Weekly Wrap Up #17

I’m back!

It’s been….about a year and a half since I stopped by this space, though I’ve thought about it often.

Since last we talked I:

• Bought a house!

• Took about nine months off of all social media.

• Visited a friend in Boulder, CO and dealt with elevation sickness for the first time.

• Traveled to Madagascar to work on a nature reserve for a few weeks and find some quiet space for my head and heart

• Went on a real solo vacation/adventure where I had nothing planned for a whole week and all the down time didn’t make me go crazy! I worked remotely a little on this trip as well and met so many people that do it full time. It’s got me daydreaming and scheming…

• Spent more time alone than ever before, and learned/am learning to relish it.

• Started using a budgeting program that has revolutionized how I use my money (and made budgeting for trips and big-ticket house projects much less stressful).

• Took a Burlesque performance class and shook my booty on stage for a delightfully enthusiastic crowd.

• Took a pottery wheel class where I learned to embrace the fact that I suck at pottery but can still enjoy the process.

• Took a memoir writing class that reminded me I have things to say and taught me that I have limiting beliefs around my writing skills that are holding me back from telling my stories. It also taught me that editors are the best.

Now that you’re caught up on my big adventures, I’d love to hear about what you’ve been up to these past months. What big or small adventures have you had?

Before I go, I’ll leave you with these two pieces that I’ve been thinking about lately:

• Regarding all the classes I’ve been taking lately and all my mediocrity that’s showed up in them; I’m reminded “It’s the doing that makes a thing worth it. It’s the chasing of joy. “

• “True creative responsibility for one’s life involves more than positive visualisation and action towards our dreams.  It also means destroying that which is no longer relevant.” What are you destroying in your life?

Have fun, be safe, and love on each other,

Alix

Weekly Wrap Up #16

Hello Friends! 
It's been a while, hasn't it? I could make some "I've been busy" excuses but the reality is, I've been following the rule I tell my kids: If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all. It's been a month of severe craziness around the world and I took some time to put my oxygen mask on first, unplug from things that feel overwhelming and hopeless, and focus on the things in front of me that I can support and positively impact. That being said, some really beautiful and wonderful things have happened this month also and I'm at a place now where I can appreciate and honor those things instead of getting bogged down with the dumpster fire stuff.
I got an amazing weekend with unbelievable weather at the beach with my husband, an awesome friend and cool new people. I got another amazing night with some girlfriends at the beach where we talked about emotional labor, mommyhood, sex...nothing was off the table. That type of intimacy; connecting with intelligent, passionate women that are doing their own emotional/life work and that support yours? That shit restores my faith in humanity. Then, highlights of highlights, my amazing kiddos came to visit!! It was the longest and shortest week of the year and I just don't have words for how proud I am of those hilarious, brave, kind souls. 

If you can't tell from my intro, I'm going all kinds of Pollyanna on this post because it feels good to focus on the stuff that feels good and empowering. That doesn't mean the world isn't still on fire. That doesn't mean stop calling your senators or donating to Planned Parenthood. It means I want this space to be a respite, a connection, a training of the mind to find the helpers, the good, the things you have control over, and the love. On that note, let's jump in.   

On the habits of happiness: "Look at anger itself, it looks very menacing, like a billowing monsoon cloud or thunderstorm. We think we could sit on the cloud but if you go there, it's just mist. Likewise, if you look at the thought of anger, it will vanish like frost under the morning sun. If you do this again and again, the propensity, the tendencies for anger to arise again will be less and less each time you dissolve it."

Like the above video suggests, I find that looking at your feelings and getting very specific about naming them helps them dissipate. But sometimes it's hard to name your feelings, isn't it? Am I mad? Am I embarrassed? And I just HANGRY? This list is a great place to start when you don't know what to call your emotions. 

Here's another fun way to honor your emotions, name them (in gif form!) and flow through them. My favorite might be Beyonce with the baseball bat, what's yours? 

