It's Been Awhile

Wow. So much has changed from June of 2019. The world had no idea what 2020 had in store. We are forever changed. In the fall of 2019 I began a 2 year certification to become a spiritual director. We began by meeting together for instruction and practice and then in March 2020 we had to pivot to meeting online as much of the world did also.

I paused taking new health coach clients as I immersed myself in the Spiritual Director Formation Program. In the 4 years since my last blog post, I have graduated the program and I also became the Executive Director of a small nonprofit called Journey Center Santa Rosa. We are a Christ-centered home for contemplative spirituality where all spiritual paths are welcome. We’ve been around for 15 years as of this writing. It has been my deep joy to serve the community in this way. One of the offerings that has been so life giving is a monthly gathering in nature called Wild Journey.

I continue to keep up my Primal Health Coach certification and have just recently accepted new clients. Having the training as a spiritual director has only enhanced my coaching. I see how deep, reflective listening is a beautiful way to create safe, sacred space to accompany people on their journey whether it is in the context of their health journey or their spirituality. It’s all connected.

Why Resilience Matters

Why Resilience Matters

In my time as a health coach, I have found that cultivating resilience is the most important guidepost to develop when it comes to implementing changes to the way you eat, move, and live. Developing resilience is the sustaining factor to living a healthy lifestyle.

Holiday Treats Recipe Round-up

When the weather gets cooler and here in northern California, it begins to rain, one of my favorite places to be is cooking yummy treats for my family and others. I especially love to give the gift of wholesome home-baked goods during the holidays. I wanted to share some of my tried and true favorites with you!

Keto Blueberry Bread ( I'm going to try raspberries next time too!) 
Paleo Pumpkin Bread
Keto Cranberry Orange Bread
Gingerbread Cookies (Our family's tradition with three boys in the house is to make ninjabread men.)
Shortbread Cookies 

I hope you make some time to play in the kitchen during this holiday season and share the home-made love with others. 
 

From our home to yours - Happy Holidays!

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Mindset. It Changes Everything.

Mindset. It Changes Everything.

I have been learning about mindsets and I believe it's beginning to unlock some things for me personally. I am still on my own health journey. I don't think we ever really "arrive". We may reach a goal and celebrate that and live into that for a while, but then things shift a little or we create a new goal or life throws us for a loop and we need to adjust. 

Better Sleep and Bone Broth

Better Sleep and Bone Broth

Maybe it's fear of missing out. Maybe it's because the kids are in bed and I view the night as MY time. Maybe it's because I'm a light sleeper with lots of vivid dreams. It's probably all of these reasons that I avoid going to bed. Yet I am reading more and more how the best diet and exercise program can be undone by lack of sleep and stress. Darn it.

Time For Reflection

Time For Reflection

Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.  - Søren Kierkegaard

Brené Brown talks about the Reckoning, the Rumble, and the Revolution in her book Rising Strong. We need to know where we are before we can figure out where we need to go. It is good to periodically spend time reflecting on where we are at and where we would like to be and what gets in the way of getting there.

A Message From Mark - Workout Inspiration

A Message From Mark - Workout Inspiration

Maybe it's because it's summer (as I'm writing this) and my brain doesn't want to think...so this week's post comes from the founder of the Primal movement, Mark Sisson. His approach to working out and fitness helped bring joy back into my life. His approach along with one of Brené Brown's Guideposts to Wholehearted Living - Cultivating Play has gone a long way helping this sometimes much too serious woman to let go and have some fun. So here are his words:

Stressed?

Stressed?

Stress. We all experience it. We are told to reduce it, but how? Some of us experience stress daily. For some of us it is more about the situation we are in. Some of us have personalities that tend to stress more than others. 
 

Exercise?! No time and I'm exhausted already!

Exercise?! No time and I'm exhausted already!

My relationship with exercise used to be very much a love/hate relationship. And if I'm honest, most of the time it was hate. It was yet another thing in my overwhelmed life that I was supposed to be doing. There were times I would recommit to it and get to the gym nice and early and do the elliptical for 40-60 minutes. I would stick with it and then see some weight loss but it never gave me the energy all the experts promised. I would go back home (I was a stay-at-home mom.) and it would take everything in me not to fall back asleep at 10 am. Something else in life always seemed to happen and I wouldn't be able to get to the gym for awhile and the weight I had lost would find me again. It was a horrible, joyless cycle. 

Staying Motivated

Staying Motivated

You made your commitment to start a new way of eating or exercise routine. You have the best intentions and your heart is in it. You really do want this! Then the excitement wears off. The day to day decision making hits. Will I do this? Can I do this? Is it even working? What if all this effort doesn't work and you begin to talk yourself out of it. You find your motivation quickly disappearing. I hear you! Oh the struggle is real!