Hey Friend!

Many mornings, before I even pour my bowl of cereal, I can feel them gathering—the voices that have shaped me, steadied me, and nudged me back toward myself. Their presence is unmistakable. These are the guides I return to again and again, the ones who help me remember who I am and what I’m capable of.

They are the people who point me in the direction of my freedom and aliveness. They sit with me and support me on my journey toward more self-efficacy, never telling me what to do but only that I can.

Whenever I feel confused about what I’m doing with my life or in doubt about a decision, I channel their presence. I recall what they’ve said in books and podcasts and conversations. I imagine them gathered in my living room, sharing their lived experience and coaching me through transition and encouraging me in my dreams.

They are my North Stars in this adventure, keeping me focused on my path (what I want) and open to the unfamiliar (where I’m headed). They whisper to me on my toughest days, inviting me into a relationship with the wild edges of my life.

My council of guides is the filter I use in the fray. I respect what they have to say and how they live, and I pay attention to their whispers.

Most of the guides are speakers, authors, teachers, or poets of some kind. A few are even fictional characters in unforgettable books I’ve read, and two are actual friends who know some intimate details of my life.

Find a seat and come join us in my living room…

1. Krista Tippett— she radiates calm and curiosity, and embodies the definition of intellectual and spiritual humility.

2. Jen Hatmaker— she is hilarious and deep, and her most recent book, Awake, stirred me to seek more autonomy and agency in my life.

3. Amber Rae— she lives from a grounded center. Her willingness to follow her intuition inspires me endlessly, especially the story she shares in her book Loveable.

4. David Whyte— the first poet I fell in love with. Anytime I read his words, I’m ushered into the magic of life.

5. Glennon Doyle— her honesty is contagious. She holds nothing back, and shares her heart without any reservations.

6. Sue Monk Kidd— she will always be my “mother from afar,” teaching me what it looks like to nurture my creativity and give birth to the many versions of myself.

7. Rob Bell— always and forever encouraging me to evolve and change and stay open to life’s possibilities, a true co-wanderer!

8. Richard Rohr— the most gentle, compassionate, deeply content man I’ve ever known— he helped me to expand my vision of god and surrender to Life.

9. Cleo Wade— her poetry feels like scripture to me, every word she writes drops straight into my center and enlivens me!

10. Jenna Kutcher— she gives me a vision of a woman who values family, gardening, friendships, and also knows how to run a business without losing her soul.

11. Jen Sincero — she changed my relationship with money and continues to influence me as I seek financial independence in my life.

12. Ingrid Fetell— her love for color and her message of joy delights me to no end. I think about her constantly!

13. Yara (from the book, Evil Eye)— she broke free from tradition, culture, and trauma, and is an example to me of a woman who pursued her desires and dreams despite facing insurmountable obstacles within and around her!

14. Jo March (from the book, Little Women)— the first woman I ever saw to step into the unknown and say yes to what she really wanted. I fell in love with Little Women at 12 years old, and still hear Jo’s confession in my head regularly, “I’m ugly and awkward and I always say the wrong things... I’m just so fitful and I can’t stand being here!” She goes on, “There’s just something really wrong with me. I want to change, but I—I can’t. And I just know I’ll never fit in anywhere…”

15. Cleo (from the book, One Night on the Island)— I’m reading through this book a second time this year. Cleo is sent to an island to “marry herself,” and in the process, she stumbles upon a man who is also rewriting his life. This is everything I want from a romance novel!

16. My therapist— she shows me what healthy relationships and communication can truly be like. I’ve never felt so seen and validated as I do when I’m with her.

17. Julia Martin, my life coach— she exudes a lust for life, she is the definition of sunshine. She increases my hunger and capacity for more joy, depth, purpose, and adventure!

Have you ever considered creating a council of guides? Who are a few people that come to mind for you? I’d love to hear!

PS: I harbored a secret suspicion for too many years, perhaps love didn’t have to be mostly mundane work and mere survival.

Hey Friend,

Guess what?

Your creativity is not complicated. In fact, it’s the least complex part of you. It’s rambunctious and rebellious, determined to chart its own path of exuberant expression. If you can access your creativity, you are unstoppable, a hot spring of interesting ideas, a garden of colorful thoughts, a lab of messy experiments, and a universe of radiant possibilities.

Your creativity is the doorway to your continual expansion, evolution, and exploration.

We weren’t taught how to locate our creativity, though. We think it’s in those gifted painter people, locked up in genetic code, or bestowed on a privileged few who can afford an MFA.

But I’m going to give you the address to your creativity, so you always know how to find it. Ready? Write this down.

We’ll start from the syrupy center of your own goodness. From there, you’ll want to turn left on Imperfection Lane, take your first right on Unruly Road, and follow it until you hit Easy Street. You won’t be able to miss it!

