Hello!

The seasons have changed, the pandemic has changed. How are you?

I imagine so much has happened in the last few months. I am so glad to return to regular connection in newsletters. I have so much to share today.

I am planning ahead. I will be in Juneau, AK for a week or two this upcoming May 2022. I am in the midst of securing clinic space, and will be offering in-person visits. I am so thrilled to see you! I will keep you posted as we get closer, with more details to come.

As the seasons change, shifting from summer to autumn, we too experience a shift in all aspects of our being. Spring and Summer are great big expansive times. Big movement, big ideas, big projects, big adventures.

In contrast, Autumn and Winter are times of contraction. For us, this means folding inward. The very motion of inward folding can feel so edgy, so uncomfortable…The shift from expansion to contraction is almost a heroic shift. Take notice of how this feels in your body and how it shows up in your life.  These two seasons are a time to deeply look inward. To take notice. To rest. These are the times to take stock of your life. What is working? What isn’t? What are your dreams and intentions for your next time of expansion (next spring and summer)? What are your dreams and intentions for your life? What kind of tending, simplifying, repairing and renewal are required in order to live in integrity (meaning all of your parts are integrated into one whole authentic you?). I invite you to really use this Autumn and Winter time. Deepen your connection to your wise inner self. What does she want you to know? What are the changes, the course corrections, and also the daring new leaps and risks you are willing to take, in order to live the life of your greatest imagining?

I recently read The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks. I cannot recommend this book enough. It is all about taking new leaps and risks (as mentioned above) and surpassing your self-imposed limiting threshold. It’s about clarifying and living in your Zone of Genius. This means: getting really clear on what you are uniquely, exquisitely good at, and designing your life so that you are in your zone of genius more often than not. Interestingly, the author notes that in his experience, many people with vague diagnoses and syndromes (fatigue, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, chronic pain, autoimmune disorders, hypothyroidism, etc…) are operating in their zone of competence or zone of excellence, but not in their zone of genius. The stress of having one’s genius stifled has wide-spread health effects. Given that so very many of you experience at least one of these diagnoses/syndromes, I got interested. Now of course there are so many contributing factors to these health concerns. AND- honoring and living within your zone of genius is new and fascinating terrain. I thought I’d share, in case it interests you too.

I recently enrolled in a 12 month course based in Functional Medicine. I am learning rapidly that we can heal so much more than I realized. For example, if we want to heal hypothyroidism or resolve hormonal imbalances, or optimize our weight (gain or lose) or improve mental clarity, or sleep better, we need to first attend to gut health, then adrenal health, then liver health. Each piece of the healing is specific and involves the woman as a whole being. I am so excited by this, and am starting to bring this into our work together.

Covid-19 is overwhelmingly in Alaska. So many of you have emailed to let me know that you have the virus. Many colleagues of mine are also sick. I implore you to take care of yourself, whether or not you have been vaccinated. I will say what I know I’ve already said: Eat a lot of vegetables. Every color every day. At least half of every meal needs to be a vegetable or fruit. This will markedly improve your immune function. Drink lots of water- at least half your weight in ounces, or maybe all of your weight in ounces (see what feels right). Stop eating refined sugar, or cut way back if stopping is too hard. And sleep. Please sleep. 7-9 hours every night. No exceptions. If you contract this virus, you may not work. Everything stops while you heal. The highest goal is to heal well now, in an effort to prevent severe illness and/or “long covid”. Let me know if you want to discuss tailoring your self-care plan, and what to do if you get sick.

Many of you have asked: Was my move the right choice? Do I miss Alaska?

The answers are: Yes, I am without a doubt in the right place, here in Massachusetts. My life in Massachusetts has offered a different pace (surprisingly slower), more time for introspection, and markedly increased opportunities for personal and professional growth. I am absolutely in the right place at the right time.

AND- I miss Alaska every single day. I am there in my heart, in my memories. Every. Single. Day. (I wear my XtraTuffs everywhere I go, order sockeye from Juneau every summer, and still refuse to own an umbrella!) I cannot imagine a meaningful life that doesn’t include being in Alaska, and having an Alaskan lifestyle vibrantly alive in me.

I remain committed to place. Committed to the incredible women, families and communities of Alaska. Committed to you. My goal is get to Alaska at least once a year in person (hopefully far more often though!), to maintain my connections to people and places that I dearly love. The pandemic has prevented me from traveling thus far. I am hopeful that by May of 2022, I’ll be back home in Juneau for a visit, seeing so very many of you.