Experience
The Blog
Every Choice has the Possibility to create Coherence
Small choices. Big ripples. Real chemistry. Recently I chose to take a dance class for no reason other than it brings me joy and moves my body. A small thing, but here's the surprising part: the choice itself mattered more than the activity. The moment I said yes to something that delighted me, I felt the field around me shift. I was in alignment. The air cleared. Something new became possible. That's coherence. Not transcendence. Not escape. Just the simple power of an intentional choice rippling outward. What are you adding your energy to these days? What projects, people, ideas, and norms? Where is your attention flowing? And does that place feel like what you want to be creating more of?
Reset:Allowing the Nervous System to Soften
Reset your nervous system moment by moment by softening and allowing for pleasure. Last week we were in SunRiver, enjoying bikes, board games, and autumn's golden hues in the sunshine. Interestingly, I didn't think about work projects at all, which felt like a win, and the trip allowed my nervous system to reset in a deep and surprising way. Usually my mind is busy with ideas and projects, no matter where I am, so letting that go and simply being in the pleasure of the moment felt wonderful. The joy that simple pleasures bring is powerful medicine. I'm learning to value myself more in all things. These days, that looks like not continually producing, proving, or saying yes to opportunities that don't truly light me up. It takes courage, trust, and a willingness to live in the mystery of what is unfolding.
Courage: Moving from Quiet Creation to Bold Emergence
This week has felt like a self-imposed marathon—not out on the trails, but inside at my computer. The symptoms were familiar: intense focus, muscle tension, and that satisfying sense of having accomplished something meaningful. This project began a long time ago, and I slowly chipped away at every detail. But right before opening the doors, a mountain of last-minute tasks landed on my lap. Here's the pattern I know too well: I plan, I do, and then right at the threshold—time to launch—I stop. I don't tell anyone. I don't pause to celebrate. I simply move on to the next project. The result? That creation never gets the attention it deserves.…
Tears…An Aspect of Who We Are
These times challenge us on all fronts—the news, our personal struggles, illness or death in our family and friends. We're holding ourselves together as best we can, and I'd like to gently suggest making time to let go. To cry. To scream. To stomp your feet. To release excess energy. But what about when you've cleared the afternoon space to allow yourself time to relax and restore, and nothing happens? It can be hard to open potential floodgates, unsure of what will happen. Maybe you sit and your mind is blank. You have a journal but nothing comes. Empty space. It is a tender time and we all need tenderness in our lives.
Relationships…Time To Evolve?
Many of us were raised with the same subtle instructions: Be kind. Be agreeable. Keep the peace. Don't make anyone uncomfortable. I appreciate this. It shaped me into an excellent observer. Generally, I'm calm, accommodating, and easy to be around. But it also tucked my voice deep inside for much of my life. Only in recent years have I truly met her, and this week she stood a little taller. As I near the completion of my current painting journey, my voice has risen to a new level. Part of that process involved unearthing pieces of myself that I had stored away long ago—beliefs, patterns—and inviting them onto the canvas where they could soften, transform, and become nourishment for new growth.
Pivoting…To Take Charge
Earlier this week, I began a four-month journey of system re-balancing. Instead of following the standard path often recommended for menopausal women—a prescription for every symptom—I've decided to take another route. What if, instead of simply managing symptoms, I could create balance in a more integrated way? What might it be like to deepen my relationship with my body, listening to its needs, noticing its patterns, and breaking cycles that no longer serve me? With the support of a functional medicine team, that's exactly what I'm exploring. It's early days, but already I feel a new calmness.
Presence as a Response
I'm doing my best this month to practice a kind of tunnel vision—filtering out the constant noise that comes at us from every direction. It's not easy. There are so many big topics vying for our attention, each one insisting it's urgent. But I keep asking myself: what kind of attention is really needed? The reactive, fear-based, OMG kind of attention is exactly what those in control would prefer. But we are far more powerful when we can respond from a grounded, centered place. Beneath the smoke and mirrors, what actually matters? What needs to happen now to take the next step toward a healthier, more loving world?
Calm, Clear & Reasonable
Today I am simply offering a couple of easy things you can do to help yourself recenter. Simple yet powerful. When you feel emotionally upset or stressed and need to calm down, these techniques work anywhere, anytime. The first uses the power of breath with triangle drawing to regulate your nervous system. The second is a Jin Shin Jyutsu hold—simply cross your arms and hold your upper arms. That's it. Just wrap the right hand over the left upper arm, and wrap the left hand over the right upper arm. Hold until you feel the tension melting away. Usually five to ten minutes should do the trick.
Just Do You…Release The Rest
There's a quiet kind of freedom that comes when we release the need to perform, prove, or perfect ourselves. Sometimes that release happens in the simplest moments, like cooking a meal or softening an old internal voice that says we're only enough when we're doing the most. This week, I've been reflecting on what it means to just do you, to return to the truth of who we are beneath the pressure. To truly create change in our lives, we can't just think about it—we have to actually move into it. Otherwise, we'll find ourselves being run by old systems, patterns, energies, and beliefs.
Calm Your Overwhelm Series
Calming your fear and overwhelm may have become part of your daily routine. Winter typically calls us to cozy in and tend to our deeper nourishment, our dreams and fears—the deep waters within. This 4-week series shares self-nourishment practices through daily emails, Monday through Friday. Each takes about 2-3 minutes to read and 10-15 minutes to practice. This class is currently not available, but if you'd love me to offer it again, let me know!
Nourishing Your Nerves
By keeping the Vagus Nerve toned and in good condition, we impact many of our physical and emotional systems and build up our resilience to bounce back from challenge, stress & fear.
Sailing with Stress
No one in their right mind tries to learn how to sail here on the Columbia River in the windsurfing capital of the world. Ok, admittedly, not the wisest move ever.
For the Well Being of All
Nature has its seasons. We are part of nature. So why is there so much resistance to natural cycles and flows in our culture? The short answer is due to
Here we are ... now what?
Activate the energies within that promote inner joy, peace, harmony and stillness. Fill yourself up so that what you contribute to the world is offered from a place of fullness and overflow.
Your Verbiage Determines Your Profession
I was called to work on an injured racehorse and reduced the pain and inflammation to the point that the veterinarian could do his “doctoring.” I thought it might be the beginning of a business relationship.
Dreaming the Dreams of Winter
Winter is the season of dreaming, of deep nourishment, of stillness. And when we are able to embrace the gifts of the season, we have the energy, the clarity, the enthusiasm and the wisdom to make our dreams come true.
Moving Into autumn
Autumn is the season of the Metal Element. A time that all things ‘fall’ whether it’s the leaves on the trees or our energy level as it moves inward, to become more yin, to begin the time of quiet introspection. A time of grief and acceptance.