Before life speeds up again — let’s enjoy this in-between.
Hello Friends! 🍁
It’s been a while since you’ve heard from me! As you know, I was away on an extended vacation — and I have to admit, it’s taken me longer than expected to recover from the jet lag and to catch up on everything. I’m doing my best to practice a little self-compassion.
Vacations are wonderful, but not always as restful as we imagine. My husband and I traveled through Slovenia, Bosnia, and Croatia, soaking up the stories of history, culture, and resilience while exploring the breathtaking landscapes. Not wanting to miss anything, we were on the go from early morning until evening — 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.!
Now it’s back to reality and routines.
Like many of you, I’ve felt the distraction of the current political climate. When I notice my focus slipping, I try to anchor myself with something that helps me stay grounded. Author and spiritual director Emily P. Freeman has a practice I love — identifying the things that are “saving her life right now.” This practice involves reflecting on your life as you're living it, and naming what’s saving your life is a simple way to ground yourself right where you are.
Here’s what’s saving my life right now:
🍂The changing colors in the trees — those bright reds, oranges, and yellows against a crisp blue sky.
☕Coffee dates with friends. A good cup and a warm chat — nothing better.
🏋🏼My morning workouts and 🚶🏼♀️walks along the levee. Movement clears my head, connects me to nature, and boosts my mood - while I build my strength 💪🏻.
🫂Stories of courage, compassion, and caring — they renew my faith in human goodness.
👩🏼🍳Fall baking and cooking, especially with cinnamon, apples, and pumpkin.
📺Cozy evenings with a favorite show or new season to dive into.
🪆Time with family (and yes, especially the grandbabies!).
📚Reading — my Kindle is loaded with different genres, so I always have something to match my mood.
So, what’s saving your life right now? I’d truly love to hear — just hit “reply” and share!
THIS & THAT
I’ve been dealing with some shoulder and neck pain lately, and this article reminded me how much posture affects our comfort and energy. As we settle into new seasonal routines, it might be a good time to review a few simple tips for better posture and body mechanics.
If you take vitamins or supplements, you might be surprised to learn that not all combinations play well together. This article outlines five supplement pairings to avoid — helpful if you’re reassessing your daily routine.
And if you’ve been feeling disheartened by the world’s polarization (I certainly have), I recommend Mel Robbins’ podcast interview with Dr. Todd Rose on the concept of “collective illusion.” It completely shifted how I think about the state of things, how the media and social platforms distort what most people believe — and reminded me how personal choices create ripple effects with global impact. It’s a long listen, but so worth it!
November Office Hours
First Tuesday Office Hour is back!
This month we’ll explore:
🪶 The Hidden Power of Being Thankful for What’s Hard
We’ll look at how challenges and loss can deepen our capacity for gratitude — and why being thankful doesn’t mean denying difficulty.
📅 Date: Tuesday, November 4th (Election Day)
⏰ Time: 9:00 am PST
🔗 Join us via [Zoom link]
It’s a warm, supportive space for reflection and community. I’d love for you to join the conversation.
November: An Opportunity to Focus Our Gratitude
November has always been one of my favorite months — not only because of Thanksgiving, but because it offers us a natural pause to reflect on what we are grateful for. It’s a time to take stock, to notice the small good things, and to remember that gratitude doesn’t need to be loud or elaborate. Sometimes it’s simply a deep breath, a warm mug, or the rhythm of an ordinary day.
This month, I invite you to join me in a simple gratitude practice. Not the kind that requires a list, but the kind that grows from noticing — noticing what’s steady, what’s beautiful, and even what’s been hard but has shaped us for the better.
To make it easy and meaningful, I’ve created a November Gratitude Guide — a gentle devotional and journaling resource to help you reflect each day (or each week, if that’s more your pace). Inside, you’ll find short prompts, reflections, and encouragement to weave gratitude into the everyday moments that make up this season.
👉 [Download the November Gratitude Guide]
Use it however it fits your rhythm — with your morning coffee, a quiet evening, or a short pause before bed. Let this month remind you that gratitude is less about what we have and more about how we see.
FINAL THOUGHTS
As we move through these last golden days of October, I hope you’ll give yourself permission to notice what’s around you — the rustle of leaves, the shorter evenings, the comfort of familiar routines. This season always feels like an invitation — to light a candle, pour a warm drink, and notice the small joys before life speeds up again.
What’s saving your life at this moment? Even small things — a quiet morning, a favorite song, or a kind word — can be powerful reminders of what grounds and sustains us.
There’s beauty in this gentle slide into November, when gratitude and coziness mingle. I hope you find moments that make you smile, memories that warm your heart, and simple pleasures that remind you: you’re right where you need to be.
Whether you find thankfulness in beauty, in struggle, or in small, ordinary moments, I hope this next month brings a steady rhythm of grace and peace to your days.
With warmth and appreciation,
Judy
PS: I hope to see you in Office Hours on November 4th @ 9:00 am.
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