Trail Mix :: No. 14
Did you read Part 3 yet? Also find out what's changing my life, why I love my city, and more podcasts I just have to share!
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 update on the story I shared this week.
The Epilogue Is Coming…
In case you missed it, yesterday I released the last of a 3-part series for you here on Substack entitled, Why We Drove Away From A Dream & How To Know When It’s Time To Leave It All Behind. I spliced up the last four years of our lives into a short story about how migration and moving and mimicking are all part of our human experience.
Not only have my husband and I migrated towards (what feels like for us anyways) a fuller more inclusive expression of our faith and spirituality, but we’re also not afraid to tell you we’ve physically moved homes about every 2 years since we got married, 13 years ago. To learn how mimicry played a role in our recent moves and the ways I totally overdid it to the point of obsession, you’ll have to read the full story- Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3!
I plan to write an epilogue soon about where we’ve landed since we drove away from our property dreams, what life looks like for us now that we are planted in the city, and how I’ve thoroughly fallen in love with the location, the people, the sounds, the sights, the smells, and the lifestyle.
I had honestly forgotten it was possible to thrive again, to feel at home in a place, and how much that renews our sense of adventure and excitement towards taking on risks and new opportunities.
Now, for your handful of trail mix goodies!
1. Your Prescription For Play.
I love reading Ageist! Ever heard of it? It’s a digital publication catering towards people 50 and above. They believe its never too late to live to the hilt and ambitiously pursue new dreams and goals. In their words, “We want to show a new approach to health, personal goal setting, relationships, style, and culture. We want to provide a new outlook on what people young and old should expect to achieve and experience in their life.”
In this week’s edition they interviewed 52-year-old author Meridith Sinclair who wrote a book called, Well Played: The Ultimate Guide to Awakening Your Family's Playful Spirit.
I particularly enjoyed her Play Prescription for adults. She says,
Choose one thing from your own childhood that you remember LOVING to do. Did you love to swing on a swing, do cannonballs in the pool, throw catch in the yard, play arcade games, build sand castles, paint by number? Now just DO THAT ONE THING. No one needs to watch or put it on Instagram. Pay close attention to how it makes you FEEL. Repeat.
Read the rest of the conversation here!
2. My city made it into the NY Times!
Many of you have been asking where my family and I recently moved. The truth is, I’m totally bias and think everyone should live here. The city is Bellingham and it recently made it into the NY Times!
World class scenery? It’s TRUE! It’s breathtakingly beautiful here.
3.This is absolutely changing my life.
One of the main reasons we moved into Bellingham is so we could bike again! We spent 2 years living in the Netherlands as a married couple and I also spent an additional 4 years (unmarried) in Vienna, Austria. I’ve literally never been the same since. I realized I was supposed to be born in Europe! You can bike and walk or ride the public transportation everywhere. We didn’t even own a car our first year in the Netherlands. Every city in Europe feels like a small village.
The house we live in now sits right on one the city’s main trails and from my kitchen window I can see people jogging, walking, and biking.
I’m in heaven people! From my front door I can hop on my bike and go basically anywhere.
Just this week the kids and I have rode our bikes to:
-two different public libraries
-the grocery store
-purchase my husband’s beloved coffee beans
-several parks
- pick up a prescription
-swim in the lake
-get the boys’ haircuts
Here’s a time lapse video of our 15 minute bike back from the library (condensed into 1 minute)!
4. Speaking of bikes…Does your city have a bike route map?
And I listened to this fun podcast episode all about bikes as the future of transportation and the amazing things they do for our mental health and well-being from the Next Big Idea Podcast.
5. And here’s three podcasts I put in my “Good Stuff To Save” folder for you.
A fascinating discussion between someone who is pro-life and pro-choice. Is it possible to be both?
One thing is for sure we need more room for nuance, compassion, and listening!
Don’t miss this episode from Uncommon Ground with Van Jones, Abortion: What Can The Left & Right Agree on? with S.E. Cupp
So the Supreme Court made some scientific claims about abortion that just weren’t accurate. As someone who grew up only knowing abortion as evil and wrong, and although I don’t hold to that anymore, I still realized just how much I don’t understand about it.
One big question I’ve always wondered, like most of us, Can a fetus feel pain?
Listen in to Science Vs., on Abortion: The Science and the Supreme Court.
And I always enjoy a good conversation on creativity. This one is with a Pulitzer prize-winning journalist. Did you experience the 4th grade slump?
I’m currently trying to encourage my soon-to-be- 4th grader through this experience with his artistic nature in tact! He is incredible at drawing (you might see me post about it on IG from time to time).
Well friends, I’ve got a few screaming children at my door and it’s time for me to stash the rest of our road trip snacks into the car. Can you guess where we’re headed? I might post a few glimpses on my Instagram this week so you can see.
As always, I so enjoy meeting up with you here for a quick snack as we all traverse the world and pursue what makes us come truly alive! I sincerely hope there’s a few bits here you’ve found to be delicious and nourishing and that your curiosity has been sparked!
And lastly, could you do me a favor, write me a DM on Instagram or leave a message here to tell me about what was a favorite part from this letter!
Traveling with you,
Charissa
PS: I’ve got a fun little personal annoucement coming in the next couple of weeks it has to do with adventure and moving and my city!
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