Human default?

 

A little something I wrote back in July of 2024 and... a worthy read.

There's a pretty tough 20 minute hike up out of the Green River gorge at the end of the Upper section whitewater kayaking trip.

Guests are required to carry their kayak and paddle up this trail. They agree to this ahead of time with truly little understanding of what it actually means.

I'm carrying my boat too as we march up the trail. Breathing hard, sweating, muscles beginning to ache. And I get to watch and listen over and over how this is navigated.

Some go quiet. Some talk while they walk. Some get angry. Some just get it done.

But nearly always in these moments of physical stress and discomfort I witness a default human behavior where the focus becomes "what's best for me" and "what's best for me specifically to lesson or eliminate MY pain".

Concern for other's pain almost always goes out the window because I want my pain to be eliminated first and foremost.

Carry my boat for me please, or help me with my burden with little or no concern for the fact that everyone else is experiencing the same exact thing.

I've begun to realize we ALL do this in many areas of our lives. Ask yourself if the truth that exists underneath a moment of disgruntledness is actually based in my need to eliminate my own "best interest" first and foremost?

Isn't this why we get upset when someone takes "our" parking spot? After all..."that was mine" right? Of course it wasn't yours. Its simply a parking spot. The layer of "mine first" comes directly from the mindset of "what’s best for me is best". But is it?

And who is deciding this "bestness" anyway?

I've begun to take note of my own behavior and whether in a moment of dis-ease if I'm acting from a place of "me first". And also trying to navigate whether I recognize someone else acting from "me first" and how to best sail through this moment.

We each have our own default inner programming when moments of fight, flight or freeze arrive.

We don't always see it. Because these defaults have been playing out unrecognized for years. But when you do see it...you can't unsee it.

And I do believe these programs can be re-written and/or re-scripted.

I'm still trying to figure out how to do this well.

Humaning is hard.

But we can do hard things.





#wildhearted

 

Home. What it is?

 

I was pondering on this question recently because...I’ve not been at my physical home address of late because I’ve been pet sitting and house sitting in others’ homes for the past few weeks.

What happens when you’re away from your own home for that long is that you begin to miss the comforts of your own bed and so forth.

I began to think more about the idea of “missing home” and knowing that since my pups are no longer here... the energy around my home has changed dramatically. And well...this has altered the “homeness feeling” I used to find there.

Pondering on this further...my next question was...what is “home” anyway?

Is home a place?

Is home a feeling?

or...can home actually be within me?

Enter the teachings of Ticht Nhat Hanh.

If you don’t know who he his...in brief...he was a Vietnamese Thiền Buddhist monk, peace activist, prolific author, poet, and teacher, who founded the Plum Village Tradition, historically recognized as the main inspiration for engaged Buddhism. Known as the "father of mindfulness", Nhất Hạnh was a major influence on Western practices of Buddhism.

I’ve found his teachings very easy to understand, apply and to practice and also quite life-changing.

And I don’t think it is any accident that I came across one of his teachings on Youtube this morning titled “Loneliness and the Illusion of Connection.”

In this 20 minute video Ticht Nhat Hanh speaks of “connecting with yourself and the going home to the island of self as the way to heal ourselves and the way to heal our society.”

This practice involves a very simple mindfulness meditation of focusing on the in-breath and then focusing on the out-breath...and that in doing so we reconnect with our bodies and to the present moment.

Herein lies the answer to my question above.

Yes. Home IS actually within me.

It’s not a place, or a geographical location, or a feeling, or a building, or a zipcode.

Much to ponder here. Much to learn.

Click here to view Loneliness and the Illusion of Connection with Thich Nhat Hanh

Photo Credit: Image by cubicroot from Pixabay dot com

 

Sleeping with a mosquito

This one doesn't require an explanation of any kind.
Be bold, be you!

Carry on.

 

 

 

 

Yoga and connecting to your magic.

 

 

Listen...Yoga with Adrienne is worthy of consideration.

I mean...come on...her super cool dog sleeps in the background of nearly every video!
And Adrienne has 13.6 million subscribers on YouTube. I mean come on. That's telling, right?

I'm more of an at home solo trainer. Not much of a group, gym or yoga studio session kinda person. Please note here...if you are a group person I totally get it...and I still love you.

That said...I've been following Adrienne on YT for years...and took a hiatus for way too long from including "Yoga with Adrienne" in my daily practice.

There was a time too in my life when I didn't truly realize what yoga was about (hint: the breath). I thought it was too froofee and not athletic enough.

Pfffft. Um, let me tell ya...yoga can be soft and calm and it can also smoke your ass. One thing is certainly true for me here...every time I practice yoga I learn more about which side of my body is weaker or more or less balanced or tight than the other.

Is fascinating to me that something as simple as yoga can teach you so much about yourself.

And this practice is SO easy to do with Adrienne. All online... youtube...super easy to do first thing in the morning right in your own living room.

Yep, take this as your "get on the mat" challenge!

