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with gratitude: a fond farewell

Hello, my dearest friends!

It is with a mixture of wholehearted gratitude, bittersweet mourning, and anxious anticipation that I have decided to end 2013 with the ending of a beautiful and life-altering part of my life -- the ending of to live boldly.

As my sporadic postings can attest, over the past few months, I have found it incredibly difficult to be fully engaged in each of my creative projects -- I have been preparing for the official 2014 launch of Wellness by Kate while working full-time, and it has been difficult to do any of them any real justice.

Thank you all for your beautiful comments, your heartfelt support and strikingly authentic presence.  This experience has been life-changing in the most fundamental way imaginable.  It has allowed me to connect creatively, explore my deepest desires for my life, and find freedom.  You have provided me with strength, connection and inspiration, and, for that, I will be forever grateful.

If you're interested in checking out my next grand adventure, Wellness by Kate, just click here or click the picture below!  Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter -- there are so many goodies to come!

Wishing you and yours a beautiful holiday and a very happy new year!

With love and gratitude,

Katie

truth bomb

In both my personal and professional life, I subscribe to daily "Truth Bombs" from the always lovely and inspiring Danielle LaPorte.  Some days, they are too true to contain, and I want to share them with everyone I meet - and all of you!  Today is most certainly one of them.

the autumnal blues

Despite that it is, in fact, one of my most favoritest times of the year (yes, I know, I made up a word), there is something about fall that brings out the blues in me.  Every year, without fail, October brings out a change in me that somehow mirrors the seasons -- a little chillier, a little more overcast.  A sneak peek into what it's looked like when I have, in fact, struggled with the creature that is depression.  And every year, I find that I try to deal with my blues by trying to hide them behind something else.  Shopping.  Eating.  Chick flicks.  Eating.

As you can see, in addition to my yearly patterns, my stress, anxiety and sadness cause me to call on my all-too-familiar coping mechanisms -- the ones that provide a surface-level mask to my emotion.  And I know that I'm not alone.  Maybe work is driving you crazy and all you want to do is bake and veg when you get home after your commute.  Maybe the chill in the air makes you want to stay in bed a little longer.  Maybe you're like me and the blues drive you to eat... well, anything.  Maybe you dive into a little retail therapy after a long week.  Maybe it's the couple glass of wine before bed. Whatever it is, you're not alone.

This year, foreseeing the annual autumnal blues, I've made it my personal mission to - rather than hide behind my coping mechanisms - to muster up some courage to feel and deal.  For me, that means being conscious of when I am feeling the most vulnerable, reaching for my support system, and sitting in the power of just feeling.  For me, that means taking a minute to think about why I'm reaching for that box of Junior Mints or craving that coffee or yearning to, well, escape.

Health is more than just what I eat and how often I workout.  It's more than the nutritional make-up of my lunch or how much protein I build into my day.  It's emotional, physical, spiritual, relational.  And to work for holistic health, healing and building every dimension of my life -- while there's no denying that it's very real (and sometimes painful) work to unmask and reveal -- means creating the space to reach my biggest, craziest, most wonderful dreams.  It's courageous, miraculous and the beginning of possibility.

How do you hide your blues?  What's stopping you from letting them be felt and seen and healed?  What dreams are yet to be explored in the unveiling?

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For more like this, visit Wellness by Kate at www.wellnessbykate.com.

because of the sadness

Louis C.K. explains, as only Louis C.K. can, why he won't give his children cell phones, and, in the midst of it all, visits the beauty of vulnerability, authenticity and the power of sadness.

**Be forewarned, profanity is present**

cultivate a better world

Whatever you think of the brand marketed through this video,

I think it's a pretty brilliant illustration of the world of factory farming.

The fact of the matter is that this is a glimpse into the reality of conventional large-scale farming practices in the United States... and with every dollar, we support and become what we consume.

wellness by kate

I can't believe it's finally happening! After studying with the Institute for Integrative Nutrition for the past six months, I am launching my own health coaching business, Wellness by Kate!

As a Holistic Health Coach, I support my clients to make manageable, step-by-step changes to their nutrition and lifestyle to help them permanently reach their goals.  Together, we journey towards transformation in a way that's enjoyable and easily integrated into their lives.

You're invited to check out my website (admittedly under construction in some areas), like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter!  If you are ready to make some real changes in your life and learn how to reach YOUR goals, I have a special invitation for you.  I'd like to invite you to a free initial health consultation, where you'll have the opportunity for undivided attention from someone who wants to support you to look and feel better!

Thank you, as always, for your incredible support!  I love being a part of the To Live Boldly community!

belated blog-iversary

"People change all the time and forget to tell each other."

Lillian Gershwin

A little over a week ago, on a wholly blessed trip back home to the Pacific Northwest, I did it.  I chopped off my hair.  It was a spur of the moment decision, one only made at a trusted salon and with my super supportive sweetheart by my side.  I have no idea how to style it each morning (Have I mentioned that I have the lowest-maintenance beauty regimen ever?), but the change was made. 

