In my current situation, someone was asking a librarian about the female author who writes historical fiction and one of them was about the ladies who cracked codes during WW2…. I almost shouted “THE ROSE CODE” across the aisles but held back because the librarian was amazing and knew the author’s name (which I didn’t know).

Kate Quinn, btw…

Anyway, can you tell I’ve had two cups of coffee?

Here are 10 Good Things:

1. I wrote about my relationship and how a part of my brain is constantly trying to sabotage it! Read about my hyper-vigilance here.

2. On Tuesday I had a realization with a client where after they asked how my day was I replied with “oh it’s a long day, but I am exactly where I need to be, talking to women about their feelings”. It was nice to have that clarity and conviction strike me in the afternoon.

3. I set the goal to use my “Focus Friend” app for 6 hours on Wednesday and I totally crushed it. Yay for breaking my phone addiction, so sorry if you tried to call me.

4. This poem I used for my writing group this week. Some prompts we wrote to from it: “I want a word that means…” and “the heart is not like…”

5. I watched some of my friends race in a triathlon over the weekend. It felt so good to show up for them. Reminder that if you want a village you have to be a villager.

6. I began my ceramics journey on Friday and had so much fun in my first lesson. It is incredibly humbling to start something new, though. I found myself mesmerized by my teacher’s hands and how she was able to shape the vessel so expertly. Why must I go through the awful task of being bad at something to be good at it? And why do I want to be good at everything I try? Maybe I try a lot of things because I am attempting to find that one good thing I am a “natural” at? Please don’t answer any of these questions, I am not interested in knowing the answer to them at this time.

7. I am going to follow this set of recipes this week. The clickbait of “What to Buy and Make this week for $60” really caught my eye as someone who loves to make good food but is also trying to save my money. I’ll let you know how it goes!

8. Never in my life have I wanted the season to change away from summer into fall. If you don’t have central AC you get me. It’s so good to know that 90 degree days are almost behind us.

9. If you have been on the fence about writing with me in 2026 October is your last chance to sign up! I would love to have you write with me. Just respond to this email to get on my waitlist.

10. This week’s silly little image is from Soft Core Trauma on IG

    

Thanks for reading! I am so grateful to have you in my life.

xoxo,

Amy

This sentence jumped out to me from a zine I’m reading.

It encapsulated exactly what I was feeling regarding my relationship and how I’ve noticed my fearful or negative thoughts impacting it.

Dating after a divorce can be exhilarating, clarifying, fun, and downright terrifying.

Before you get married you witness other people going through divorce and most often you think to yourself “that won’t happen to me” but in about 30-40% of marriages it absolutely will. But not you, of course, not you. ;)

In my imagination it’s like this; every couple in America approaches a massive sorting machine and you either stay sorted together or your hand gets ripped out of the other’s and you make your way down the chute alone, ready to be sorted back into the singles bin to see if someone else will hold your hand, if that is even something you actually want for the rest of your tenure on earth.

Returning back to the mix of singles is a strange game. On one hand, I have enjoyed the process and felt grateful to be in this stage, but I’ve noticed myself experiencing a great deal of distress at times when I find myself in a long term relationship and… don’t like something my partner does.

The awareness that “saved” me in the past and allowed me to leave my unhealthy marriage has been transmuted into a vigilant machine that reads into every single interaction I have with my partner and spits out a verdict of a future together or not based off of whether or not he kissed me goodnight.

In my head, these thoughts are terrifying and disconcerting. Shouldn’t I enjoy every single little thing this new person is doing? Shouldn’t I be grateful to be out of the sorting machine temporarily, another person’s hand clutched in mine?

Obviously I am being facetious. But you can see why I might feel that the statement of “nothing ruins a personality like vigilance” perfectly sums up how damaging it can be to overthink one’s relationship.

There is a part of me that believes the only way to avoid getting divorced again is to find the perfect person. That sure, maybe we will disagree on a couple of things, but otherwise our relationship will be full of bliss and joy and we will march happily together into the sunset.