Why self compassion works better than self esteem: The concept of self esteem is contingent on us comparing ourselves to others and on our success. When those two things aren't happening, our self esteem slips away (which is exactly when we need it the most!) Self compassion has you covered in all those areas. Give it a shot. 

Another word for self compassion is Philautia. It's one of the six types of love the ancient Greeks defined and enjoyed. I wonder how much more abundant in love we'd all feel if we acknowledged all these ways of loving instead of only focusing on Eros. 

"I am a rich pie strong with knowledge. 
I will not be eaten."
This little lady is giving me ALL the hope for our next generations. May we raise them strong and vocal.

Awe (noun): A feeling of reverential respect mixed with fear or wonder. 
This is what I feel when I look at these photographs. This is the beauty that's everywhere all the time; isn't that sort of overwhelming to think about? #11 is part of a credit card that we all probably use regularly, #4 is straight terrifying but also amazing, and #1 is human skin! Also, check out that jumping spider in the honorable mentions; does its hair/fur (I have no idea what to call that stuff) look luxurious or is it just me? It's just me, isn't it...

Write your own personal commandments: I've been tossing some ideas around for my own commandments this week but I've yet to put pen to paper. Would you like to join me in this challenge? 

That's all for now, friends. It feels good to be back here creating little love notes to you all. I'm off for a weekend of hiking, spending quiet time in my tiny van home, and meeting some new people with shared experiences to share our experiences. Whatever you're doing this weekend, I hope you do it with love.

Have fun, be safe, and love on each other. 
Alix

Weekly Wrap Up #15

Hello Friends!! 
The seasons, they are a changin'! This picture was from my last trip to Cannon Beach a few weeks ago (see my last post for more talk about that); we're headed back to Cannon Beach this weekend for some yummy food with friends and I'm expecting the view to look much cloudier.
Portland received rain for the first time in over six weeks (read, since before we started living in the van) and it brought with it the realization that our sweet van isn't completely sealed. An evening of scrambling, some wet towels, and then a few days of troubleshooting brought resolution and some new problem solving techniques to my repertoire. One of the things I've been excited about in planning for this whole crazy new living situation is stuff like this: stuff I haven't planned for, stuff we're not prepared for, stuff that sometimes kind of sucks but teaches me things about the situation and myself, and that makes me feel stronger and more competent when I come out the other side. I'd say we're off to a good start! 
Let's jump into some reading, shall we?

8 ways you can survive and thrive in midlife: I posted this on Facebook this time last year and when it popped up on my "On This Day" feed this week I laughed out loud. I'd say I've got 3, 4, and 7 going pretty strongly right now; what are you working on from this list? 

Another feel good from NPR, this little girl was living her truth out loud and was bullied because of it. Three cheers for the awesome community that came together and encouraged her curiosity and passion.

How I learned to stop being a "chill girl" and started being me: The cultural expectations on women to not be Too ____ (too loud, too fat, too bossy, too thin, too needy...) are everywhere and hard to miss. "So today and the days to come, I wish for a speedy death to the chill girl within all of us, a kiss of death to the malleable shell of ourselves surviving only on our socialized compulsion to people please. And a long and fruitful life to the woman who has patiently been waiting underneath." Amen, Amen, forever and ever. 

The two hour rule: I made a similar request on my Facebook page a few days ago, asking people to be silent for an hour and I've asked my clients to do this as homework as well. The initial reaction I get is normally one close to sheer terror at the prospect. What about you? Will you try it? 

Speaking of taking some quiet time: "Within 15 minutes of entering a forest, you are a better person". Intuitively, I've known this for years and actually wrote about it earlier this year. Can you feel the difference after some time under a canopy of trees? 

“Your task is not to seek for love, but merely seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it.”: Oh how I love me some Rumi. Big love is waiting, we just need to get out of our own way. 

HONY knocked it outta the park with this episode on relationships. Take a 20 minute break and get all into your feels with this one. 

