• 2023 - Myths - Physical Space

    The Myth of The Magic Lotion

    September 2023 Pervasive Self-Care Myth: You deserve the *$80 lotion*, *$600 dress*, *$1,200 coffee maker*…whatever your gazingus pins are.  I’m going to use lotion here for this example… Continuation of Pervasive Self-Care Myth: “Yes, you could use the $10 drugstore lotion. But isn’t it so much better (And don’t you feel so better?) when you use the pricey $80 bottle that smells like gardens and money?” I won’t even go into how much garbage (chemicals and millions of things you shouldn’t put on your skin) is in the $80 lotion of gardens and money. (Or the $10 drugstore lotion but…

  • 2023 - Listening - Myths - Physical Space

    The Myth of The Magic Lotion Part IV

    September 2023 Okay, I must admit, last week got kinda depressing… Maybe that’s why I’ve been avoiding writing this post, still in the doom and gloom of the last one… Start of recap: Pervasive Self-Care Myth: You deserve the *$80 lotion*, *$600 dress*, *$1,200 coffee maker*…whatever your gazingus pins are.  I’m going to use lotion here for this example… Continuation of Pervasive Self-Care Myth: “Yes, you could use the $10 drugstore lotion. But isn’t it so much better (And don’t you feel so better?) when you use the pricey $80 bottle that smells like gardens and money?” Because: THINGS are…

  • 2023 - Listening - Myths - Physical Space - Uncategorized

    The Myth of The Magic Lotion Part III

    (but this time it’s not about lotion) September 2023 I get anxious about a lot of things.  You would never know it to look at me.  And honestly, you will likely never hear me say it when it happens. But I do get it.  And I do have thoughts. And these thoughts definitely tie into this (though it’s not about the lotion.) It’s about how we all still think – this + that = this result – no matter the circumstances, timing, or the MYRIAD OF MILLIONS of other factors that influence a result. I am currently in a health…

  • 2023 - Listening - Myths - Physical Space

    The Myth of The Magic Lotion Part II

    September 2024 Last week I talked about the myth below and how it’s bogus.  Pervasive Self-Care Myth: You deserve the *$80 lotion*, *$600 dress*, *$1,200 coffee maker*…whatever your gazingus pins are.  I’m going to use lotion here for this example… Continuation of Pervasive Self-Care Myth: “Yes, you could use the $10 drugstore lotion. But isn’t it so much better (And don’t you feel so better?) when you use the pricey $80 bottle that smells like gardens and money?” Because: THINGS are just that (things!) and the MAGIC is us. AND… THINGS matter. “Wait, didn’t you just say that THINGS are…

  • 2024 - Feelings - Listening - Physical Space - Winter

    Clearing out and Taking up Space

    January 2024 Thank you to Beth Kempton and the Winter Writing Sanctuary for this piece. January has me cleaning, organizing, settling things from the old year before I get into the new. (Because as far as I’m concerned, February and March actually start the New Year.)  And as the dust settles from December, I notice there is SO MUCH stuff. I get nervous with too much stuff around. It piles up and all of a sudden, I have to get rid of it. All of it. More than I probably should. It’s like a light switch goes off. And I…

  • 2024 - Community - Doing Things Differently - Listening - Physical Space

    Learning to Fall

    January 2024 Though I mentioned that I try VERY VERY hard not to schedule things in January (or after 5 pm), I acquiesced a few weeks ago for a beginner climbing class at the gym. Things to know before reading on: Sprained my left ankle last year (and it’s still hurting), I have zero arm or grip strength (I drop things all the time), I am definitely of a bigger body and I’m not good with heights. So why did I sign up for this class? Well, four reasons – I found myself with two other beginner climbers (we were…