This type of vigilance makes sense when you’ve experienced the grief of an ending you never saw coming. This is the kind of awareness that makes you squint at every single act of your partner’s behavior under a microscope. It’s exhausting.

But it isn’t the way I want to live and I doubt it’s the way you want to live either.

So what did I do when a fresh wave of hyper awareness washed over me?

I slowed my body down and returned back to what I know to be true.

The truest thing I feel about my relationship is that I genuinely enjoy every minute I spend with him.

Of course he is frustrating at times and we miss each other in communication, but I feel so grateful to be on this path with him, hand in hand.

And if the sorting machine decides otherwise, I know I’ll be okay and I know I have such a better perspective on conflict, uncertainty, and commitment than I ever have in my life.

Connecting to what’s deeply true is what grounds me and allows me to move forward and I think finding deep truths within yourself could help you as well.

Thoughts on this? Let me know.

xoxo

Amy

ICYMI: my email got hacked on Thursday morning and after a minor panic attack, I got it sorted and dealt with an incredible amount of messages from concerned individuals. The range was wild; I heard from friends, besties, colleagues, ex crushes, you name it.

I’m a little worried about how my credibility might go down in people’s inboxes so if you are seeing this, can you respond to it?

Say hello, ask a question, make a comment, give me feedback, send an emoji, whatever!

Just help me out by informing the gods of the internet that I am not an evil robot looking to spam your inbox.

Thank you for the help. <3

Now here’s 10 Good things:

1. The hilarious comment from a few people that they knew the email was a scam because it was so professionally done. Sorry, hackers, my people KNOW my voice and they know I have no clue as to how one could make something that official.

2. This image from a backyard ultra marathon where the last man standing completed NINETY FOUR loops of a 4 mile course. Insane. The best caption in that carousel is “me after one hill”.

3. I’ve been feeling a little discouraged about my place in this world of creatives and innovators. I love my work as a therapist, but I also feel this pull and desire to be of service with my writing. I haven’t experienced great success in the avenue of writing and I often feel as if I am shouting into a void. But then I remember that this is one of the things I’ve been doing the longest; I started writing a blog once a week way back in 2012. And something about that longevity felt empowering and stabilizing. One of the best ways to become a better writer is to keep writing (probably).

4. I signed up for a beginner ceramics class!!! Get ready for running and pottery to become PILLARS of my identity.

5. Speaking of running, New Altra Running shoes for the trails. I did 5 miles in them on Friday and love them already. (not sponsored)

6. This book has been a little cheesy but honestly so fun to read because it is completely out of my normal rotation. Speaking of books, anyone else excited for the next ACOTAR book coming out in October?

7. I tried a new cafe in Denver where they have all of these different kinds of milks. I tried the banana milk and it was… interesting. Not sure if I would do that again. I guess the good part of that was I tried something new!

8. Every. Single. Thing. at Inheritance. Such a splendid shop here in Denver. I keep eyeing a pair of silver earrings that I will probably go back for and claim them as a birthday gift for myself.

9. This zine by Molly Young. I wrote something that I’ll release soon where I reference it even more, so just be prepared for that!

10. This image:

    

    Thanks for reading. I appreciate you being here. xoxo

-Amy

I’m in the in between. Excited for the potential of the new season and hesitant about letting go of my favorite one.

Because even though the heat of this summer has bordered on diabolical, I love these months …

Read more

Listen, there are only so many hours in a day and I often find myself struggling to focus on multiple things at a time. Currently I am focused on my 10k training so building in more time for strength, mobility, and yoga has felt difficult.

All that to say, I had a realization while in a yoga class taught by .

Josie has a way of drawing you towards deeper truths through her use of humor and directness so it’s not surprising that I had an interesting revelation while in her class.

As we made our way towards a challenging pose I found myself surprised at my capacity, even proud of what I had held onto while avoiding the necessary medicine of yoga.

And then we reached the challenging pose and I couldn’t access it. My body gave me a clear and resounding “no”. (Rather, my tight quads did)

I could only fake it so far.

This is why I love sustaining a regular movement practice; you can see what might be lacking and you can see where you can make your way back to other versions of yourself.