A telltale sign you’ve run into your creativity: Your senses are humming, you start swaying to music (songs only you can hear), and you’re ravished by the story of your life, the details of your days, the world around you.

Creativity doesn’t require you to run up a mile-long hill, partake in a special ritual, toil for hours, or wait for bus 29 to come pick you up.

In fact, there are no barriers to creativity.

Hence, the reason why we’re so intimidated by it.

Creativity is entirely free and accessible to everyone, bestowing us with agency and power, innovation and originality, compassion and empathy.

When we decide to visit with our creativity every day, the path to finding it becomes easier and easier, until eventually we navigate Imperfection Lane, Unruly Road, and Easy Street with our eyes closed.

The route, the feel, the terrain— we know the landscape intimately and can travel there whenever, however we want.

Most importantly, we learn to trust our creativity— it’s not going anywhere, it’s more generous, hopeful, and hospitable than we dare to imagine.

There is no secret path, hidden doorway, or special invitation.

Creativity is YOU— open, alive, and endlessly alluring.

Where were you, what were you doing when you last felt creative?

PS: This morning, I wrote a poem in five minutes. I huddled up with imperfection, unruliness, and ease, and the words tumbled out. Whatever is trying to express itself through you, let it come— don’t ask questions or doubt it.

Remember: Creativity isn’t a struggle. It’s coming home to yourself. If you want to read my poem for some inspiration, go here.

Hello Sweet Friends,

Here we are already another Wednesday! I’m so excited for you to open this letter because I’ve curated a list of 20 Magical Books To Keep With You!

I won’t delay any longer…you can scroll all the way down to get the list if you’re short on time, or you can meander your way through today’s little letter.

Inside you’ll find:

• the reason I chose these 20 non-fiction books and deemed them “magical”

• anudge to take a few minutes to make your own list of book potions

• and meet Brianna Wiest- a guide we all need in our lives!

So curl up on the couch for a little mini-retreat and join me… Welcome Wanderer!

There are some non-fiction books I want to keep with me forever. They feel like magical potions waiting to be mixed up with any scenario in my life. All I have to do is reach for them, flip to any page, and begin reading.

These books are a special kind of sorcery, casting a spell on me to spin toward my inner sage as I try to find my way through the forests of life.

The words within their pages sing of enchantment. They guide me on this adventure with otherworldy gentleness and patience.

The more alive these books become to me, the more my body tingles with delight and desire for what I am becoming.

I return to them over and over again with innocent expectation. Their extravagant generosity never ceases to surprise me.

How is that words slung together on white pages, wrapped in a hard shell manage to keep me company, offer a hand, whisper a word, grant me a fresh perspective, and open my eyes to new possibilities?

It’s magic I tell you.

(Scroll down for your free PDF - 20 Magical Books To Keep With You)

Do you have any “book potions” on your shelves?

Be curious about…if you could list 10 non-fiction books that you refer back to for wisdom or insight what would they be?

Jot down what comes to your mind in the next 5 minutes, then maybe wrap one up and gift it to someone in your life - pass on the magic!

Today’s Wanderer of the Week, is one of my favorite poets, Brianna Wiest. Two of her books appear on my list of “20 Magical Books To Keep With You,” and every time I open them I feel like I’ve just taken in a large gulp of salty sea air. My lungs fill with light and ease and my shoulders relax and soften into their rightful place.

Every line of Brianna’s poems feels like it deserves to be underlined.

Here is a portion of one such dog-eared poem from her book, Ceremony.

“You are allowed to let go of your old dreams. 

You are allowed to redesign your plan for your life. What 

you decided upon years ago was chosen for a person you 

no longer are. 

You were not born to do just one job, play just one 

role, be just one person, stay in just one place. You are 

a constant evolution. You are a continual unfolding. 

You haven’t met every part of yourself yet, you haven’t 

unearthed every desire. There is more to you, and there

is more to life- but to know this, you have to do the

first and most subversive thing, which is to leap without 

knowing exactly where you will land."

…

It goes on from there, but I’ll let you read this rest inside this gorgeous compilation of poetry & prose. Brianna says,

“Ceremony is a collection for those on the cusp of becoming. It is a reminder that we were not meant to fit into this world perfectly but to live in such a way that we might forge a path all our own.”

And who of us isn’t still in the throes of their becoming? Who of feels like they were not meant to fit into this world?

Wanderers, I think this book was written just for us.

And, as promised, here are 19 more!

20 Magical Books To Keep With You

Throwing lots of love your way my dears. As always thanks for being here and reading thus far. I’m glad we can walk these trails together, arm and arm, whether whistling a happy tune or releasing held back tears- I’m here for it all.

Wandering with you.