Feb 20, 2026, 10:00 AM

Jeannie Savage <jeannie@thestrategicbookkeeper.global>
to You (you@yourmail.com>

Hi You,

What lens are you looking through?

One of my all-time favourite (old) books is Handbook for the Soul by Richard Carlson & Benjamin Shield
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/505510.Handbook_for_the_Soul

It’s where I first heard the expression “what eyes are you looking through”.
I tend to say, “what lens are you looking through?”

Is it a lens of faith or fear?
Of “things are going wrong for me” or “life is telling me something important”?

This week, I was reminded — not so subtly — to trust the flow of life rather than resist it, when we discovered we were a cat’s whisker away from a fire in our van that could have easily killed us both.

When we first started living on the road and things “went wrong”, my partner Enrique would say,
“Ahh… why is this happening? What is the universe trying to tell us?”

But here’s what I know — in my heart, and from lived experience.

Even though life doesn’t always go to plan, there is “a plan”.
And while challenging, finding faith in “the plan” (over my own plan) is a place of centre for me.
It’s the place I try to come back to — because it allows me to flow with life rather than resist it… and ultimately feel supported.

When we were leaving beautiful Jervis Bay (see picture) and heading for Batemans Bay, Enrique said,
“I’ve got a feeling we should stop in Ulladulla.”
https://www.visitnsw.com/destinations/south-coast/jervis-bay-and-shoalhaven/ulladulla

So we did — also stopping in the most gorgeous little town of Milton.
https://www.visitnsw.com/destinations/south-coast/jervis-bay-and-shoalhaven/milton

When we arrived in Ulladulla, Enrique said,
“Well… this is disappointing.”

And a little voice inside me said,
“Yes — but he took you here for a reason.”

Long story short, each intuitive step we took that day led us to a local RV repair shop which — despite being booked out for months — agreed to take a “quick look”.

That quick look revealed an impending disaster.

And that’s when I said to Enrique:
“You know, honey… we can choose to look at today through many lenses.

The lens of ‘things went wrong’
or the lens of
‘look how the universe supported us — every step, every turn, led us here’."

I once heard it said that life supports and guides us like this:

First, it taps us on the shoulder.
If we don’t get the message, it gives us a little push.
And if we still don’t listen… it gives us a shove — right into oncoming traffic.

I’ve seen this play out with friends, and I’ve gently said,
“Wow… life is really supporting you isn’t it. It’s really trying to guide you back onto the right path for you”. 

These days, I try to move through life a little like an observer.

I ask myself:
Am I resisting — or am I flowing?

I try to keep the faith.
Look for the signs.
And allow myself to be guided.

Fear is control.
Faith is surrender.

Did this spark anything for you personally? Hit reply and let me know. 

ps: each week my partner puts together a 40 second clip of our travels which you can view here

Health hack

This week's health hack is a word on silent reflux. 

Do you ever get an itchy throat in the night (in bed)? If yes, there’s a high chance it’s silent reflux (which affects around 10% of the population) and that the culprit is eating too late. To resolve it, try making sure you’re upright for three hours after eating dinner before bed.

Full transparency, I love to snack in the evening and for the longest time I thought my itchy throat was allergies. Turns out, it was the snacking lol.

PS: A weekly reminder to read Dark Calories by Dr Catherine Shanahan (also on Spotify & Audible).

What’s On

The Bookkeeping Practice Blueprint Workshop. Live and free. Register here.

If the timezone doesn’t suit you, don’t worry — it’ll be recorded and, if you’ve registered, we’ll send you the recording.

ps: thank you to everyone who attended the Busy Bookkeeper Reset — it was a lot of fun. You can join the waitlist to attend the next one here.

A word on my Starter Membership

I created my Starter Membership as the next best step beyond my books and podcast. It’s $59 USD for 12 months’ access and includes monthly live coaching, plus a vault of training, tools, and resources.

If this sounds like just the ticket for you, click here to join.

See you next week,

x Jeannie

PS. Sometimes the “tap on the shoulder” in business isn’t dramatic. It’s that low-level exhaustion.. that quiet resentment. That sense you’re working hard… but not building what you actually want.

This week’s Greatest Hits episode is about correcting that — at the root. Watch on YouTube or listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.