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 ...
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Sweet Peanut-Butter Spread for Snacks, Parties, Lunches, and More
Years ago, I had a college cookbook with super easy recipes: each with roughly 5 ingredients, taking about 5 minutes, and costing only $5. That cookbook taught me that “cooking” can be easy and still delicious. Recipes can be simple enough to be remembered and reproduced through rough estimations. That cookbook had a sandwich that I enjoyed for years while vegetarian, and it was one of the first recipes I “veganized” by making a few substitutions. The idea is to create ... Read more ...
Parenting Myself 101
Over the past few months, I’ve been learning more about how to care for myself—a sort of self-care that I’m calling “parenting myself 101.” After a career change, cross-county move, and intense internal work “inside the chrysalis,” I’ve recognized the need to put good self-parenting into place. The language of “parenting” has been helpful for me to break from “self-care” focused on relaxation as an escape from everyday life. Rather than experiencing self-care as ... Read more ...
A New Spell for a New Space
These past few weeks I’ve been focused on moving and settling into a new home. The move has called attention to all sorts of stuff, habits, and emotional swings—things I’d like to keep and release, to shore up and tear down. This process has reminded me, too, of the contemplative practices that contribute to a sense of grounding: grounding needed to stand TALL for justice. One of these practices is spell-casting, which I learned from activist-writer-healer adrienne ... Read more ...
“We’re All the Ages We’ve Ever Been”
As much as I value self-care, there are times when it flies out the window. I’m no longer the adult caring for my inner child, but I'm the toddler or teen full of emotion and pursuit of immediate pleasure. This week, I’ve been really in touch with my 2-year-old self, who’s been demanding attention. When it’s running the show, I’m inclined to emotional meltdowns, sugar binges, irregular sleep, over-tired crying, and resistance to naps. I readily settle in front of the TV ... Read more ...
A Few of My Favorite Things
December. It’s a hard time for folks walking on wires to please others. It’s a hard time for folks finishing semesters when running on fumes. It’s a hard time for folks grieving family hurts or losses. It’s a hard time for processing what comes up in contemplative moments and social interactions alike. This December is especially hard because it punctuates a year of great injustice, dehumanization, and the increasing visibility of wrongdoings. Now, as so many of us ... Read more ...
Holding Space and Being Present: Two Resolutions Following the Las Vegas Shooting
I woke yesterday morning to news of the Las Vegas shooting, continued calls for aid needed in Puerto Rico, and boos for kneeling NFL players at Sunday’s games. Though seemingly unrelated, these news stories relayed a larger message about the presence of everyday violence in our lives. My social media feeds were naming and critiquing this violence. People were already calling for action, for donations, and for prayers—for linking individual narratives with larger social ... Read more ...
Roasted Veggies with Tahini Sauce: Linking Creativity and Self-Care
I never thought I’d be involved in recipe creation because, for years, I didn’t think of myself as a cook. I loved to eat, but I hated the time involved in food preparation. As I grew more interested in replicating foods (especially ones I’d try in restaurants or remembered from youth), I found more motivation to experiment in the kitchen. And as I thought of cooking as experimentation—as art, as play, as creative self-care—I could see why others liked it. I began to ... Read more ...
Reclaiming Childhood Power with Coloring Books
There’s a story that I’ve told for years, a story that represents my early disappointment and dislike of school. In kindergarten, I was assigned to color a bird brown, but I thought brown was too typical. I’d been reading Zoo Books and learning about parakeets, toucans, and other birds at home. I knew birds could be practically any color or any combination of colors. I decided, therefore, to use my creativity, knowledge, and the tools (crayons) available to me to create ... Read more ...
Playing Through the Pain
I’ve written recently about violence in our everyday lives, in our shared social world. For many of us, this violence is internal and personal as well. Even though I aspire to self-love and self-care, I fall back into patterns of negative self-talk and “playing through the pain.” I continue to push myself even when I recognize the desire to slow down. I do violence to myself even when I set the intention of being gentler, kinder, and more forgiving. With this ... Read more ...
![This week’s question—“How do I make the most of summer?”—has been leading up to Answer #7: Register for 40 questions for 40 walks.