That's all for now, friends. It's the Autumn Equinox today so you'll find me digging my toes into the dirt, breathing this crisp air deep into my lungs, and meditating on this: 

“When you recognize that there is a voice in your head that pretends to be you and never stops speaking, you are awakening out of your unconscious identification with your stream of thinking. When you notice that voice, then you realize that who you are is not the voice, the thinker, but the one who is aware of it. Knowing yourself as the awareness behind the voice is freedom.

~Eckhart Tolle, Stillness Speaks”

Have fun, be safe, and love on each other.

Alix 

Weekly Wrap Up #14

Hi Friends!
I have some big news this week: my husband and I bought a van! Well, I guess the real big news is that we donated most of our stuff, put a few things in storage, gave up the lease to our apartment, and moved INTO the van full time! I'm sure I'll have many more updates and pictures from road trip adventures and random opportunities that show up while we're spending time in Portland, too. If you have any questions or have your own #vanlife stories, I'd love to connect and talk about them. This has been a dream we have had for a few years now and the Universe conspired for us and made it happen. 
For our first official roadtrip, we headed to the Oregon Coast for Labor Day weekend. It was 80º the whole time and the ocean was a bracing but welcome relief from the heat. Check out my pictures and more thoughts on the long weekend here.

Okay, let's jump in to some reading! It's been a while and I'm excited to put this list together for you all.

History repeats itself: "Even the greatest of nations may suffer a catastrophic leader, but the nation can survive the test and protect its resilience — if the public stays true to its values, institutions and traditions." (the caveat here is that it's time for some of those values and traditions to change. Let's modify them so they're better for everyone. We've got this). 

There's a Shut Down White Supremacy rally this weekend in Portland and this article from earlier this year will be on my mind while I'm there. It's long but inspiring; please give it a read. "Actions often ripple far beyond their immediate objective, and remembering this is reason to live by principle and act in hope that what you do matters, even when results are unlikely to be immediate or obvious."

I'm still on a brains-are-amazing-and-weird-and-wonderful kick since my concussion and this Tedtalk about a brain scientist that had a stroke is fascinating. 

"If you want to have a life that is worth living, a life that expresses your deepest feelings and emotions, and cares and dreams, you have to fight for it. You have to go wherever you need to go, and you have to be wherever you need to be, and place yourself there against the forces that would distort you and destroy you." Alice Walker on uprisings and consciousness and empathy. 

Maybe we all need a little less balance: "I think far better than striving for balance is striving for what psychologists call internal self-awareness, or the ability to see yourself clearly by assessing, monitoring and proactively managing your core values, emotions, passions, behaviors and impact on others." I like this a lot. Where do you want to be less balanced? Where do you want to go all in?

I have a gratitude journal that I've been neglecting for the past few months. It's time to put it back into my daily routine!

One of the first things I'll put in my gratitude journal this next week will be these body-love prompts. Won't you join me?  

That's all for now, friends. Oh man, does it feel good to be back here. Thank you for your patience as I've been healing up. Any fun plans for the weekend? I'll be staying in Portland for this one to attend the aforementioned rally and to convince a friend to let me use their oven (since I no longer have one) to make this delicious cake. What are you getting in to? 

One last thing: This poem makes me breathe deeply, maybe you could use a good deep breath, too. 

Have fun, be safe, and love on each other
Alix

““I Worried”
I worried a lot. Will the garden grow, will the rivers
flow in the right direction, will the earth turn
as it was taught, and if not how shall
I correct it?
Was I right, was I wrong, will I be forgiven,
can I do better?
Will I ever be able to sing, even the sparrows
can do it and I am, well,
hopeless.
Is my eyesight fading or am I just imagining it,
am I going to get rheumatism,
lockjaw, dementia?
Finally I saw that worrying had come to nothing.
And gave it up. And took my old body
and went out into the morning,
and sang.
- Mary Oliver”

Weekly Wrap Up #10

Hello Friends!
How was your week? Do anything fun or exciting or out of your comfort zone? I went hiking on Mt. Hood this weekend which is a change in scenery for me. Huge open expanses of fields that, for nine months out of the year are covered in feet of snow, are not my usual hiking ground. (Get a load of those wild flowers, though!!) Give me desert trails in deep, arid, canyons or thick forests that envelope me in their underbrush on the regular and I'm a happy camper. The views from this hike, however, were worth changing up my routine and reminded me that it's good to shake things up, even in small ways like new trails. 
This week is going to be self-care and self-reflection heavy. There's a full moon coming up in a little over a week and we've got a solar eclipse happening soon after that. I'm not always superstitious and Woo-ey, but sometimes I am, especially when full moons are involved.