So...I'll put the link below to the 22 minute Yoga with Adrienne session I practiced this morning. And YES indeed I feel SO much BETTER!

Just felt the need to pass on the good feels today.

And in the words of Adrienne, "Yoga connect you to your magic."

Namaste.

Click here to get on the mat for just 22 minutes with Adrienne.

You won't regret it.

 

 

 

When an image makes sounds in your head...

 

If you've ever stood on the banks of a lake like this one, you know exactly what I'm talking about.
When an image makes sounds in your head...

The lapping of the water on the shore. 
The calls of the water-birds whether duck or loons or geese.

There's a sweet peace found there. 

And to soak up those vibrations is like a nervous system reset.

Namaste.

 

 

Photo Credit: Kanenori from pixabay.com  

 

When your Chihuahua walks into the grocery store behind you and you didn’t know it.

Willis had just joined the family. It had only been a week or so.

He came to us because his first person had passed away and we had only just lost our toy fox terrier Dodi to pancreatitis, so we had a pet vacancy.

It was a regular practice of mine to take the dogs with me on a hike at a nearby park...and then stop by the grocery store on the way home.

That’s what went down on this date.

Reeses Pieces and Willis were still in the getting to know each other phase.

We hiked...and the off to Kroger we went. Because I’m a professional dog parent...I parked in the shade off to the side of the parking lot...and left the windows partially down. Including the sliding back window of my truck.

I popped out and walked around the front of the store and out of sight of my truck.

Just so happens I’m a list person...and as I got near the end of my list...an announcement came over the speaker system. It went like this...

(Please note here...I’d shopped in this store dozens and dozens of times and never heard an announcement like this one...so of course it caught my attention).

“Would the owner of a tan Chihuahua wearing a blue harness, please come to the customer service desk.”

WHAT? HOW? And then I crack a smile as I proceed immediately to the service desk. Wiiiiillliss!

As I came around the corner...there he was...all grinny. Willis was in the arms of the person working the desk. He had a little gleam in his eye when he saw me. And as I approached I couldn’t help but ask… “um, how did this happen? How did he come to be in your arms right now?”

She replied, “Somebody saw him walking through the produce section and picked him up and brought him to me.”

Clearly, Willis had jumped out the window and followed me into the store. I had no idea just how loyal and capable a chihuahua was...who knew they were trackers? I still can’t believe he walked right through the font door of the Kroger that day.

And yes...I am aware this whole story could have gone horribly wrong. But it didn’t...thanks to some very good-hearted people making excellent choices to intervene on this day.

I took him into my arms and asked if it was ok if I shopped for a few more things before I checked out. She said, “sure!”

Then as I walked the aisles everyone was smiling at us because they all had heard the same public service announcement and they knew this story had found a delightful end. Willis was just smiling away because he’d found me!

But then...it struck me. OH NO, what about Pieces?

So I hurried back to my truck and there she was on the floorboard knowing full well that Willis had broken a cardinal rule of staying in place. I assured her that all was well and promptly closed the back window which clearly is how Mr. Houdini escaped.

Never underestimate the determination of your Chihuahua sticking by your side come hell or high water. Fiercely loyal these little ones.

And don’t doubt for one second that for the remainder of our days together (9 years to be exact)...if Willis was with me...the rear truck window was tightly shut.

And so goes the legacy of Will Willis. Dearly missed...yet I will always honor his big heart and his fierce loyalty. And his gifted ability of knowing where I was at any and all times.

Rest in peace my furry friend. 
Chief leader of my security team. 

You are sorely missed.

Raise Your Vibe: A 40-Min Guided Live Zoom Practice to Shift Your Energy • Thu, April 16 • 6:30 PM Eastern Time

 

5 Simple Ways to Raise Your Vibration
A 40-minute guided practice (live on Zoom) with Rachel Dickson
Thursday, April 16 at 6:30 PM EST | Live on Zoom | $10

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We gathered for this last month… and everyone loved it so much we’re doing it again—because it matters!

Everything in this Universe is energy.

And whether we realize it or not…
we are always broadcasting a signal.

Through our thoughts.
Our emotions.
Our internal state.

And life responds accordingly.

In this guided gathering, we’ll explore what it means to raise your vibration—
as something real, grounded, and accessible in your everyday life.

This is about learning how to gently shift your energy…
so what you’re sending out begins to align with what you actually want to receive.

Together, we’ll move through simple ways to:

• become aware of the energy you’re currently holding

• shift your internal state in real time

• reconnect with a more grounded, open frequency

• raise your energetic “set point” in small, sustainable ways

No experience is needed.
Just bring yourself… and a willingness to notice what shifts.

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What You’ll Receive

✨ 5 simple, practical ways to raise your vibration
🌿 A guided energetic reset you can return to anytime and build into your daily life (replay included)
💛 A grounded, supportive space to reconnect with yourself

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Details

Date: Thursday, April 16
Time: 6:30 PM EST (please note the timezone)
Length: 40 minutes
Location: Live on Zoom
Cost: $10

Registration for this event has passed.