Hey friend,

Do you find these emails helpful? Encouraging? Is there something you wish I included or something you can do without? I want these emails to be a source of hope and comfort as well as an encouragement to face difficult things with fresh eyes, taking care of our souls as we go.

What's On My Mind

It has been a rough few weeks over here. I've been overwhelmed with grief by the constant violence and heartache in the US and how few people have responded with compassion and anger at the injustice of so many unnecessary deaths. How do we stay soft when it would be easier to ignore the news and pretend everything is fine or allow yourself to grow callous to it all. An emergency appointment with my therapist to prevent a major depressive episode and I'm establishing new rhythms of tending to my nervous system. When you've lived through traumatic experiences, your body, mind, and soul are primed to go back to that traumatized state quickly the next time something happens. My body recognizes that our communities are being traumatized over and over again and I am having to work extra hard to prove to my soul that I am safe. Deep breathing, noticing all the ways I feel safe, taking my medications every day, getting good sleep, staying hydrated. It doesn't make any of the current events go away, but tending to my soul makes it a little more bearable.

What Caught My Attention

I have slowly been realizing I don't do a good job of talking about the work that I do with spiritual direction, writing, retreats, etc. I am challenging myself to talk about it more and post on social media about the specific things I do and create. I did that this week and so many of you poured out of the woodwork to support and encourage me. I am just so grateful - I could not do this work without the people who cheer me on. It can be lonely when a lot of your work is done in solitude, but the reminders that you are here and reading and that my work impacts you keeps me going!

Something You Should Check Out

​"Therapy in a Nutshell" channel on YouTube is such a great resource and an absolute delight! I appreciate having a resource to learn from that also provides tangible, practical tools for whatever I'm struggling with. My therapist is the one who told me about her!

What I'm Reading

​For funsies: The Love Haters by Katherine Center​

I have learned to love a good romcom. When the worst case scenario has come true too many times, knowing a book will resolve with happiness and hope feels comforting and hopeful. This may be one of my favorite ever. Both the main character and the love interest are spunky and grumpy and I laughed out loud many times. It's set in Alaska and full of adventure and mishap and such a satisfying ending.

​For school: Experiencing the Trinity by Darrell Johnson​

This is a tiny little book of delightful discussion of the Trinity. We've been talking a lot in my class about some of the reasons why people might be intimidated by theology: feeling like theology is supposed to be pretentious, feeling under-qualified or not smart enough, etc. This book is the perfect example of how theology is really just how we talk about God. Sure, it can be complex and mysterious, but talking about the Divine Presence in your life is part of having a soul and being a human. You don't have to be clergy or go to seminary, there are no prerequisites for having conversations about God.

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Be kind to yourself,

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