This summer seems to be pulling people out of their comfort zones and requiring more awareness and reflection than usual (I know it is for me!) so I'm not going to question it, I'm going to support it and run with it. Are you in? 

How to be better at stress: Stop stressing about stress! Re-frame the story and repeat after me "This stress makes me stronger and more capable of handling the upcoming situation." I know it doesn't feel like much but taking away the added stress of stressing about stress can go a long way to managing the original stress better. Should I say stress a few more times, just for good measure? 

Do these four things to feel happier: This list involves finding the positive, labeling the negative, taking action, and connecting with others. I'm all about it. 

5 common mistakes that cause new habits to fail: Are you creating new self care habits? Or maybe you're trying to un-learn some habits that are no longer serving you? This list will lead you in the right direction. Also, if your new habit involves fitness or general body health and you're in Portland, OR, please check out Bold and Badass Fitness, the owner (and person that showed me this link) is ALL about healthy habit-making and is just awesome overall!

The power of silence: (TW: suicide attempt)

“I used to find that whenever there was drama in my life, my brain would get louder. The thoughts were more controlling and dominating, the emotions more intense, and my energy zapped. It was almost like my thinking brain was sucking up all the energy from my entire body.

But I continued to feed and grow that silence by persisting and holding in quiet meditation, or nourishing it through active meditative activities that anchored it.”

Anyone that knows me IRL knows that silence is not my strong suit. It's easier to talk or listen, to absorb stimulation externally, than it is to go inside my frenetic brain and pay attention. I'm growing my capacity for silence by gently feeding those little moments of solitude, would you like to join me? 

Breath/Brain connection: One of the ways I'm feeding that solitude is by bringing awareness to breathing through my nose. The study in this article is a tiny one so I'm interested in seeing more research done but, until then, intentionally breathing through my nose does seem to emotionally regulate me faster than not doing it. Have you tried it?

How to boost resilience: This is a fantastic rundown of everything above it with some added bonuses. If you only read one article from this week, please make it this one. #4 on the list is the one I'm focusing on this week. Which one will you focus on this week? Drop me a line and let me know!

My self care things right now: Since this week is about self care and self reflection, I want to add a few of my self care things. These two podcasts are all about adventure in very different ways. They make me laugh, they make me dream, and they make me happy. I found them both only recently so I've had the wonderful fortune of getting to binge-listen to them as the opportunity arises. 

What's on your self-care list? What's not on it that you want to add? What's on it that's no longer serving you?

Have a wonderful weekend, friends. Hang out with people that make you happy but also don't be afraid of taking some extra quiet time; it's all about finding the right balance for you.

Have fun, be safe, and love on each other.
Alix

 

Weekly Wrap Up #9

Hello Friends! 
Happy Friday! How did you fill your week this time around? I finally got back to doing a little of this, started a new book, and did some batch cooking last Sunday which means, consequently, I ate WAY too many meatballs throughout the week. I also communed with nature for a few solo hours last Saturday and came back exhausted and refreshed. 
Let's jump in to this list!

"There is a reservoir of untapped potential waiting to be released by you". Adding this to my List of Media to Consume when I'm Feeling Uninspired. 

The BBC added over 40 hours of Beautiful Planet II bonus video and I am seriously looking forward to spending some quality time with it. 

"Spend enough time in a state of frenetic shallowness and you permanently reduce your capacity to perform deep work" Woah! I'll make sure, when I'm watching the Beautiful Planet videos, to ONLY be watching them, and not checking my phone or Facebook...

