Learning comes alive when your reading, watching, and doing connect around one idea. It turns scattered input into a meaningful journey. [ + free PDF ] The first time I intentionally added themed learning to my own personal pursuits was when we were studying Medieval European History. I was reading aloud from our text and…
All posts tagged self-care
How to Design Your Own Personal Curriculum
Borrow the best parts of academia and make them work for your personal growth. [ Detailed How-To + free PDF ] It was a summer evening after the kids had gone to bed. When our college students are home, my husband and I have a routine of lounging on the couches with books or scrolling…
The Roots of My Hobby Obsession
I come from working-class dreamers who never stopped learning. Growing up, I watched my grandparents turn their free time into something meaningful and that shaped me more than I realized. There is a powerful thread woven through the generations before us when we learn skills from the past. At times it may seem like our…
From Stuck to Inspired: A Hobby-Starting Framework
A simple, thoughtful process to help you brainstorm, reflect, and finally begin a hobby that feels realistic, joyful, and life-giving. . In this summer hobby series we have talked about what constraints and obstacles keeping us from hobbies we enjoy. I believe that if you struggle to add in a hobby in your busy life,…
When Hobbies Feel Out of Reach
You’re not lazy, you’re blocked. Let’s talk about constraints and obstacles keeping us from hobbies we enjoy. When I discuss hobbies with someone in person, the first reaction is often a quiet sigh, followed by a sense of guilt or regret. “Every time I try to sit down and work on something creative, I get…
How I Became an Angry Mom & the Antidote I Found
Lifelong learning in the margins & how small curiosities brought me back to life. There is an unparalleled exhaustion to understanding and then meeting the needs of babies and small children. They are compelled to demand what they need at all times of the day and night. This is a tremendous strain and physically draining,…
Defining Mental Health – a resource
A resource that offers a grounded, thoughtful look at how we can better understand and care for our inner lives. . I have another awesome resource to share with you today. 😁 I first encountered Ruth in a writing class. We were put into small break-out zoom rooms and told to answer a few questions…
How to Be Kind to my Future Self
Thoughtful planning and simple habits can support your future self with grace. No shame. No pressure. Just steady rhythms for real, human days. I used to push myself to operate at full speed all the time. Like I was a machine: measured by how much I could produce, how efficiently I could move through the…
What’s a Social Sunburn?
A definition that will help when a simple conversation suddenly turns tense, you’re misunderstood, or an interaction feels emotionally loaded. . I inherited my fair and freckled skin from my mother’s family. I know that if I plan to spend more than 15 minutes in full sun, I need to slather on SPF 50 or…
Preparing for Rest: Meal Planning Ideas for a Relaxing Weekend
Make weekend meals effortless with simple themes, make-ahead options, and family-friendly ideas. Tips to plan meals that nourish without stress, so you can truly enjoy your time of rest. All the household tasks don’t come to a halt just because I decide to rest. Meals still need to be made, and unfortunately, forest creatures don’t…