By the end of the day you are exhausted. Kids in bed, pets taken care of, kitchen {mostly} cleaned up. Hardly enough energy to have a conversation with your partner let alone pour back into yourself with something like a restorative Yin Yoga practice or even simpler, a basic breath work practice to prepare you for sleep. Not only is your body fatigued, your brain is mush. Instead of feeling settled and ready for a peaceful night sleep, you still feel that scribbly energy inside. I see you,...
14 days ago • 5 min read
It’s always been a wish of mine, Reader, to get regular manicures and pedicures, but I’ve always kind of thought that getting your nails done was frivolous. A luxury.And a vain attempt at self care. Until I was sitting in the manicure chair and tears started streaming down my face as my heart was bursting with an overwhelming sense of gratitude and awe. I rarely go to a salon to get my toes done – it’s a treat for me mostly because I don’t have a lot of extra cash laying around for things...
21 days ago • 6 min read
My average daily stress level June 29 - July 21 Hey Reader, I spent most of this month in a “moderate” (AKA yellow) stress level according to my watch instead of a green, low stress or blue, relaxed state. If I’m honest, most of my spring was like this as well with my mom having surgery to combat cancer in April and the inconsistency in schedule that the end of the school year brings in May. And far too many times in July I got “high stress” notifications on my watch. So I started paying...
28 days ago • 5 min read
Hey Reader, There’s a reason why going outdoors regulates us. The earth has a heartbeat that resonates at 7.83 Hz. It’s called the Schumann Resonance, and it’s the same frequency your brain enters when in deep meditation or calm focus. The cool thing about this resonance is that it governs your nervous system and mind. The earth also has a rhythmic breathing cycle. With the changing of seasons, forests either take in massive amounts of carbon dioxide or let it go. This planetary breath is...
about 1 month ago • 4 min read
True Confession: when my kids are whining, fighting, or having a hard time with each other or life, it is very challenging for me to keep my cool. The instant I am cued into their discomfort, I feel a fire inside of my body. And instead of my natural response being compassion or gentleness, I either A. Want to stop the disorder or their discomfort as soon as humanly possible by meeting their intensity with fire. Or B. Feel the urge to run away or disconnect by distracting my mind with busy...
about 2 months ago • 5 min read
There I was, Reader, beat from a full day of activity. 17,528 steps my watch told me. I took a 3 minute pause on top of my bed before I went to wash my face, and maximal effort had to make myself get up to get ready for bed. That’s when it happened. Drying off my face as I walked to tuck a child in, my body felt awake. Alive.Refreshed.Rejuvenated. All it took was washing my face. Then, of course, my body didn’t want to fall asleep anymore🙄. Warm water and soap... that's it. Sadly, this...
about 2 months ago • 4 min read
Reader, when I was first telling my husband that the theme for the Solstice Rhythms Retreat had come to me and had been made very clear to me and that it was Sacred Rage. He looked at me with a side eye that could have peeled paint. Me: “What?” Him: "Isn't anger a bad thing? I thought the Bible says anger is a bad thing.” To that, admittedly, I rolled my eyes a bit in my mind and proceeded to give a little lesson that went something like this: Owning your sacred rage ≠ walking around as an...
2 months ago • 6 min read
Oh Sweet, Reader, What are the deepest longings of your heart? What “no’s” are within you, but you say “yes” anyway? Think about the last time you did something just because it was easier for you to do than ask for help. Or pushed someone away when what you really needed was a hug. Or said “I’m fine” instead of telling the person asking how you really are. What if all this has been quietly stacking up? What if years Of ignoringOf pushing downOf being polite Of forgiving because it’s the...
3 months ago • 5 min read
Reader, you’ve heard it for years… I invite you to “Cultivate Health Harmony and Happiness.” All that sounds lovely, but is it really realistic? I believe it is.But maybe not in the sense that you picture it. It's not unicorns and rainbows. It's a body and mind that can move from stressed to calm… and find peace even in the hard stuff, without bypassing the hard stuff. But to get there, you have to also access the muck. The dirty.The gritty.The yucky stuff that makes you angry. If you are...
3 months ago • 5 min read