PSA to Nice Girls: It's not rude to say no, setting boundaries is healthy, and having emotions doesn't make you crazy or invalid. I want to scream this whole article from the rooftops. BRB I'm going to practice my Resting Bitch Face in the mirror. 

Cliteracy - 21 things millennials should know about the Clitoris: Something else I'd like to scream from the rooftops. De-mystifying and De-scandalizing women's sex and pleasure is a win for everyone. 

Real men might get made fun of: Hmm looks like the theme this week is standing up for yourself and others and this link is no different.
Men, your voices carry. Use them loudly and often to stand up for those that can't. 

Trust yourself to make decisions instead of always seeking advice: Trust your gut. Value your own input. Own your decisions. Don't be afraid of making mistakes. You can always course correct. But you've got to make a choice and act on it, first!!! 

That's all for now, friends. Let's drink hot coffee and just drink hot coffee this weekend, ya know? Let's take the advice above and turn our phones off for a while, get out of the shallowness of "busy" and do some deep work. I can't wait to hear what that looks like for you.

Have fun, be safe, and love on each other.
Alix

Weekly Wrap Up #7

Hello Friends!
It's been another fun and fulfilling week full of fireworks, family, and friends. I also spent some rare alone time just reading, writing, and staying up way past my bedtime. The next morning I paid for the late night a little, but the rejuvenating energy from the evening made up for the lack of sleep. So much so that I'm putting a weekly Solo Date Night on my calendar. Do you have any weekly rituals that keep you grounded or make you feel good? I'd love to hear about them! 

Let's jump in to this week's list! 

Speaking of staying grounded and feeling good, this Self Care list is a handy tool. Sometimes things feel awful and simple questions with straight-forward solutions are a great start to getting back on track. 

I watched the first episode of this series and need to sign up so I can watch the rest. It's fascinating and terrifying. May we all be as curious and fearless as Mr. Maddix and may we continue to ask tough questions in the face of bigotry, and find humor when necessary to stay sane.  

In a completely different vein, a kick ass friend of mine worked on a series that is renewing my faith in community and creativity. These humans are doing what they love, even when it's hard, and writing the rules on the fly. 

This article discusses the different reasons clients seek coaching based on their age. The research shows that younger clients tend to want concrete rules and guidelines to follow as a way to change behaviors and are less interested in the "why" of things while older clients are more interested in understanding their root behaviors as a doorway to change. Where do you fall in those two categories? 

My favorite magazine issue dropped this week. Strong, powerful, sexy, celebrations of bodies. I'm all about it. 

This piece follows a girl growing into her intelligence and her interests while learning that society doesn't think she should have either. It's beautifully written and poignant. 

Oregon did this really cool thing this week that's giving me a sliver of hope. Let's keep this up!! 

That's all for now, friends. Drop me a line and tell me what you're reading and what's inspiring you these days! I'm heading off into the woods for the weekend. May you find adventure and serenity in whatever forms you need them. 

Have fun, be safe, and love on each other.
Alix

Weekly Wrap Up #6

Hi friends!
How was your week? Did you cross everything off of your to-do list? Yea, me either, but that's okay! Sometimes the things that happen outside of the to-do list are just as important. I snuck away to a secluded beach spot this week for a quick commune with nature and I've taken a deliberate break from my usual Self-Help/spirituality/philosophy books to enjoy fiction and memoirs that inspire me and make me think in different ways about words and stories. It's been a delightful change. 
Let's jump in to this week's wrap up!

What science tells us to do in difficult times: None of this is new or rocket science but they're great reminders nonetheless. I'm especially interested in the exercise discussed under #1. 

Mustard Seeds: A touching short story about hearts after heartbreak. "Pain begets life, my dear, and life begets pain.” You've got to go through it to come out the other side. 

21 or 22 tips to be a writer: #2, #7, #8, #9, #14, #21. 

Before the Internet: "You made your own fun... It was a heady time!"
BRB, I need to go make a fake FBI card.