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In addition to other answers shared this week and the urgent need for political action (see posts about ICE raids and detention centers), consider registering for this self-paced e-course, which involves deep-diving into conditioned ways of living, being, and intervening in the world.
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There are multiple registration options, including to share this self-work practice with a friend and to add a coaching session: https://heart-head-hands.com/product/40-questions-for-40-walks-toward-everyday-living-for-justice/ (link in bio) … I’m happy to answer any questions, and I appreciate referrals to others who may be interested. Many thanks! <3
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[This e-course announcement shows a red-brown trail winding through green ferns and hardwood forest. It shares the following information: “self-paced e-course, 40 QUESTIONS FOR 40 WALKS: Toward Everyday Living for Justice.”]
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#Ecourse #Summer #SelfWork #SelfInquiry #OngoingEducation #CommunityEducation #Walking #Questions #Reflection #Contemplation #Outdoors #Learning #LearningFromNature #SocialJusticeEducation #AntiOppression #Everyday #SmallBusinessSaturday #SmallBiz #WomanOwned #SupportSmallBusinesses #Registration #SelfPaced #SocialJustice #RacialJustice #EnvironmentalJustice #Walk #Hike #Trek #Trails](http://scontent-lga3-1.cdninstagram.com/vp/b3f0c34bb7f5c48dc69c97b4fcf38090/5DA49913/t51.2885-15/sh0.08/e35/s640x640/65312651_444696943020725_930980455483817536_n.jpg?_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.cdninstagram.com "This week’s question—“How do I make the most of summer?”—has been leading up to Answer #7: Register for 40 questions for 40 walks.
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In addition to other answers shared this week and the urgent need for political action (see posts about ICE raids and detention centers), consider registering for this self-paced e-course, which involves deep-diving into conditioned ways of living, being, and intervening in the world.
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There are multiple registration options, including to share this self-work practice with a friend and to add a coaching session: https://heart-head-hands.com/product/40-questions-for-40-walks-toward-everyday-living-for-justice/ (link in bio) … I’m happy to answer any questions, and I appreciate referrals to others who may be interested. Many thanks! <3
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[This e-course announcement shows a red-brown trail winding through green ferns and hardwood forest. It shares the following information: “self-paced e-course, 40 QUESTIONS FOR 40 WALKS: Toward Everyday Living for Justice.”]
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#Ecourse #Summer #SelfWork #SelfInquiry #OngoingEducation #CommunityEducation #Walking #Questions #Reflection #Contemplation #Outdoors #Learning #LearningFromNature #SocialJusticeEducation #AntiOppression #Everyday #SmallBusinessSaturday #SmallBiz #WomanOwned #SupportSmallBusinesses #Registration #SelfPaced #SocialJustice #RacialJustice #EnvironmentalJustice #Walk #Hike #Trek #Trails")
![Happy summer solstice (for those of us in the northern hemisphere :-)). Today, of all days, it feels especially important to ask: “How do I make the most of summer?”
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And today’s answer highlights the potential of summer to bridge joyful activities like hiking with serious self-inquiry to unlearn internalized inferiority and superiority.
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So, answer #6: Move beyond self-care to self-work.
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To learn more, check out this past blog post -- https://heart-head-hands.com/beyond-self-care-how-hiking-invites-self-work/, which is now in audio if you prefer to listen. Also, check back for tomorrow’s announcement of the “40 questions for 40 walks” self-paced e-course.
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[Image description: This photo from a recent hike shows a hole in a tall and narrow tree, reminding me of the importance of looking within.]
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#Summer #Solstice #SummerSolstice #Walking #Hiking #Walk #Hike #Trees #Course #Blog #OngoingEducation #SelfWork #SelfInquiry #MoreThanSelfCare #SelfCare #Learning #Questions #FridayFunDay #Unlearning #SocialJustice #AntiOppression #Everyday #CommittedtoJustice](http://scontent-lga3-1.cdninstagram.com/vp/4447636855c564fadcbbeb0f663c7f07/5DB718F0/t51.2885-15/sh0.08/e35/c0.23.1440.1440a/s640x640/61860730_167173597648848_6110505991409765835_n.jpg?_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.cdninstagram.com "Happy summer solstice (for those of us in the northern hemisphere :-)). Today, of all days, it feels especially important to ask: “How do I make the most of summer?”
