Hi! Summer is officially here! Although our lives are different in many ways, we have all learned a lot this past year. While last summer we yearned for what was once possible and familiar, I feel that we have adapted and made many changes for the better. We are more aware in the way we value our health, our communities, the environment and our planet. We are more conscious of inequalities, racism and injustices that have been present in our society for decades. Importantly, we are learning how to make alterations in our own lives to affect change in our country and the world.

As things evolve it's important to take stock in how we feel about our lives now and continue to value what's most important to us as life invariably gets busier and we return to our new normal.

Wishing everyone health and happiness! XO Heidi

Finding routines that give our day meaning and purpose can change from month to month, depending on our needs or the season. I find that mindfulness practices are a great way to slow down and reset. Doing an activity for the activity's sake. Whether it's washing the dishes to wash the dishes, gardening, raking, painting, cutting the grass... these activities can become

a beneficial meditative process.

Spending time outdoors soothes the soul! Nature is so incredibly inspiring, from the ocean to mountains, rivers, deserts, forests and lakes, the beauty of each environment is unique and exquisite. Summer is such a great time for being outdoors. Getting up high and taking in the view from a mountain peak provides a unique opportunity to view the world from a different vantage point. Taking in the vastness of the landscape, and seeing the big picture, puts things into new perspective.

Hiking in the mountains or walking on the beach, in parks or on trails are all fun ways to explore new places, get exercise, breathe fresh air and improve your overall wellbeing.

Finding local fish, fruits and vegetables is always the best, especially if you are visiting local farm stands, and fish markets. Including variety in your diet and trying new recipes is a fun way to get creative in the kitchen. Another favorite cookbook of my daughter's and mine is

Bondi Harvest by Guy Turland & Mark Alston

"2 Bondi locals and surfing mates with a shared passion for food, fun and the outdoors, Guy Turland is chef, trained in some of Sydney's top restaurants, and Mark Alston is a filmmaker and photographer. Together, they are Bondi harvest."

Click on the link below for their website

Meditation and mindfulness are both practices that train the brain to focus on awareness.

They can be done in several ways.

Filling your tool box with different practices gives you the ability to "Reset" when you need to and restore a sense of peace.

"We cannot control what life gives us but we can control how we choose to respond to it."

The PAUSE - is a great way to stop, take a breath and reset. In that moment when you pause, and take a deep breath, you give yourself the opportunity to CHOOSE how you want to respond in any given situation.

Finding the methods that work best for you is a fun practice.

Remember that meditation is not about stopping our thoughts, it's about awareness, and noticing. Imagine your mind like a birdcage and let your thoughts float in and float out.

Above is another of my guided meditations. You can either listen to it with your eyes closed, or watch the live video. (See if you notice the fox :)

What is it about babies, and animals that makes us instantly feel connection and compassion? Witnessing the birth of baby Robins has been a great privilege and honor for me the last few summers. Wanting to care for someone or something, having compassion and concern for another's wellbeing, is so relevant in our world right now, more than ever.

I find such inspiration in light...

sunlight, moonlight, starlight, firelight, phosphorescence... It all inspires me in it's own unique way. A quality that all light has in common, is an energy that can penetrate right into our Souls, we can feel it, it can fill us up with peace and love and light.

Try standing somewhere quiet, in the light, in the early morning or late day, close your eyes and face towards it and notice what you feel.