The career advice no one will give you: "Moderate your ego. Do your best. Seek out new opportunities. Don’t be afraid to take risks. Some days you will feel good about your work, some days you will feel bad, but all days you are fundamentally the same. Ground yourself so you don’t crave constant validation, so that every accomplishment or positive reinforcement, every negative comment or rejection, doesn’t redefine who you are. Call your grandma. Do something kind."

Why self-improvement makes you neurotic: This article is one of the reasons I'm taking a break from my aforementioned reading material. Laporte says "Self improvement infers there’s something wrong with you, so you’re already starting off with a disadvantage." I don't want to walk through life feeling like I'm something that needs mending; I bet you don't either. We can always change, we can always grow but let's make those decisions because we want to be constantly challenged and moved, not because we feel broken and need to be patched back together. 

Team Galette: I'll be making these this weekend to kick off what I consider REAL summer in Portland (July 5th). We have heat waves before the 5th, don't get me wrong, but it gets warm and stays consistently warm after the 5th, I swear. I'm not sure where this came from, I think it may be a Lefler Family Truth. Wherever it came from, it's held true for as long as I can remember. 

What are you getting into this weekend? Any writing or baking or adventuring planned? Whatever you end up doing, may your coffee be just the way you like it, and may your days be long and filled with fun. 

That's all for now, friends. 
Have fun, be safe, and love on each other.

Alix

Weekly Wrap Up #5

Happy Friday Friends! 
I hope you've had as much fun as this gorilla this week (and if not, may I humbly suggest turning on loud music and dancing? I think that dude's got the right idea). 

This week has been a mix of Body Talk Workshop prep (!), reading books by powerful women, and reflecting on the cycles of seeking, experimenting, and growth. To that end, let's jump in! 

What helps me when I'm tempted to compare myself to others:  Number 1 on this list is my favorite because the transition from comparing yourself to others to comparing yourself to your past self can be simple. It can be difficult to catch yourself in a negative thought pattern and expect to make a 180º change in your thinking immediately; so, instead of switching it up entirely, why not change the comparison from someone else to yourself? Try it sometime and see what you come up with; I bet some answers will surprise you. 

Five ways to be fully authentic: In the same vein as the essay above, if you're comparing yourself to others and changing your actions/characteristics to be more like someone else, you're not being authentic to yourself. #4 on this list is the one that I come back to on a regular basis. "Stay in your lane." "Not my circus, not my monkeys."...etc are things I whisper to myself at least weekly. Just that quick check in and recognition can lower my blood pressure and frees my brain up for the important stuff like "what will be my legacy?" and "where am I going to eat lunch today?" 

90's time capsule: Can we talk about these amazing outfits and haircuts? I didn't expect to get sentimental over acid wash jeans. 

What fictional boss are you?: Are you more of a Liz Lemon or a Tony Soprano? I'm most like Jack Sparrow but I don't think my rum drinking is up to snuff. 

When life gives you trolls, make them eat their words: I am ALL here for this kind of creative use of negative energy. What negative situation can you turn on it's head? 

Pursuing the muse against the clock: I get a little weepy reading through this essay. It's a beautiful love letter from one amazing playwright (Lin Manuel Miranda) to another amazing playwright (Jonathon Larson). Jonathon Larson wrote RENT in the 90's and changed the way people thought about Broadway and musicals. Miranda wrote Hamilton over a decade later, changed the way people thought about Broadway and musicals again and, according to him, that's in large part to Larson's creative work. You never know who or how your work will touch other people. Put it out there. Please. 
(and if you don't read the article, do yourself a favor and at least watch the video! I may also get weepy when listening to Karen Olivo hit those high notes).

Speaking of music, Senator Harris released an amazing Spotify playlist and had this to say about it "No matter where you are from or what you look like, music is a bond that can bring us all together. To celebrate African-American music is to dance, sing, and even march to the rhythms that have long served as vehicles for honesty, inspiration, struggle, success and joy.” 