In the past I would have used this as a way to chastise myself; treat myself unkindly for my negligence. But now, I simply take this for what it is; feedback.

And a call to action.

Maybe I’ll do some stretching today.

Maybe I’ll take a class with Josie on demand.

Let’s get into 10 Good Things:

1. A discussion with my friend Daniel about the Dead Internet Theory. Fascinating concept. Basically most of the “users” on the internet these days seem to be bots which inform content that gets created (now mostly by bots). So the internet will potentially just turn into one big pile of bot slop. How is this good? I’m not sure. But as someone who feels a little sick to their stomach about AI, this is driving me towards the pursuit of human created art and content.

2. An instagram post that sort of discusses this idea. It’s more in reference to what AI bots are using as sources. Just something to become aware of!

3. I have adapted to the vertical tabs from chrome and I don’t think I’ll go back.

4. The realization that running is the worst but also the best. Currently on the spectrum of worst to best I am living in the section of “best”. Using an app called “Runna” I have a very gentle running program that gives me three running workouts a week to prepare me for a 10K I signed up for in September. There really isn’t anything like building up a sweat on a morning in late summer and taking a cold shower afterwards. I’m alive.

5. “The Hacienda” by Isabel Cañas. I am not usually one for horror but this book captivated me. I loved being immersed in the cultural aspect of it as well. A little spooky at times but nothing I couldn’t handle. Look it up if you’re interested. I listened to it!

6. My friend asked me to write a recommendation letter for them for their adoption process and it got me thinking about how lovely it is to be able to fully recommend someone for a position you know they will be good at (because they already are parents). It’s always nice to have an excuse to brag on your friends.

7. Monday, by Alex Dimitrov

8. This board by my dear friend EB. It’s style inspiration for our Restorative Retreat but it has me excited about dressing for cooler weather. We still have spots available for our retreat! Come hang out with us in wild Wyoming.

9. 13- The number of times I have led my writing groups. What a delight to sit with people in such a vulnerable place. If you are interested in future iterations, message me back and I will put you on the waitlist for October!

10. One of my favorite creators online is releasing a cookbook this fall and I immediately pre-ordered it when I found out. Here is the link if you are interested in his work! He always inspires me to slow down and make whatever I can from scratch.

Thanks for reading! Y’all are the best <3

Photo by EB Combs

Which means we combined tomato puree, lemon juice, gin, etc… and then poured these ingredients into a container that held whole milk. Over the course of 3 hours the sol…

Read more

Within hours someone was touring and within days I had a lease signed.

It got me thinking about how long we stay in shitty situations because get so focused on a specific outcome. How many times have you stayed in a relationship/job/living situation because you were desperate for the love/work/life you thought you wanted.

There is something incredibly empowering about standing up from a table you aren’t welcome at and finding a new place to land.

Sometimes the best thing you can do for yourself is leave…(this isn’t about my house any longer FYI)

Okay let’s get into 10 good things:

1. I saw The Odyssey in IMAX last week. I am not very familiar with the story itself so it was fun to go to the movie and immerse myself in the experience. I was truly stunned by the women in the film; “go back into your disguises” IYKYK. The scenes on the boat made me a little seasick and have never covered my ears so much in a theater. 10/10 would recommend.

2. I finally bought into the cult and purchased an Owala water bottle. I found the color I wanted for resale on poshmark (unused), it fits in my car cup holder, and it has a straw. I am very passionate about this water bottle and it is an important aspect of my personality now. Even after the top popped open and an ENTIRE bottle of water was emptied into my black leather bag 10 minutes before a big client day. In true obsessed-owner form I took all of the blame for said mishap.

3. My best mornings are the ones where I use an app blocker and restrict my access to my phone for at least an hour, sometimes two. I wish there was a world where my fingers didn’t unconsciously go to my phone but, alas, I am human and require an app blocker. People are telling me to buy the Brick but I am using the “focus friend” app and love it with all of my heart.

4. On that note, I’m back to writing daily to-do lists, which is a practice I fall in and out of but know I need desperately. Living out the trope of being a person with ADHD who needs structure but rejects it wholeheartedly.

