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A Minimalist Guide to Essential Oils

Filed Under: Everyday Feminism By Beth Godbee May 22, 2019 Leave a Comment

Against a blue background are 3 bottles of essential oils—from left to right: tea tree, peppermint, and eucalyptus—all the same size (1 fl. oz.).

Recently, a friend asked what essential oils might best help with managing back pain, and I realized through answering the question that I take a minimalist (less is more) approach. Most folks I know either invest in a wide variety of essential oils or don’t use essential oils at all. In contrast, I’ve found a few favorite oils—ones that I know reliably help me with recurring issues—and I don’t expand my collection because, well, essential oils take a lot of investment: ... Read more ...

Turning 40 with the Gift of 40 Miles: Why I’m Taking Myself on Walks This Month

Filed Under: Contemplative Practices, Everyday Feminism By Beth Godbee May 8, 2019 1 Comment

Here a teal-blue hiking backpack (lighter day-pack with thermos visible) sits against a stone bench.

May is both my birth month and a time of transition (when the school year ends and summer begins). For as long as I can remember, I’ve looked forward to May and its potential for renewal. This year I’m celebrating my 40th birthday and wanting to mark the occasion with extended time on trails. Specifically, I’m setting a goal to hike 40 miles on my own this month: miles that I’ll walk toward understanding how to be independent within interdependence. Why This ... Read more ...

It’s More than End-of-the-Year Exhaustion: Semester Rhythms and Recurring Burnout

Filed Under: Emotional Literacies, Higher Education By Beth Godbee April 25, 2019 Leave a Comment

This image from the Inside Higher Ed article (credit: Istockphoto.com/malchev) represents seasonal change. A single nature scene (life of a tree) is divided into quadrants: moving clockwise from the lower-left through a snowy landscape to pink blossoms to green leaves to fallen autumn leaves.

Today Inside Higher Ed published my article, “Semester Rhythms and Recurring Burnout,” reflecting on the exhaustion that many educators and academics face at the end of each school year. This article weaves together multiple threads of feeling, thinking, and doing (heart-head-hands) from my past few weeks, including: attention to my body’s fluctuating energy levels, seasonal changes, and continued recognition of semester rhythms; ongoing reflection on career ... Read more ...

Roasted Red Cabbage: A Simple and Delicious Veggie

Filed Under: Recipes By Beth Godbee April 10, 2019 Leave a Comment

Ingredients: Red cabbage (I use a head of cabbage or less: what’s left over from other meals) Avocado oil or other high-heat oil (up to 1 tablespoon, rubbed into cabbage) Sprinkle of salt and pepper, seasoning salt, or other desired seasonings Instructions: Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Slice cabbage into strips (roughly ½ to ¾ inch each). Rub oil into the cabbage strips, covering both sides. Sprinkle salt or other seasonings onto the top of cabbage ... Read more ...

Responding to Injustice: Why Settling the Nervous System and Slowing Response Times Matter

Filed Under: Contemplative Practices, Emotional Literacies, Racial Justice By Beth Godbee March 31, 2019 Leave a Comment

Book cover for My Grandmother’s Hands: Racialized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending Our Hearts and Bodies by Resmaa Menakem (2017, Central Recovery Press).

Recently, I’ve had several moments of witnessing first-hand the links between settling the body (that is, settling the nervous system) and showing up more mindfully, more open, and more like the “best self” that’s needed when striving for social and racial justice. In contrast, moments when my nervous system is “keyed up” (from exhaustion, from unresolved tension, from disappointment, and more), I find myself having knee-jerk reactions and being short with ... Read more ...