 1 and 4).

Just as LA has seen me through my many stages of life, I’ve watched it undergo its own transformations. But nothing, nothing compares to what I witnessed over the past two weeks—in all its devastation and, ironically, in all its beauty.

To put it into context for those of you living in other parts of the world, what has transpired over the past two weeks is so profound that I’m not sure there is a 'return to what was.' And while that might sound dramatic, anyone who has paused to reflect on what this all means—and certainly anyone directly impacted by the fires—will understand my choice of words.

And I’ll be honest, it’s all a bit terrifying.

Navigating Uncertainty with Intention

As time passed and I began to think about a "right time" to resume some of my "plans for the year" (a luxury in itself), even something as seemingly small as launching this newsletter felt, well, elusive—especially without first acknowledging the wildfires in a meaningful way.

Because even though we must find a way to move forward, that doesn’t mean ignoring what’s right in front of us—whether or not the poor air quality is visible to you. At least, that’s the balance I’m striving for: honoring what’s happening around us while continuing to look ahead.

But as I kept thinking about pushing this off week after week, it hit me: everything I’ve experienced over the past two weeks—and my strategies for coping with it—are at the heart of what I will share with you here.

For those of you who may have skipped the 'About' section, this space I’m so excited to create—is about building a life and career that are truly aligned with Self. Alignment, as I’ve come to believe, is not about perfection or achieving balance every day. It’s about making choices that reflect who we are and what we value.

Clarity Lost

To illustrate what I mean, let me take you briefly back to the day the fires began. At first, I felt sharp. Focused. Clear-headed. I knew how I felt, what I thought, and what needed to be done. But as the fires grew and the news intensified, my clarity began to dissolve—and in its place, a heavy sense of anxiety and overwhelm emerged. Like many of you, I found myself glued to my phone, consumed by updates, statistics, and endless content. It became clear what everyone else thought and felt, but unclear how I thought and felt.

Quite plainly, I became overwhelmed—paralyzed by the enormity of it all. And strangely, even in the midst of tragedy, the comparisons began. Seeing others mobilize and contribute made me feel insecure about how I was or wasn’t showing up, about what I could or couldn’t do—for others and for my own family.

And although at the time I was experiencing the wildfires, what I’m describing doesn’t feel too dissimilar from the other “smoke” we encounter daily—the noise, distractions, and pressures that, if left unchecked, can pull us further and further away from ourselves.

I knew I needed to quiet everything around me and be still with myself in order to align with Self—or rather, re-align. But I resisted. It felt like too much work, and the timing never seemed convenient. Why is that so often the case?

Clarity Found

Finally, one morning, I allowed myself a few uninterrupted moments of stillness, and everything began to shift. In that moment, the heaviness of the past week lifted. My thoughts cleared, and my anxiety became more manageable. With renewed clarity, I could show up better—for myself, my family, and my city.

To be clear, aligning with Self doesn’t mean turning inward at the expense of compassion for others. It means cultivating the clarity within ourselves to respond to the world with greater intention.

If there’s one thing I was reminded of during my time of introspection, it’s this: if we don’t create that space for ourselves, no one else will. To create—a verb, after all—requires a deliberate act on our part. But that’s only one piece of the equation. It’s also about what you do with that space and how you safeguard it.

Clearing the “smoke,” whether literal or figurative, starts with that deliberate act of reclaiming space for yourself—so that you can show up for yourself. And for others.

One Thing I’ve Learned

One thing I’ve learned from this experience, which I want to share with you today, is that:

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Alignment doesn’t require a perfect moment. It requires a deliberate one. And that moment is always within reach.

That’s the magic of alignment. Whatever you believe in—God, the Universe, Guides, our Higher Self (our pure state)—it really is so forgiving, and even more so, powerful. It may take weeks to get to that place where you can hear yourself, but when you do, everything can shift in an instant. And how transformative that instant can be.

Your 963 Prompt

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, start small. Try to carve out just five minutes today to sit in silence. OK, two minutes? Close your eyes, take a few deep breaths, and ask yourself: What am I feeling right now? What thoughts keep circling in my mind? Let whatever arises come to the surface and take notice of it. Without judgment. Write it down if it helps, or simply hold space for it.

It doesn’t have to be perfect—it just has to be yours.

You can explore the exact prompt I used on my Twitter here.

Tools & Resources for Alignment

Here are a few additional tools and resources to support your alignment journey this week:

Book: The Untethered Soul by Michael A. Singer. Explore this powerful guide to understanding your inner self. I’m re-reading it right now as well.
Practice: Reflect and realign by journaling with Your 963 Prompt.
Meditation: Use the Insight Timer app for guided meditations on clarity and intention.
Podcast: Listen to The Tim Ferriss Show—his episode with Tara Brach offers wisdom on mindfulness and compassion.

What You’ll Find Here

This is what this newsletter is about: tools, strategies, research, and stories to help you (re)connect, (re)align, and (re)create a life and career that feel true to you. As you’ll come to see over time, many of these tools—like stillness, reflection, and breath work—are free and accessible to everyone.

In the coming months, I’ll share practical strategies for alignment, including how to create space for reflection and (*this is key*) integrate your values into your career.

Looking Ahead

This will be a monthly newsletter. Next time, I’ll share the meaning behind “963” and dive deeper into why I am so committed to alignment as a practice. For now, I hope these words resonate and inspire you to take even one small step toward alignment.

What helps you find alignment during difficult times? I'd love to hear your thoughts—reply to this email to share your story.

Be well,

Jamie

How You Can Help

If you’re feeling inspired to support those affected by the LA wildfires, here are a few organizations making an impact:

Every contribution helps bring relief and hope to those who need it most.