Over the past few months, I’ve been working on tuning in to my body. The first lesson that Kara Loewentheil teaches in her coaching program is that emotions are physical sensations in the body. To process an emotion, you have to allow yourself to feel the physical sensation and then name it. When I feel a lump in my throat, a knot in my stomach, a racing heart, or heat rising in my face, I now stop and take note of it. I observe the physical sensation with curiosity. I ask myself, what thought is causing this emotion? What can I learn from it? What is my body trying to tell me?
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What I’ve Been Up To Lately
You may have noticed a decrease in the frequency of my posts this spring and summer. It’s been an unsettling few months for all of us. I’ve been more inclined to turn inward, and this season has felt like one for listening rather than talking.
Read moreThis Earth Day, Let’s Reconsider Our Lawn Care
Today is the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day. Lately, while spending so much time at home, I’ve been thinking about the impact of our lawn and garden activities on our ecosystems. As I work in my dining room and go for walks around my neighborhood, I’ve become more aware of how many of my neighbors regularly have their lawns sprayed with synthetic fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides. The homogeneously green, weed-free grass might fit a contemporary perfectionist aesthetic, but I cringe each time I see a TruGreen or LawnDoctor truck roll down the street or notice the little flags in the yards designed to alert people that it was just sprayed.
Read morePaper Planner Review and New Habits for 2020
A belated Happy New Year! We’re now three weeks into 2020, and I’m happy to say that I’m on my way to establishing some healthy new habits. I mentioned in my last post that I had purchased matching planners for myself and a friend, and now that I’ve been using my planner for a few weeks, I’d like to sing it’s praises — it’s working really well for me. (This is not a sponsored post and it contains no affiliate links, just my honest opinions).
Read moreCelebrating 2019’s Wins and Planning for the New Year
As I’ve written before, New Year’s Eve/Day is one of my favorite holidays because I love fresh starts and the optimism they bring. But before launching into listing all the ways we could do better in the coming year, I think it’s a good practice to remind ourselves of the things we did well this year. I tend to be rather hard on myself, and I often move on from my successes quickly while dwelling on my failures and shortcomings. The year’s end is a good time not only to think about how I might improve, but also to reflect on victories big and small.
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