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And today’s answer highlights the potential of summer to bridge joyful activities like hiking with serious self-inquiry to unlearn internalized inferiority and superiority.
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So, answer #6: Move beyond self-care to self-work.
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To learn more, check out this past blog post -- https://heart-head-hands.com/beyond-self-care-how-hiking-invites-self-work/, which is now in audio if you prefer to listen. Also, check back for tomorrow’s announcement of the “40 questions for 40 walks” self-paced e-course.
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[Image description: This photo from a recent hike shows a hole in a tall and narrow tree, reminding me of the importance of looking within.]
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#Summer #Solstice #SummerSolstice #Walking #Hiking #Walk #Hike #Trees #Course #Blog #OngoingEducation #SelfWork #SelfInquiry #MoreThanSelfCare #SelfCare #Learning #Questions #FridayFunDay #Unlearning #SocialJustice #AntiOppression #Everyday #CommittedtoJustice")
![I’m excited to share “40 questions for 40 walks” with you in just two days. This project responds to this week’s question “How do I make the most of summer?” by suggesting ways to prioritize critical self-work when walking or otherwise enjoying the season of summer.
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This project also connects with today’s answer:
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Answer #5: Find the courage to “do it scared” -- https://heart-head-hands.com/do-it-scared/ … Times when I push beyond my usual routines and courageously try new things—like speaking up while my voice shakes—I discover more about myself and my ability to stand TALL.
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What are you hoping to speak up about and stand for with this summer? How might you push through fears to “do it scared”?
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[Image description: I took this photo on a hike that stretched past sunset and challenged me to find courage to walk on my own in the dark. It shows the shape of a mountain (darker than the sky) and the glowing moon (sphere of light).]
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#DoItScared #Walking #Hiking #Outdoors #Learning #LearningAlongTrails #LearningFromNature #Nature #Outdoors #FullMoon #AfterDark #Courage #Fear #InTheDark #Forward #CommittedToJustice #SpeakEvenWhenTheVoiceShakes #SpeakUp #WriteUp #StandUp #ActUp #SelfWork #SelfInquiry #EmotionalLiteracies #Emotions #Emotional #ThursdayThoughts #TBT #ThursdayNight](http://scontent-lga3-1.cdninstagram.com/vp/651c540a8f0d85525d0819ce36cefcd3/5DAFE501/t51.2885-15/sh0.08/e35/c186.0.1067.1067a/s640x640/62460534_140969840309198_7036133161468169591_n.jpg?_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.cdninstagram.com "I’m excited to share “40 questions for 40 walks” with you in just two days. This project responds to this week’s question “How do I make the most of summer?” by suggesting ways to prioritize critical self-work when walking or otherwise enjoying the season of summer.
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This project also connects with today’s answer:
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Answer #5: Find the courage to “do it scared” -- https://heart-head-hands.com/do-it-scared/ … Times when I push beyond my usual routines and courageously try new things—like speaking up while my voice shakes—I discover more about myself and my ability to stand TALL.
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What are you hoping to speak up about and stand for with this summer? How might you push through fears to “do it scared”?
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[Image description: I took this photo on a hike that stretched past sunset and challenged me to find courage to walk on my own in the dark. It shows the shape of a mountain (darker than the sky) and the glowing moon (sphere of light).]
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#DoItScared #Walking #Hiking #Outdoors #Learning #LearningAlongTrails #LearningFromNature #Nature #Outdoors #FullMoon #AfterDark #Courage #Fear #InTheDark #Forward #CommittedToJustice #SpeakEvenWhenTheVoiceShakes #SpeakUp #WriteUp #StandUp #ActUp #SelfWork #SelfInquiry #EmotionalLiteracies #Emotions #Emotional #ThursdayThoughts #TBT #ThursdayNight")
![To answer this week’s question -- “How do I make the most of summer?” -- today I share a new blog post with answer #4: set resolutions, and turn those resolutions into daily habits.
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To read about why small and sustained actions matter and to see some of my summer plans (3 actions I’m taking now): https://heart-head-hands.com/how-small-and-sustained-actions-turn-resolutions-into-habits/ … Link in bio.
