Hello my love,

I’ve been thinking a lot about where I want to shift our energies towards and I keep coming back to celebration, joy, pleasure, bliss, etc. I am quite sensitive to the fact that we are walking through very uncertain times that are quite challenging for many of us, on many different levels; emotional, physical, spiritual, financial, professional, metaphysical and beyond. I think because of our current landscape we need to do this practice even more actually.

My husband (and my mother used to as well) spoil me the entire month of my birthday. Well, let’s be honest, my mother did every day of my life and my husband pretty much does too. :) Specifically for the month of July though, there was a lovely thread of radical generosity, kindness, and celebration that was woven into my days. I carry this tradition on and pretty much live this way every day towards myself, and others.

I invite you to lean into this energy every day this month; and beyond of course, but for this month we are creating a new habit; a ritual. It doesn’t have to be your birthday, and you don’t even need to feel celebratory in any way—actually when you aren’t feeling it is when it is even more beneficial to practice this ritual.

Here are some ways I infuse this energy into my days, my life.

I ask myself questions like~

What do you want to do today? Anything you want Dove, what would it be? And I go do it.
What do you want to cook/make/create/or go get to eat? The sky’s the limit, what would bring you joy right now?
What makes you happy? What do you really enjoy doing? Let’s go do it.
What would make you feel good if you finished? The process might not be pure bliss but completely it will be.
What have I been avoiding doing that is important for my well-being? Let’s face it and move forward.
Where do you want to go? Let’s go.

My replies would be something like this~

~I want to go to a nursery and look at plants and get more plants for the house and garden because they make me so happy.
~I really want this salad I love from Follow Your Heart. I’m going to take myself there and enjoy one. Hey! And my favorite nursery is across the street! Double points!
~I absolutely love sitting in my backyard with an actual book, not my iPhone, not my iPad, not my computer but a book I can hold in my hands, turn the pages, dog ear them and simply be with nature while I read.
~I would love to repaint the spots on the exterior of the house so every time I look at it I don’t feel sad that some paint has peeled away.
~I need to make a few doctor’s appointments now that I am recovered (mostly) from being sick. It would feel so great to have them all taken care of. I tend to do this around my birthday as a fresh start of a new year in this body. It is a way of honoring my body and thanking it for all it provides for me.
~I want to go to the beach. See ya! :)

You can see how the conversation would go with yourself, right? It is a self-inquiry to discover what makes you feel good. Let’s all lean into living a life filled with nourishing gifts to our Self, from our Self! I invite you to bring this intention into each day. I will be doing it right along side you.

Today I am off to Erewhon to get some ingredients to make a delicious Broth Breakfast Soup with Maitake, Escarole and a Poached Egg dish from my new favorite cookbook Salad For President by Julia Sherman. This brings me vast amounts of joy and feels like a present I get to go unwrap and enjoy.

What will you do?

Emmett took this picture of our wisteria dancing with our star jasmine in the backyard. I love it. I hope you do as well.

Big hug.