My Journey, My Joy
It's been seven months since my last newsletter. I've been thinking of you and I'd love to catch up.
Hello friends!
I’ve missed you and would love to reconnect.
I’ve been thinking about this quote by Kelly Rae Roberts: “Your joy is medicine to the world.” I’d love to hear—what’s been bringing you joy lately? Have you discovered any small, joyful moments in your daily life?
Updates on My Journey, My Joy
Time has flown by! I’ve been busy and deeply engaged in some truly meaningful experiences. But before I dive in, I’d like to invite you to imagine this.
What if you could…
Push the pause button and carve out time just for yourself?
Pack your virtual suitcase full of joyful inspiration?
Travel alongside a group of creative, like-minded women?
Discover where your joy might lead you—and the medicine it offers the world?
That’s what I’ve been doing—investing deeply in myself and connecting with some pretty amazing creative women, all while further discovering what brings me joy, and what medicine I want to share with the world. I’d love to share the highlights.
I’ve been building my dream life with coaching from Josette Diaz through her program, "Be Your Own Soulmate: Dream It, Own It, Have It." I have some exciting news to share about the dreams I hold for myself and for our community—more on that in the coming days! Hint: It will look something like this.
Through An Artist’s Guide to Journaling I’ve been receiving inspiration by connecting with a lovely group of women who inspire me through their art, their words and their sharing.
I’ve participated in Season’s Manifesto: a year-long community who meets monthly and where I honor myself through life’s seasons. Recently we created a holiday manifesto. It was a fun process that has inspired me to host a Sacred Traditions Holiday Advent Calendar. It all starts December 1st and you can read all about it below.
Most recently, I had the pleasure connecting with a kindred spirit who shares my passion for bringing women together through creativity and connection. If you follow me on Instagram or Facebook, you might remember that I participated in a creativity challenge earlier this year. That challenge was hosted by Lise-Lotte Design, and she’s now gearing up for her December Creativity Challenge. She describes it as a chance to practice new ways of looking at the world around you, introducing you to creativity, reminding you of new creative ways of looking at things, or contributing to your existing creative practice. Best of all, it’s completely free—and I know it’s going to be so much fun!
I’ve been learning from Tonya Blakley in The Sacred Space Society how to leverage the ancient wisdom of Feng Shui and have been creating an environment that looks beautiful and truly resonates with my personal desires. This is my office transformed. I’m excited to share before & after photos of this space and others as they are complete.
In April, I had the pleasure of hosting a workshop in Victoria, BC: Wild Threads, Slow-Stitch for Creativity & Calm. Working alongside Megan Elizabeth, @threadspells, we gathered for a Sunday afternoon lakeside retreat of calm and creativity. Slow-stitching has since sparked my creativity in new ways—I’ve been designing greeting cards, recreating photographs with fabric and thread, and even creating kits for a friend’s birthday celebration.
Of course, my family remains at the heart of my life. I’ve cherished time with my daughter and granddaughters, traveled to Texas to visit my son with my granddaughters, and reunited with my son in Colorado, where we brought home Cora, our grand dog, who’s staying with us for a while. And, it’s been my deep joy to spend time with my mom. I feel so blessed to have had the past 2.5 years of almost daily visits with her. Her positivity, humor, and big heart have left a profound imprint on me—qualities I hold close and strive to embody every day.
A Sneak Peek at What’s Next
2024 would have marked the 7th Anniversary of the Cultivate Your Christmas Calm gathering—a traditional event where women came together to connect, create, and find a sense of calm before the holiday hustle. While I won’t be hosting this event this year, I’m thrilled to introduce something new and meaningful in its place: The Sacred Traditions Holiday Advent Calendar.
Why an advent calendar? It all started with a memory of a Christmas past.
It was the late 1990s, and I was living 1,000 kilometers away from family. Travel was beyond my budget that year, so I spent Christmas alone—a decision that stirred a whirlwind of emotions. I felt isolated, lonely, and unsure of how to navigate the season without the usual traditions. Surprisingly, the day wasn’t as difficult as I had feared.
As I reflect on that time, I realize how I’ve come to deeply value connection, simplicity, calm, and the practice of intentionally creating sacred moments during the holidays. After an incredibly full year (as I’m sure you can imagine), this advent calendar feels like the perfect way to honor those values—not only for myself but also to share them with you. Together, we can cultivate meaningful moments that keep us grounded and filled with joy throughout the season.
Here’s a sneak peek at a few treasures you might find inside:
What to Expect from the Sacred Traditions Holiday Advent Calendar
Each day of the advent season, you’ll receive a carefully crafted sacred moment to inspire calm, connection, and joy during the holidays. These moments are simple yet meaningful and designed to help you pause, reflect, and stay grounded amidst the holiday hustle.
Your advent calendar may include:
Gentle prompts for mindfulness and reflection to nurture your inner calm.
Creative activities or rituals to bring intentionality and joy to your day.
Heartfelt traditions to foster connection with yourself and your loved ones.
Guided practices like short meditations, journaling exercises, or moments of gratitude.
Whether you have five minutes or an hour, these daily touches of sacredness are your invitation to slow down, savor the season, and stay aligned with what truly matters to you. It is my hope that these moments inspire you to create lasting traditions—not only during the holiday season but throughout the year as well.
In closing, I just want to say how much I appreciate your patience and presence. I’m filled with joy looking ahead to the holiday season and what’s planned for 2025.