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[This image (mostly white and green) shares the text “This summer, what are you being called to create or put into practice or do differently? For inspiration, see Heart-Head-Hands.com.” Text appears against a background of vibrant succulents.]
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#Summer #Resolutions #Actions #Habits #Activism #SelfCare #CommunityCare #Vegan #Veggie #VegetableBroth #StreetSense #EndHomelessness #HousingSecurity #MakeAChange #Compost #Composting #Gardening #EnvironmentalJustice #SocialJustice #Blog #BlogPost #Educator #Writer #Blogger #WisdomWednesday #WellnessWednesday #DoingThingsDifferently #Everyday](http://scontent-lga3-1.cdninstagram.com/vp/f1f6c11d698a964b5f437ad9bdb1b124/5DC6B27D/t51.2885-15/sh0.08/e35/s640x640/62136809_426237891554436_33807748928227006_n.jpg?_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.cdninstagram.com "To answer this week’s question -- “How do I make the most of summer?” -- today I share a new blog post with answer #4: set resolutions, and turn those resolutions into daily habits.
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To read about why small and sustained actions matter and to see some of my summer plans (3 actions I’m taking now): https://heart-head-hands.com/how-small-and-sustained-actions-turn-resolutions-into-habits/ … Link in bio.
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[This image (mostly white and green) shares the text “This summer, what are you being called to create or put into practice or do differently? For inspiration, see Heart-Head-Hands.com.” Text appears against a background of vibrant succulents.]
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#Summer #Resolutions #Actions #Habits #Activism #SelfCare #CommunityCare #Vegan #Veggie #VegetableBroth #StreetSense #EndHomelessness #HousingSecurity #MakeAChange #Compost #Composting #Gardening #EnvironmentalJustice #SocialJustice #Blog #BlogPost #Educator #Writer #Blogger #WisdomWednesday #WellnessWednesday #DoingThingsDifferently #Everyday")
![Continuing with this week’s question: “How do I make the most of summer?”
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Answer #3: Find ways to play. I describe in “Playing Through Pain” how play (like swimming and climbing) not only helps me release physical pain but also helps with processing and planning for daily life. Play can facilitate breaks from the routines that get us stuck and help us create in wildly imaginative ways. And, truly, creativity and imagination are needed toward visioning a more humane, more just world.
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Link for this post on play: https://heart-head-hands.com/2017/08/06/playing-through-the-pain/…
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[Image: This photo shows an indoor swimming pool with the YMCA logo against the back wall, a blue water slide to the right, and a sign with “Pool Rules” posted in the front.]
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#play #summer #unlearning #learning #relearning #swimming #movement #NewHabits #visioning #DoingThingsDifferently #AdultsCanPlayToo #SummerAdventures #SummerFun #SummerIdeas #TuesdayTips #TuesdayThoughts #Swim #Pool #habits #ShakeUpEverydayLife #everyday #mindfulness #CommittedToJustice](http://scontent-lga3-1.cdninstagram.com/vp/981b4d37d2f24d31c22c781602c41dc0/5DAFBDC9/t51.2885-15/sh0.08/e35/c209.0.1021.1021a/s640x640/64512076_128242271715685_1727807375457432735_n.jpg?_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.cdninstagram.com "Continuing with this week’s question: “How do I make the most of summer?”
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Answer #3: Find ways to play. I describe in “Playing Through Pain” how play (like swimming and climbing) not only helps me release physical pain but also helps with processing and planning for daily life. Play can facilitate breaks from the routines that get us stuck and help us create in wildly imaginative ways. And, truly, creativity and imagination are needed toward visioning a more humane, more just world.
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Link for this post on play: https://heart-head-hands.com/2017/08/06/playing-through-the-pain/…
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[Image: This photo shows an indoor swimming pool with the YMCA logo against the back wall, a blue water slide to the right, and a sign with “Pool Rules” posted in the front.]
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#play #summer #unlearning #learning #relearning #swimming #movement #NewHabits #visioning #DoingThingsDifferently #AdultsCanPlayToo #SummerAdventures #SummerFun #SummerIdeas #TuesdayTips #TuesdayThoughts #Swim #Pool #habits #ShakeUpEverydayLife #everyday #mindfulness #CommittedToJustice")
