Inspired & Growing

  As the days shorten and the air shifts with the first hints of autumn, September invites us into a season of abundance. The Harvest Moon, with its golden glow, has long been a symbol of gathering—both the literal harvest of fields and the personal harvest of our own lives. It is a reminder to pause and recognize the good that has been quietly growing around us, and its golden light encourages us to honor the fullness already here. A simple way to honor this season of abundance is by practicing gratitude. Gratitude is more than saying ‘thank you’ and moving on—when we practice it fully, we slow down, notice, and let appreciation sink in. It’s a way of seeing the world. It shifts us from a mindset of scarcity to one of fullness, reminding us that even in the most ordinary days, there is beauty waiting to be noticed. A Gratitude Practice This practice is to provide the space to recognize what’s already here. Think of it as a mindful harvest of your own life—collecting th...

A s the days grow shorter and the sunlight softens, it’s natural to feel the shift toward the darker months. But this transition is also an invitation—to soak up the outdoors while you still can, and to ready your home and routines for the months ahead. Try out some of the suggestions below.  You don’t have to do everything—or even anything—but make it a priority to step outside, feel the crisp air , and appreciate the sun while it lingers. And when you return inside, wrap yourself in a blanket or sip something warm as a reminder that each season brings its own kind of comfort. Step Outside and Savor the Season:  Before winter’s grip takes hold, spend as much time outside as possible. Take long walks through fallen leaves , linger on the porch with a warm drink, or simply sit in your garden and notice the subtle changes in light and color. Capture the season by snapping photos of your favorite spots for Instagram, or record a short video of your walk and share it on TikTok...

One takeaway from reading Joie by Ajiri Aki was the encouragement to bring more intention and delight into everyday moments—especially something as simple as lunch. Inspired by that, I invited a group of women from work to lunch. Each of them had always struck me as kind and friendly.  Though they didn’t all know each other, I thought it would be meaningful to bring them together. There were about eight of us at that first lunch, and it turned out to be a really special experience. Despite being younger and in different stages of life, they shared similar hopes and fears. The conversation was warm and easy, and it reminded me how much joy and connection can come from simply making the space.  We now meet the first Wednesday of each month. That experience encouraged me to begin taking lunch at least once a week. It started small, just one lunch, but I enjoyed it so much that I now take time most days to step away from work for 30 to 60 minutes. At first, I’d watch people I foll...

Women Living Deliciously by Florence Given is part memoir, part manifesto, encouraging us to drop the hustle for approval and instead embrace beauty, pleasure, intuition, and power on our own terms . The book isn’t about perfection—it’s about presence. It affirmed what I’m learning on my journey: that living fully doesn’t mean waiting for the “big” moments, but delighting in the details and giving ourselves permission to rewrite old scripts. It’s a celebration of reclaiming our joy and choosing to live with bold softness. My Takeaways I’m learning to value my own opinion of myself—to believe that it counts, even if no one else validates it. It’s easy to outsource our power—letting others decide what’s best or silencing our own intuition—but I’m choosing to come home to myself. I am not the noise in my mind. I am the one who hears it, and I get to choose how I respond. Joy lives in the everyday. If I wait for the weekend or retirement to rest and enjoy my life, I’ll miss ...

The other night, I had a quiet realization—and it surprised me.  I had planned a perfectly cozy evening: Pull out tomorrow’s dinner Treadmill Read a few pages of my nonfiction book Start a new knitting project End the night with fiction and my dog curled up beside me Sounds lovely, right? But as I moved through the evening, it felt…  tiring.  Not because I was doing hard things—but because I was  doing so many of them.  Each one was a “restful” activity, yet somehow, together, they started to feel like another to-do list. That’s when it hit me:   I was treating my slow-living hobbies like productivity tasks.    Instead of soaking in the moment, I was racing through “rest.” And I had turned something meant to restore me into something I had to check off. The Trap of Performing Peace If you’re anything like me—someone who craves balance and deeply values making the most of your time—it’s easy to unintentionally hustle your way through slow livi...

I discovered Alexandra Tavel , the creative mind behind Two of Wands , years ago on Instagram—and I’ve been hooked ever since. Her use of color and the elegance of her knit and crochet patterns instantly drew me in. Her designs strike that perfect balance between modern style and timeless craft, and I absolutely love how accessible and wearable they are. Each year on Earth Day , Alexandra offers a free pattern as a way to celebrate and give back. This year, she went above and beyond—offering two free patterns and a recipe!  Through this, I also learned about her inspiring Purposeful Patterns initiative: for every pattern sold, $1 is donated to the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) , supporting the preservation of natural beauty and public lands. This year, I happily purchased one of the featured patterns and even added an extra crochet design to my cart! Tonight, I plan to cast on the Bistro Kitchen Cloth —a small, meaningful project that feels perfectly aligned with h...

Lately, I’ve been drawn to books that remind me to slow down and savor life—the kind that gently nudge you toward living with more meaning and less hustle. Joie by Ajiri Aki is exactly that kind of book. It's not a manual on how to “do life better,” but rather an invitation to shift how you see and experience your everyday. Ajiri Aki shares her journey of moving to Paris and learning how the French find beauty and contentment in even the simplest moments. While her life may look different from mine, the mindset she embraces is something I deeply connected with. My Key Takeaways from  Joie: Visit a café: Not just to grab a drink, but to sit, observe, and be present. It’s about creating a moment—pausing to enjoy life as it’s unfolding. Commit to lunch once a week: With a friend, a loved one, or even yourself. Carving out intentional time for connection is a quiet act of joy.   Savor quality food: Ajiri’s appreciation for beautiful, high-quality meals inspired me to dream a ...