You're probably wondering where I am going with this.  It's not often that I choose to talk about my hair (it's pretty unspectacular, as far as I am concerned)... but stay with me. For the first few days, I was deeply aware of the transition -- trying to find my way around a blow-dryer again, grateful for excited comments from family and friends.  But, after a few days, after returning to Flagstaff and daily routines, I found myself completely forgetting that, just last week, I had a set of long, luscious locks.  Co-workers and friends would comment about my "new do," and I would find myself searching for a few moments to remember that I did indeed look strikingly different from the last time they had seen me.  The novelty, the conscious recognition of change had worn off, and it took friends, family, the outside world to remind me that there had indeed been a transformation.

Last week, on my Facebook page (have you had a chance to "like" it yet?), I shared a link to a blog post by Danielle LaPorte on Celebrating Your Evolution.  In the post, she speaks about recognizing our transformation, acknowledging our changes and, as the title would suggest, celebrating our evolution! 

I am regrettably about a month behind in recognizing this, but, in August, To Live Boldly celebrated it's one year anniversary! Can you believe it? One year of reflection, 365 days of self-disclosure, 12 months of transformations in vulnerability and wellness.  A year of experimentation, of introspection, and of growth. A year of falling on my face, of risk-taking, of blunders that lead to joyful self-discovery.

Danielle's post inspired me to think about this past year of life in Flagstaff and the transformations, both painful and natural, that have occurred from taking this big, fat risk.  How do I see the world differently?  Where have my priorities changed?  How do I look at myself differently now?  My partner? My loved ones?

My world has changed dramatically.  I still seek and search and honestly have no idea what the future will bring, but I have discovered passion and self-acceptance and greater depths of joy.  My relationships have transformed, growing deeper as they change shape.  My desires for myself, my future, my health have shifted, and my ability to prioritize my joy is finally taking form.

I have been anxiously awaiting the shift into a new season -- there is a refreshing newness that comes with the turning of the leaves -- and what better time to take a moment to celebrate all that has transformed since we last welcomed Autumn?

What about you?  Whether in the last month, last year, or last ten years, take a moment to appreciate your transformation.

monday inspiration

 

Photo Credit: P. McCarthy

Hello, my dearest of friends!

Happy Monday! As I am sure you have noticed over the past few months, with school, work and the crazyness of life, it has been difficult for me to write consistently -- something that I assure you has been a sorely missed piece of my daily life.  However, thanks to those brief moments of reprieve each day, there has been no lack of inspiration and daily learning!

Each week, my search for inspiration shifts.  One week, I am emboldened to seek out ways to be more creative in my daily life.  In another, I can't help but learn more about physical health and wellness.  And still others require a search deeper inside for healing and stress relief.

Please know that you are all in my hearts and mind -- and so, in leiu of a longer post, I wanted to invite you, on this lovely (albeit sleepy for me) Monday morning, to begin with a little Monday morning creative inspiration to get your juices flowing! 

.:Revolutionizing your relationship with "doing":.

.:An Open Apology to All of My Weight Loss Clients:.

Do you have videos, links or articles that you love?  Post them below!  We want to see!

for the creatives

for the creatives.

*cough, cough, that means all of you, cough, cough*

a little link love to start off the week. 

"the story of freddy & the iphone - and 4 questions for the creatives"

also, check out the author, danielle laporte, and her fabulous blog. it just might inspire you to something great today.

"Only when the last tree has died, 

the last river has been poisoned, 

and the last fish caught, 

will we realize we cannot eat money."

-Cree Indian Proverb-

in loving memory

In loving memory of my beautiful friend, who showed up each day in the arena.

"My purpose is to unconditionally love and have compassion for myself and others. I do this by reducing and transcending suffering. This is what happens when my whole self shows up. In the joy of showing up as my whole self, I invite others to also heal, grow, and transform into their whole selves. Together, we join in the creation of a better world for all."

-Afifa Ahmed Shafi-

lovely, lovely love song.

Photo courtesy of Mary Lambert

She says, I smell like safety and home

I named both of her eyes, 'forever' and 'please don't go'

I have featured her poetry here before, and I am sure that most of you have heard her incredible voice emanating from the speakers on your radio... but Mary Lambert, the co-author of "Same Love," which went platinum just this past month, by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, is making some melodious waves herself in a release based on the same song. 