That's all for now friends. I hope you dance this weekend.
Have fun, be safe, and love on each other. 

Alix

Weekly Wrap Up #4

Hi Friends!
Another week is in the books and I am looking forward to sitting in a patch of sun in my living room with a mug of hot coffee, digging in the dirt, finishing some books I've been slowly reading, and taking a short road trip this weekend. That feels like a pretty great combo of activity, accomplishment, and quiet contemplation. I'm all about it. What are you getting in to this weekend?
I enjoy putting these lists together and finding themes I didn't realize were there as I collected them during the week. This week we're talking about finding the helpers and relishing the small stuff. Let's dive in!

Trenton New Jersey found some helpers in the Smith family: Dreaming big and creating long-term change. 

Speaking of dreaming big, I revisited this piece about identifying your main types of motivation. By tailoring your goals to push your motivation buttons you'll feel even MORE excited about your big dreams. Working with yourself instead of against yourself is some good help in my book. 

The Small, Happy Life: I literally stopped and smelled the roses this week thanks to this piece; and I found myself reverently present while watering my plants and watching the sky. 

Do you make fear decisions or growth decisions: This ties in nicely with the motivation essay. When you figure out your motivation type, you can also check in about whether fear or growth is guiding you. For example, let's say Social Factors motivate you so you sign up for that 10K with your friends and you all train together. If you make this decision out of fear you might be thinking "I have to sign up for this, otherwise my friends will do it without me, leave me behind, and won't want to hang out with me anymore." If you make this decision out of growth you might be thinking "I want to sign up for this because it will bring me and my friends closer, I'll get consistent social time with them, I might even make some more friends through this new community!" See the difference? Which one feels better? 

Roadtrips are one of my favorite ways to relish the small stuff. A few hours in a car can take me places that are *just* different enough from my everyday life to make me sit up and take notice. Being more aware on the road always translates to being more aware once I get home, too which is a pretty great bonus. 

We have a new Poet Laureate!: "Smith says she's been thinking, lately, about how people turn to poetry in fraught times. 'It's often those large moments where big things happen, where loss occurs — or in moments of isolation, where a voice on a page that's saying, 'I have lived, I have felt, I have questions, and I have wishes,' where that's consoling.'"
With all the craziness in our country right now, I am incredibly thankful that this position still exists.  

Speaking of people I'm thankful for, David Sedaris has a new essay that dives into his childhood, his mother's addictions, and the idiosyncrasies of his relationship with his partner. Sedaris paints detailed stories that I devour too quickly; they leave me a little melancholy most of the time and sometimes, on rainy days like we've had this week, that's just perfect.  

Finally, another helper: Rachel Maddow's interview with Rolling Stone shows she knows what she wants, she knows how to stay motivated, she knows what is important to her and what she's not going to waste time with, and she's not going to apologize for any of it. 

That's all for now friends! I'm putting on a Workshop in Portland, OR next weekend so between road trips and digging in the dirt, I'll be gearing up for this! If you're in town on the 24th, I'd love to see you there! 
Until next week: Have fun, be safe, and love on each other
Alix

Weekly Wrap Up #3

Hi Friends!
This week has flown by faster than usual and there's an electricity in the air that can only mean one thing. This world is still a little crazy and there's still unprecedented things that need our attention AND let's make sure we're keeping our eyes open for the beautiful and sane parts of this world too. Here's what I've been paying attention to this week: 

Speaking of unprecedented, Alex Honnald accomplished the greatest feat of rock climbing in history this week. His interview talks about taking it seriously, being prepared, trusting yourself, and staying calm. All around good advice for life, no? 

Some more great life advice: Get enough sleep and be aware of what you put in your Mind Garden. (I know Mind Garden sounds bonkers weird, but I'm gonna embrace it here so go with it.) What can you water? What can you prune? 

How to Throw an Alter-Ego Party: I am all in with this idea and am scheming names and outfits for myself already. 

New (Old) fossils alter the history of our species: A nice reminder that nothing we know is set in stone (pun absolutely intended) and that we have to be flexible enough to change our views when faced with new information. 

