September emanates a “coming home” aura. A renewal of belonging. It’s not the harvest that keeps me close to the house, preparing for winter. I’m not a farmer. I don’t even have a vegetable garden. Something deep in my bones–something creative, perhaps ancestral–pulls me to tend to my emotional soil in preparation for what I […]
On Pause
Visiting Guano Point, located on the Grand Canyon’s west rim, was a lesson in walking meditation. With the 3,800-foot cliff only steps away, I walked slow and deliberate. I felt every wisp of breeze on my face. My mind expanded as it reached into every nook of stone carved from the power of flowing water. […]
On Movement
I started 2022 chanting joy joy joy. There’s no quantifiable evidence “joy” has helped my mood. But I can say it was a hectic two months, and I kept grounded and purposeful. It’s not only the mantra that has me moving forward with intention. On December 29, 2012, I finalized my first Writing Life mission […]
Onward and Forward
Joy in 2022 It’s 2022, and I keep thinking of the word Joy. Maybe I return to it to move past 2021—a reflex to the news cycle. Perhaps Joy is the mantra 2022 needs. Joy Joy Joy It’s a beautiful-looking word with the tall majestic “J,” the perfectly round “o,” and the low-hanging “y.” While […]
On Refuge: Keeping the House in Order
My focus this fall has been big picture thinking about my career trajectory. It includes a lot of organizing, outlining, and strategy. In other words, it’s a lot of feeling like I’m accomplishing nothing. (Ugh, I feel like I’m eating my tail.) But. I know I am making progress. And I listen to the knowing […]
On Poetry and Space
There is no shortage of cultural and global issues to be part of right now. I donate, volunteer, and support. But I’m constantly at odds with where to put my public service energy, often becoming overwhelmed by all the options*. I also get sidetracked, wondering if the space where others live inspires or suppresses them? […]