Whether you're gay, straight, or somewhere in between, "She Keeps Me Warm" puts words to love, with the graceful power of Mary's voice behind them.  It is intimate and deeply personal, resonating with the universal experience of being truly in love -- comfortable, life-giving, and exhilarating.  If you haven't had a chance to listen, do it. Listen, share, download.  And, if you have a moment, read her thoughts behind the release of this oh-so-personal single.

a beautiful conversation

To my dearest friends --

I wanted to pass this article along to you -- it is a strikingly beautiful piece about race, respect, history and humanity -- "Why I Don't Want to Talk About Race."  As always, I would love to know your thoughts, reactions, emotions and reflections!  If you enjoyed it, please pass it on!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Me.

balanced health

Each month, without fail, I have a financial panic attack.  My heart starts racing, my mind starts running circles around itself, my palms get a little sweaty.  All at once, I feel the desperate need to collect every bit of information on my financial status.  Check my online banking.  My page-long lists of everything that I expect to make from my job for the next 6 months and balance that with the minimum expenses for each month.  It's messy, complicated, and completely necessary to slow the sprinting thoughts in my mind.  I decide what I am going to save, how much I can spend and what my financial future looks like in 6 months time.

The funny thing is that, no matter where I have been in my career, whether I am making close to minimum wage or more than most 20-somethings expect to have, I have this monthly anxiety attack.  I can be beyond secure or barely scraping by, and, without fail, you'll find a peice of paper covered in dollar-amounts sitting on my desk every month. 

Truth be told, I am sitting in a good place most days.  I have come to recognize the patterns within my anxiety, and I have also come to understand that my relationship with money during these moments of panic is neither rational or healthy.  I am beyond grateful for parents and a sweetheart who straighten my head back on during these moments, who remind me that I have nothing to worry about, that I am young and financially secure, and that, should something happen, I have them to fall back on.  I am not alone.

Each of us have our own story, our own relationship with our finances.  This is just mine.  For some of us, we spend without worry.  For others, we scrimp and save, worrying about each penny.  For some of us, spending comes with immediate guilt, and, for others, the guilt comes once you return home.  Some of us spend to relax, and it's been proven that shopping relieves anxiety for many.  Others track every cent spent with an eagle's eye, carefully budgeting for each expenditure.  Each of us have our story.  And that's ok.

But to remain ignorant to our relationships with our finances would be a mistake, in my opinion.  To realize that we all have anxieties surrounding our spending, to be mindful of our innate financial priorities, and to realize that not everyone we meet will come with the same story... it's not only essential for knowing ourselves in a deeper way but is necessary to keep our relationships with our loved ones healthy and honest.  A striking and saddening number of romantic relationships end because of financial stressors, financial strain, and the unwillingness to delve into each others' financial stories to discover greater understanding.  Deep anxieties are masked by massive spending sprees, for some.  For others, life is restricted for fear of letting go. 

For me, today could have been one of those days.  To let anxiety rule my relationship with money and my life.  But I am working on cultivating health in that area of my life, something that has the potential to be transformative for my mind, body and the relationships with those that I love most.

i haven't forgotten you!

I cannot believe that it has been a month since I last posted.  Please don't think that I have forgotten you, because I haven't!  It's just been an insane month, chock full of added responsibility and undeniable blessings -- with another job transition at work, hours of schoolwork (which I am regrettably behind on), a visit from my fabulous mother, and the healthy desire to care for myself and my relationships!  I promise that I will write more, but, until then, I'll be sharing with you with the brief moments of inspiration, reflection and wellness that pepper my busy days.

A special thanks to an IIN (Institute for Integrative Nutrition) buddy for sharing this article with our cohort!  I would love to know your thoughts -- make sure that you leave them in the comments section below!

To make sure you don't miss a thing, follow me on Facebook!

eat local

Illustration credit: Ello Lovey
Make sure you check out her shop for amazing inspiration and beautiful prints 
(I have two in my home already)!

It's only been a few weeks since the weekly Farmers Market opened up for the summer season here in Flagstaff.  Not only does the market hold bushels full of delicious organic produce and artisinal treats, but eating local cuts down on both our cost and the cost to the environment!  Haven't had a chance yet to check out your local Farmer's Market? Check out Local Harvest for a list of Farmer's Markets and local farms near you!

love this

It's no secret that one of my favorite researchers, writers and storytellers is the lovely Brene Brown, who shares with us about the depths of shame, the reality of being in the arena and fighting the good fight of authenticity and compassion, and our own power to know and love ourselves.

I wanted to share with you Brene's own advice on how to cultivate vulnerability in your own life and who deserves to hear your story.

the gift of siblings

Smack dab between Mother's Day and Father's Day, here is an article that celebrates the crazy ones that make us who we are, see us as we are, and love us as we are.

"With a friend, I have to be more articulate.  With my sisters (and brother), I can be my most primal self: inarticulate, childishly emotional.  I'll have a fight with my sister and say, 'O.K., I know we're in a fight, but I need your advice on something,' and we can just put the fight on hold. They're the only people in the world you can be your worst self with and they'll still accept you."

i'm doing something beautiful

"These animals... you gotta take care of them... and not eat them."