5. My retreat still has some spots open and I would love to have you join. Have any questions about it? Shoot me response to this! Come be a horse girl with us; all riding levels welcome.

6. A thought I’ve been pondering regarding therapeutic relationships has been banging around in my head ever since I saw a creator online share it (so sorry that I don’t know who originally said it) ; “A good question to ask yourself in this work is whether or not you are perpetuating a relationship dynamic or resolving it”. It’s so easy to fall into patterns with people this concept applies to therapeutic relationships and regular interpersonal ones as well. Are you perpetuating or resolving?

7. We had the most magical 330pm dinner…lunch? Linner? at Mezcaleria Alma on Sunday afternoon. Best meal I’ve had in Denver in a really long time… also I ate two crickets (on purpose). It was at 330pm because it is notoriously tough to get a reservation there, but I would absolutely do that time again.

8. I returned some things I bought at Target for staging my house and they took everything back. It was amazing. I was way outside my return window, but the employee could have cared less. One of the benefits of late stage capitalism?

9. I signed up for a trail 10K fun run in September and unfortunately realized September is essentially tomorrow. Pray for my lungs.

10. This song was so nice to get some writing done to:

    It was released in 2018 so I don’t think it’s AI 🤪

If you enjoy this newsletter, would you consider sharing it? Thank you!

Tia’s book reminded me of the loss of individuality and personhood, it reminded me of a world where everything is done in service to God or your husband. Sometimes I forget how close I was to being swept up into the tide of “Biblical Womanhood” (in a patriarchal, controlling sense). If you have no idea what I am talking about, check out work here on Substack and/or watch the documentary “Shiny Happy People” on Prime.

Anyway, let’s get into 10 Good Things

1. I started reading “How to Hide an Empire” and reading a history book has never been more interesting, streamlined, or devastating. Learning about the Greater United States is turning me into even more of an insufferable liberal! Sorry, mom!

2. This recipe from Defined Dish makes so much food you think you will get sick of it before it’s done but then you can’t stop eating it.

3. A reminder of how good hip hop was in the 90’s/2000’s.

4. I really need someone to invite me over so I have an excuse to make this basque cheesecake.

5. 2 hours playing this new and fun game you have probably never heard of before called…pickleball. I know I know. The cult came for me too and I can’t resist it.

6. Due to slow sign ups, I have reduced the cost burden of my writing groups! If you use this code WRITEFREELY before/on Friday the 17th you get $50 off and the cost drops to $300 for the 8 week small group setting. This means you get to engage in a therapeutic environment for less than $40 a session. I truly believe in this work and I am committed to providing an incredible experience for any and all who choose to sign up. Links to sign up here!

7. My friend Anna of here on Substack is posting more on threads and in addition to being hilarious, she is also wise. Check her out here.

8. I have meditated almost every day within the last 30 days and I didn’t do anything out of the ordinary to make this happen. I simply have a side table that fits my meditation pillow so I literally roll out of bed, land on the pillow, sit, and breathe. No recordings, just slowing down my mind before the day actually begins. Have I noticed a huge difference? No, not really. But, I am excited to see where this practice will continue to take me.

9. The yogurt and peaches I put on top of my gluten free sourdough bread. I love summer food more than most things in life.

10. This note that I made about unconscious commitment:

    Unconscious commitment is when we commit to someone based off of our idealized version of who they could be, not who they actually are. This unconscious commitment is potentially based in an old wound of ours where we choose someone because we fantasize about what they could be for us versus actually bearing witness to who they are in this moment of time.

Happy Tuesday! I hope you are having a good week. :)

With Love,

Amy

And it got me thinking about something I miss from my days of having faith; there was this idea of meaning making that felt very grounding and stabilizing. That my suffering had a purpose, that there is a lesson or something to be learned from every bad experience.

Read more

Prior to even setting foot inside the house I spent 20 minutes weeding the walkway, cleaning up the pesky, unwanted plants popping up in between the concrete.