Eddie the Butterfly: "I believe maybe if I learn enough small things I can change a lot of big things."

The right way to be introspective: Ask yourself not Why? but What? and you'll stay more curious and open to the answers you find. 

The 36 questions that lead to love: I've got some road trips in mind for the coming months and I'm seriously considering printing this list out and just taping it to my dashboard for my co-pilots to answer in between pit stops.  

That's all for now, friends. What have you got planned for the summer? Any fun trips? Any big goals? Tell me all about them in the comments. Until next week: have fun, be safe, and love on each other. 

Alix 

Weekly Wrap Up #2

Hello Friends!

This week has been full of work phone calls at 7:30 am, Sherlock watching until 11:00 pm, and some emergency dental work for my husband to keep us all on our toes and to remind me that my tribe is resilient, supportive, flexible, and amazing. I'm at the beach this weekend, soaking up some sunshine and relishing in the lack of schedules. Here's what I've been reading and/or re-reading this week. 

Childbirth absolutely changed the way I orgasm: A great reminder that self discovery can come in surprising places.

A snack tray to gather the family around: "'Snack Tray' quickly became a cheerful, wordless conversation about who we wanted to be in the world and how we wanted that world to be." A love story set around a low snack table and new rituals. This story reminds me of my parents who could be found, every once in a while, on a random quiet Thursday night, drinking great scotch and Ruffles potato chips together. It always struck me as the classiest and most down to earth combination, simultaneously, and is a combination I aspire to embody to this day. I swear, it just screams "LOVE" to me. I can't explain it and I don't even want to. 

November 30: I read this when Molly first wrote it in November and I've gone back and reread it too many times to count. When I need a reminder of what courage, acceptance, hope, and curiosity look like, I turn here. 

My boyfriend weighs less than I do: "Now, I know real love makes room for you to love yourself the way you are, and the way you want to be." May we all find this love within ourselves and within our People. 

The Journey: "The stars began to burn through the sheet of clouds, and there was a new voice" 

White women drive me crazy: This might be an uncomfortable read AND it's an important one.

Meet the woman who turned Anthony Bourdain into a TV star: Using the skills you've already got to create the work that fills your soul. I'm all about it. 

That's all for now, friends, have an amazing weekend, take care of yourselves and each other, and thanks for being here with me. Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got a sudden craving for scotch and potato chips...

Alix 

Weekly Wrap Up #1

Hi friends! 
Portland is having a pretty awesome week of hot days, cool nights, and tons of sunshine and I'm soaking up as much of it as possible. Here's what I've been reading this week, in between stints of driving around town with my windows rolled down and focusing intently on my tan lines #realtalk

Why self compassion works better than self esteem: Let’s all jump on the self-compassion wagon and treat ourselves the way we would treat a dear friend. Wouldn’t that make life’s ups and downs more tolerable?

Practicing the subtle art of detachment: Let’s check in about how tightly we’re holding on to our stuff, our relationships, and our thoughts. And how adorable is the emotional baggage cartoon? I’ll be thinking about those the next time I get too attached to a past experience.

Humor - New Releases: Are you reading anything funny right now? In these...stressful times, it's important to find things that make you laugh. This is Just My Face and One Day We’ll All Be Dead and None of This Will Matter are on my summer To-Read list.

Dedications: Because even the alphabet is precious

Make a little birdhouse in your soul: This piece gutted me in the best of ways. Real and vulnerable and questioning and moving and evolving. The story is different from mine but the feelings are universal. 

The question of being alone: Another beautiful story. I love being reminded that there are a million ways to exist in this crazy, wonderful, world. 

Rewards that aren't food or shopping: Let's add a side of self-care to that self-compassion we're working on. 10, 11, 13, and 16 are all on my list for this weekend. What's on yours? 

Enjoy this weekend, lovelies! I'll be back next week with another wrap up. In the mean time, what are you loving these days? What's making you think? 
Take care, do something that makes you happy today.

Alix