Trail Mix :: No. 13

Why We Drove Away From A Dream, A Summer Course I HIGHLY Recommend, Art as Activism, and more.

Hello Friend!

As always welcome to the Trail Mix Weekly-ish Letters for us curious and ambitious folks. Below you’ll find a colorful assortment of goodness to keep you fueled and inspired for all your various adventures- my top 5 favorite reads, listens, resources, & other interesting tidbits, plus an exclusive peek into my personal journey each week.

Rummage through the words and resources below and snag only the pieces you find the tastiest.

First up, an intimate look into our life over the last 4 years and how a dream nearly ruined us.

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Why We Drove Away From A Dream & How To Know When It’s Time To Leave It All Behind (Part 1 of 3)

Four years ago, we bought a log house on five acres with a dream in mind.

But from the moment we started unloading our belongings from the U-Haul, I knew something felt off.

Of course, I wasn’t going to say a word to anyone.

Not now. Not on the first day of calling it home. Who does that kind of thing?

Instead I would let the story play out and ignore the nudges.

Surely, I was just nervous about change, new scenery, and a different way of life.

So, we doubled down and got busy, converting a detached space into a stunning living area for friends and family, building 10 planter boxes in a fenced in garden area, and landscaping around the house.

We didn’t waste time on bringing home a rambunctious Labrador puppy, a dozen chicks, and two farm kittens all within a few months.  

In the spring and summer, we spent hours each week mowing the enormous lawn and tending to the yard and making this place our own. There were endless outdoor tasks to be done on property but being surrounded by lush nature was one of the biggest reasons we made the move to rural life, so we happily did our chores.

However, we were unprepared for how much time, attention, and money it would require of us. Frankly, owning five acres felt like caring for five additional children. Did I mention our home was a custom-built log house?

We pushed forward with the dream, hosting regular small groups in the converted space we called the “Art Barn” and continuing to conjure up creative uses for this incredible piece of land.

The sheer beauty of our home and acreage, the way people complimented us on our Eden-like sanctuary, what was there not to love?

I had no right to complain or question what we had here.

So I kept quiet.

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Stay tuned for Part 2 later in the week! Now, onto a handful of Trail Mix to keep you inspired for all your adventures.

1. A Summer Course I HIGHLY Recommend!

If you don’t know Brie Stoner, you’re in for a treat! She’s been teaching a series of courses based around the seasons and how it pertains to our creative rhythms. On July 11th, the summer course, Wield will begin!

Run over to her page to check out all the details here and join me.

I know I resonated with every single one of these questions she asks, what about you?

Have you ever asked yourself these questions…

* Why is it so hard to be disciplined in my daily practice?

* What is getting in the way of my desire to change or get started on that project I’ve been talking about for so long?

*How do I develop resilience to not be so impacted by how others respond or don’t respond to me? Perceive me or my work?

Whether it’s wanting to overcome bad habits, seeking to make real changes in our rhythm of patterns, wanting to finally manifest an un-manifest idea…we often set out with the best intentions only to wind up discouraged by procrastination or self sabotage.

Again, you can read more about the course and register here!

2. Turn To The Poets and Art.

A podcast I frequently listen to, “The One You Feed,” interviewed one of my very favorite poets, David Whyte. He is one of the first poets I started reading and I’ll never be the same.

This episode is called, “David Whyte on The Art of Poetry and Prose.” After listening, I immediately bought his latest collection of poems, Still Possible.

I paired David Whyte’s interview with a new-to-me podcast, Metta Hour with Sharon Salzberg and this one was called, “Real Change Anthology: Art as Activism.” (Art as activism? YES please!)

3. A Poetry Book For The Heretics

I’ve been following the work of Marla Taviano for the last year and I’m sad I only purchased her poetry book now. It’s called, “Unbelieve: Poems on the journey to becoming a heretic.”

The minute it arrived, I opened it up and couldn’t put it down.

Here’s one for you:

read between the lines

when everyone
wants you to
explain yourself
poetry
is
an act of
resistance

4. My Daughter’s Favorite Birthday Present.

I was surprised to see the way her 8 -year -old eyes lit up when she perused the pages of a Mother-Daughter journal I gave her on her birthday last week. Truthfully, I’m a little nervous to begin it with her.

The Journal is called Just Between Us and it has questions for each of us to answer. It’s a sort of back and forth journal, a way for mother and daughter to dig deeper into one another’s stories and thoughts in a gentle, slow way.

5. Giving Up On Timelines.

Read this beautiful article from Toka-pa Turner if you’re feeling pressured to move at a certain pace or thinking you should be there by now.

When we perceive life through the construct of timelines, a lack of movement or even a setback will be seen as contrary to progress. But as you learn to see life in symbolic terms, you gain trust in setbacks as the concealed gifts they are.

Toka-Pa Turner

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Thank you for snacking with me on this week’s Trail Mix and if you found something delicious here to nourish your many adventures, please tell me about in the comments!

Traveling with you,

Charissa

PS: I’m currently listening to Pantsuit Politics Podcast discussing Roe v. Wade and this morning I also listened to The New York Times, The Daily, Inside Four Abortion Clinics The Day Roe Ended. Grateful for all the insight I gathered in these episodes.