As consumers, our decisions have a direct effect on human health, environmental sustainability and social justice issues. Starting small, with a willingness to see our own contributions to the larger issues, we can make a difference.

There are a million benefits to learning about Ayurveda, from the relief of acute issues, to general lifestyle and daily practices.

When we shop locally, eating minimally processed whole foods that are grown without chemical additives or fertilizers or pesticides, and make sure our diet has variety, we are nourishing ourselves, our community and our planet as best we can.

I grew up with a pot of beans on the stove, but with my busy schedule these days I’ve taken to using a slow cooker, putting my beans on before lunch, and having a perfectly cooked pot of beans for dinner without having to stay in the kitchen all day.

The great dinner debate at our house growing up was always: corn vs. flour.

This season I decided to try to get over my not-so-friendly attitude towards cauliflower.

When our desire to stretch ourselves and grow into something new hits up against our fears and insecurities, these kinds of stories can hold a TON of power over us. And they tend to hold us back.

Even in the realm of Self-Care, there is so much that we “should” be doing “right” - especially as women and mothers, but this is true for every human living under patriarchy and capitalism.

Even if you can’t create a solid check-in routine, you can still harness the spirit of this season of renewal to pause and hold space for some gratitude and intention. Your life is a gift, from you and to you.

When I’m hydrated it’s easier to exercise - the next day. Remember, hydration isn’t an instant fix. You have to build on the previous day’s work. So keep at it, slow and steady, day by day.

I work a lot with folks who are actively working on a feeling of being stuck or overwhelmed, who are trying to unblock themselves, finally breaking free from old narratives that have been holding them back. And I see patterns of what it is that holds people back.

When have you offered a hand to someone in need, even when it wasn't very convenient or comfortable - or when you knew it would be anonymous...?

From specific things that happened to us as children, to the long standing conditioning we have from being alive in the world at this time and place, as we navigate our days we each get triggered into “feeling bad” by different things.

When's the last time you wrote down a list of things you appreciate about yourself, about your body, about the things you have survived? Even a hug will work.

We don’t have to “grow up” to find ourselves. Oftentimes, all we have to do is create a little space for our childlike yearnings. Get out of the way and allow for the magic.

Do it because it matters to you, because you want to show up as your fullest self. Because you believe in what you're doing. Because you believe in YOU.

There are things that I do, and keep doing, that add to my ongoing stress, and this time of year I’m always thinking about ways to set myself up for a successful year. This year is no expectation.

Time moves, and the only way I’ve come to stop struggling against it is to pause and take a deeeeeep breath.

These areas of our lives work together to uphold our efforts and amplify our success. Putting too much emphasis on any one area can actually undermine what we’re trying to accomplish.

I know you’ve probably been putting up with “Shoulds” for years. But I’m here to tell ya: You DON’T have to live with this toxic noise any more.