Once inside, I did my rounds, dusting surfaces and picking up a few dead flies, the kind of typical domestic tasks expected of me during this process. However, as I moved through the house I noticed a subtle stink permeating the air. I attempted to push it out of my mind, assuming I was being too sensitive and dramatic. But eventually my curiosity got the better of me and I started searching.

Finally I found the culprit; my potted fiddle leaf fig whichis about six feet tall. I looked down into the pot and the poor tree was sitting in about four inches of standing water. Upon lifting the tree out of the water; the stench was awoken to a level I hadn’t expected.

Something needed to happen… fast.

I closed my eyes and held the tree in mid air, letting the terrible, fermented tea drip down into the pot. Finally, I transferred the tree to the sink, moved the pot full of stink outside, and took a deep breath before I cleaned the floor and attempted to clear the air.

I have tried so hard to be “good” throughout this process. I did everything I thought I should do before listing it, even spending thousands to get the house in shape so that someone would (hopefully) immediately snap it up.

But three months in and zero offers has me feeling quite stuck.

Stuck as a fiddle leaf fig soaking it’s roots in wretched water.

I’ve tried to figure out how to write about this experience, in fact I had a whole piece typed up around what I’ve learned through this process and what I feel grateful for as I navigate this journey.

However, what I am noticing is an old pattern of mine. This idea that if I do everything right and good, things will work out.

I think this is a pattern from my Christian days. Sometimes it feels like my entire childhood was focused on avoiding sin and toiling towards goodness. In fact, I truly believed myself to be evil and bad at my core until my mid 20’s. Therefore throughout my adolescence and young adulthood, a focus on my behavior was imperative. I was told to stay pure; a virgin before my wedding and if I did this, God would bless my marriage and sex life (spoiler: being “pure” did not lead to a blessed marriage).

As hard as I have tried (hah) the belief is still there deep down, ingrained in my operating system. That protestant work ethic is hard to turn off.

The issue here is that if I am fixated on being good, I am contributing to a nature of urgency instead of a nature of authenticity. There is a part of me who is working hard to be perfect because I think ultimately I will be rewarded for it.

But the reality is that nothing is promised. My efforts certainly aren’t meaningless, but in the same way that naming my stuckness allows me to tell the truth about my state, naming my puritannical drive to be good frees me from it.

And frees me from some of the responsibility for the outcome. This allows me to get realistic about what I can do to help myself and let myself off the hook for the rest.

My house not selling is not an indicator of a moral failing.

Accepting where I am, accepting that I am doing my best, that I am enough as I am allows me to feel settled and connected to myself instead of fighting to get to somewhere else.

And then I’m free to make my choice from connection and presence instead of an idea about whether or not I am doing enough.

My writing group starts again in August. I would love to have you there. Questions? Shoot me a DM.

Have you seen my new series, “10 Good Things”? Check in out and let me know what you think.

Those who know me well, know that I can be incredibly stubborn. I can have this iron will that shows up and sticks around in various areas of my life. This can be really helpful in some situations but unfortunately leads to rigidity in others.

Lately, I’ve noticed that I have become fixated on the outcome of my house selling. But in case you didn’t know…

Read more

Are you ready for the next 8 week cycle of Wild Writing with me?

What are people saying about the groups?

“Amy has an innate ability holding space for creativity, imperfection and rawness which is exactly what my writing needed. I highly recommend her writing groups. - Jacki C.”

“This was my third writing group with Amy (and won’t be my last). This particular writing style was unlike anything I had experienced before—deeply moving and unexpectedly revealing. As someone who is fairly self-aware, I was surprised by the parts of me that that floated to the surface through this process. Amy cultivated a space that felt both safe and healing, allowing me to share even the heaviest, messiest pieces without hesitation. Forever grateful for these groups and the transformation they bring. - Bethany Russell”

The groups are powerful in their ability to draw you out and in to a different version of yourself. This writing style has changed my life and I would love to introduce you to it.

Everyone is welcome to either option, I would love to see you on the screen and on the page. No experience is necessary; just come ready to listen, create, express, and witness others in their creativity.

