“This is definitely an interesting concept. What, specifically, are you looking for from us?” - Chris Dobens

Things like life and climate can seem so big. Often existential.

But our relationships with planet, self, and others are also made of little moments.

Sunsets, habits, and nudges that are more potent than dichotomies like big and little...

Acknowledge Earth Is Our Home

In the Pacific Northwest, we don't often have the weather conditions for clouds that capture the beautiful colors of the sunrise or sunset.

Historically, we've either lived in one solid cloud or had clear blue skies.

With climate change and this interesting fall we've had alternating between cloudy 70s or clear 90s, I've had more chances to see the 8pm ish sunsets cast their reds and pinks onto the fragments of clouds in both the east and west.

And I feel the push pull inside me.

Enjoy the moment for the beauty it is and the nostalgia it brings from my childhood's Minnesota sunsets?

Or feel the angst of this weather pattern change that's most likely due to climate destabilization?

And in the moment I chose to let awe in. To hold the vastness and open myself to feel both at the same time.

Relationship is never a simple dichotomy.

Discover Your Earth Archetype

I often talk about about the Earth Archetypes are made up of skills and traits -- ways of relating to the world. Habits would also fit into this category.

I used to be really good at habits -- Intentionally setting them and creating them.  People like James Clear and Mel Robbins would have been impressed.  

But over the past few years, I’ve struggled. I even tried working with functional doctors and habit orientated mentors.  But how they shared and what I needed wasn’t matching.  

Even as I proudly published a podcast each Tuesday for 20 weeks…

And a newsletter every Thursday for equally as long…

Constant pivoting seemed to be my necessity and reality.  

But something is arising in me.  A call to shift this with a mix of gentleness and clear boundaries.  

So for the month of September, I plan to make 5 things a priority everyday and see what happens.  I’ll give myself flexibility on the when, how, and what… But here and now, I’m committing to doing the following habits in some fashion everyday:

MORNING PAGES

This was inspired by The Artists Way.  

I’m someone who wakes up with a spinning brain in the morning.  All the to-dos and interconnections I’m trying to pivot and tackle.  For the past week, I’ve been doing this practice.  It helps me vomit a bunch of nonsense but also have gentle a-has without the prefrontal cortex focus or worry.  I think it’s what actually lead to this decision and post.  

MOVEMENT

Yoga in the morning

A walk after a meal

Dance

Finally unboxing those resistance bands

Something!

GRATITUDE

I often feel that my hand is on the stick shift of life.  Park. Neutral.  1st gear.  2nd.  3rd.  4th.  Reverse. Gratitude feels like an important way to be outside of these modes.  I want to cultivate it more in my life.  So if you get weird gratitude notes from me, know that I’m practicing :) 

COMEDY/LAUGHTER

Laughter Yoga is a thing!

Watch some stand up comedy

Read a joke book

Call up a friend for sh*ts and giggles

RELATIONSHIP

As a Chief Relationship Officer, I’m actively exploring this everyday.  And acknowledging the power of teaching what we need to learn, I feel like I need more time listening instead of just creating.  So I’ve loaded up on some audio books ranging from attachment theory to earth wisdom to business relationships.  I want to listen to them like podcasts.  

Join me for part of all of it!

Or feel free to ask me how it’s going.

Or help hold me accountable.  

Or be curious about the process.  

Or share your habits. 

Or try a habit that your relationship with nature is asking you to do.

Or....

Work Together in Community

Sometimes all we need is a nudge to support each other in community. A reminder. A moment. A ping. And giving and taking that from each other is definitely part of reciprocity.

That's what happened with me and Climate Optimist Anne Therese Gennari via LinkedIn this week.

She originally posted about a wonderful personal experience

And I commented:

Then 6 days later, she had a flushed out, professional piece all ready for her LI newsletter:

And we got to share some virtual high fives!

Is there a nudge you can make today?