In addition to Tuesday evenings, I am offering a morning option on Wednesdays, I know evenings can be tough for people’s schedules!

Beginning the first week of August, we will write virtually for 8 consecutive weeks. You can sign up for Tuesdays from 6:00–7:30 p.m. or Wednesdays from 8:00–9:30 a.m.

Message me back with any questions or just click the link below to sign up!

Tuesday evening payment link

Wednesday morning payment link

Use the code “WRITEFREELY” to get $50 off. Code is only valid if you sign up on or before July 17th. Code cannot be combined with any other offers.

If you need a payment plan, let me know!

With Love,

Amy

This could be us in August:

I feel like I’m experiencing a reverse of what happened to Samson in the Bible, my full powers are returning as I sit around with my things.

Actual pic of me in my living room, sitting on my expensive couch:

The horrifying void is still there as usual BUT my space looks so much better.

AnYwAyS here are 10 good things from this week:

1. This review of Yesteryear from Tia Levings. In case you missed it, is an author who wrote an incredible piece of fiction about a trad wife influencer (titled Yesteryear). is an author who wrote a book about her escape from an abusive christian patriarchal marriage (titled A Well-Trained Wife).

2. This IG post made me laugh so hard. It’s just such an unfortunate reality that knowing things about ourselves is really only the first step.

3. Fromager d'Affinois- A lovely and luxurious bloomy rind soft cheese (similar to a brie). If you can wait to eat it at room temp it starts to melt like butter and the flavor profile really opens up. Found it on sale at Whole Foods.

4. This podcast episode from Hidden Brain. I love that show so much. The episode I linked talks specifically about the science behind spirituality. If you haven’t engaged with my writing in the past you might not know this but I left religion behind about 7 years ago and while I have felt quite liberated I have also felt the difficulty of no longer having a faith system that dictates all areas of your life. Maintaining my connection to spirituality has been empowering and stabilizing.

5. A fresh linen button down from the Gap. I buy so many of my clothes at vintage or pre loved stores so popping the tags on a fresh white shirt felt particularly enjoyable.

6. Because of the weather here in Denver bumming me out; high 90s with a side of evil amounts of smoke in the air, I decided to get a 2 week pass to Barry’s Bootcamp (treadmill and strength training classes). I also think I might cave and get a Netflix subscription for the month.

7. This poem <3.

8. I had the realization that I don’t want a beautiful kitchen where all of my appliances are hidden. I want a functional, interesting kitchen that makes me want to cook. Thank you to instagram for providing this new goal of mine.

9. My friend Carin and I are going to start memorizing a poem a month, we discussed even doing a “recital” of sorts where we eat cheese and recite our poems in front of people. TBD on whether or not the recital will happen but I love the idea of memorizing something again.

10. My writing groups start back in August and I would love to have you join. One on Tuesdays at 6pm and one on Wednesdays at 8am. Wanna lock your spot down? Message me back and I will get you that link! Everyone is welcome, no experience necessary.

Okay that’s all for now. Happy summer! Eat a hot dog for me please.

It’s the second edition of June journaling prompts and when I contemplated what to talk with you about today, I couldn’t help but ponder the sensation I am feeling within my own state right now.

Read more

Wild Writing is simple, you show up, create, and witness others. The simple act of writing without pen leaving the page brings up more than you can imagine. I love the look of realization that goes over people’s faces when they get it, when they feel the freedom that comes from saying “yes” to what shows up in their minds and bodies.

For an hour on the 29th from 6-7pm (MT) I’m giving you the chance to do just that; to say yes to what shows up.

Will you join me? It’s completely free and open to anyone willing to tell the truth about themselves.

Sign up here.

If you have any questions, let me know!

1. The entire first season of White Lotus binged on my flight from Madrid. I have very strange habits when it comes to watching TV and while I have watched season two and three of WL, I never watched season one. Obviously the story line of the newlyweds transfixed me as someone who left a situation that wasn’t right for me. Have you seen it? Do you remember what happens? What do you think?Send me a message plz.

2. The first sip of cold brew after my first nap while on vacation. Literally felt the jet lag leaving my body and I couldn’t stop marveling at the gorgeous light filtering down through the trees along the streets of Madrid. Sorry to talk about Spain so much but it truly is an amazing place.

3. I signed up for Hamilton House: An eight-week online and in-person program on mindset, movement, breathwork, recovery, and nutrition — taught by the people who built it, then handed to you to run on your own terms. I love all of the things Gabby and Laird are doing in the world of fitness so it felt like a no-brainer to join in on this!

4. While away from home, my guy and I wrote some love letters to each other. He asked me to write about what it was like to be on horseback in Spain and here is a piece of what I sent him: I felt impossibly strong and fast, my horse would have outrun everyone every time if given the chance. There is a power there that is difficult to describe if you haven’t felt it yourself. All I can say is that I felt free, connected, present, and satisfied.

5. I am slowly but surely churning out episodes of my divorce stories series; Lessons From Love. Have you listened? Check it out and let me know what you think!

6. I am in the beginning process of seeking deeper support for my ADHD and PMDD and wow there is just so much information that is becoming available. So grateful that women are speaking up and receiving the support they truly need.

7. Olivia Rodrigo’s new album is a great listen. I love sad girl pop music.

8. My friend EB and I had over 30 women sign up to come stroll EB’s pasture with us on Saturday and I just feel so honored to get the chance to soak up some nature and horses with so many kindreds, keep an eye out for the photos on instagram.

9. This episode from “If Books Could Kill” which has quickly become one of my favorite episodes of theirs. If you are a fan of “The Body Keeps the Score” prepare to be challenged and educated.

10. The countless videos I have watched of people from other countries partying, singing, dancing, and playing in America for the world cup. I am not sure why but it has brought me to tears every time. Why am I crying about Scottish fans in Boston? Who can know.

Have you ever tried to learn a new language using an app or online platform? I downloaded SPEAK this week as I feel invigorated in my attempt to become fluent in Spanish. Let me know if you have a good rec.

1. The first bite into a cherry from Palisade, CO. Stone fruit season is upon us and what a blessing it is.

2. This poem about forgiveness from Maria Popova. I love her work. I love the idea of turning the stone in our hearts into dust. Nature has so many metaphors for us.

3. I am reading a book on attachment recommended to me by my first friend I interviewed for my series, “Lessons From Love”. The book is so interesting and incredibly practical for processing your attachment style; The Power of Attachment by Diane Poole Heller, PHD.

4. I held my free writing session and it was sooo lovely and delicious. There will be one in June and July so please hop in if you want to write with me this summer! (Reminder, it’s free!)

5. I am loving this SPF lip balm and it is a must for me to pack for my trip this coming week.

6. This reminder from Trevor Hall that I needed this week.

7. The first couple of episodes of “Knight of the Seven Kingdoms” were a complete delight, but the fifth episode was incredibly distressing for me. Can anyone inform me (without spoilers) if it gets any better?

8. I experienced a little moment of delight when I got to sleep in the other day and walked out to my living room to see Indi laying perfectly in the way of a sun beam. He lazily looked over at me as I padded into the kitchen to make my coffee and it felt like such a sweet moment. We don’t deserve dogs.

9. I have a strange gratitude for the lessons I am gaining from my house not selling yet and its making me think of stressful life situations and how they can be a catalyst for growth and connection. I don’t have anything incredibly cogent to say about this yet, but maybe I’m adding it here to remind myself to write about it later.

10. This quote “Jealousy shows you where you want to go. Shame shows you where you still need healing.” from Francesca Tighinean. I love her content on social media, check it out!

That’s all for now!

ALSO…

I need to make a redaction to a previous edition of "Ten Good Things” wherein I shared a song I loved. I am redacting because the music was AI music and I felt so frustrated and duped. I am sure AI is helpful in a lot of ways, but I cannot align with the idea that AI can create art.

Fan Ho (Approaching Shadow, Hong Kong, 1954)

I like writing and I like reading. Sometimes I like reading what I’ve written…

Read more