The photo above has nothing to do with the content below. I just really like Fritz, and think that everyone should enjoy his sweet face.

Now then.

I've been thinking.

One of the things I've deeply learned about myself in the past year of self/fun-employment is that I don't have the same urgency of accountability towards me as I do towards others. I like myself, I really do. Probably more than the average person with the ways that I enjoy holding my own hand or winking at myself in mirrors. I continue to build confidence each day that my life purpose is truly unfolding before me, and was just telling B how stupidly happy I feel right now despite the many unknowns.

But when it comes to doing my goals-based...well...to-do's...I tend to hang out in the right lane. I'm extremely grateful for this time of serious introspection and creative wandering as it has helped me to become more and more clear on my desire for a slowed down pace of much meaningful, ordinary. Yet, quite frankly, this energy is not exactly conducive to the hustle speed of building + growing a business...which I really do love!

I feel a bit torn by this. Craving slow, but needing to move "fast". Makes me want to take a nap, and that doesn't usually get me much further in the process (despite being a delicious gift to self!). I am an excellent "be-er" and an inconsistent "do-er".

As a coach, I recognize this is likely a space where I need support; a space where I need to let myself be vulnerable and ask for help in steering me more towards the left lane to help my heartfelt goals find more light and love from me. Or, to at least keep me on a curious path to uncover what feels like the next right step. 

In short, more movement is necessary.

This is where you come in. 

You are really wonderful. And for you, I can be more accountable. As I continue to commit my time to responding to your emails, I can see this truth. I can be more accountable for sitting down to write, sharing coaching insights, and telling tales for you. To lean into my life purpose statement of being the Storyteller who Encourages, Enlightens and Entertains.

Which is why I've decided to create monthly Grateful Life Letters: from my heart, to your inbox!

A mix of blog posts + all things spirits lifting :)

Here's the kind of thing you can expect from TGL Letters:

• I'll be starting Brene Brown's new COURAGEWorks courses in January -- all 3 of them -- and I want to share my learnings on her powerful teachings and how I see them working for myself and my clients. She has changed my life, no exaggeration. I cannot wait to deepen the learning!

• I find great joy and pleasure in collecting wisdom from a variety of sources, and then sharing the teachings with those I work with (and just about any friend or acquaintance who will listen). Book recs, new music, must see videos, and inspiring folks. But I find my greatest joy in connecting through coaching and watching others learn to be kinder to themselves and the world; to encourage a mantra of "find and follow the good path". The more I learn this, the more I want to share it with you.

• I'll be volunteering with a beautiful organization in Haiti (a lot more to come on this!) for almost 2 weeks in February. To share their culture, the mission, my experiences, and high quality photos of life in their communities is a top priority of mine.

• B and I have a pretty good kitchen-teamwork vibe going on in our home (minus the daily rock-paper-scissors for dishes duty). We meal plan together and take turns cooking often, and I'd love to share some of what we've whipped up in our studio together. Bonus: he's a year away from his Dietetics degree, so most of our meals tip towards high nutritional value! The meals I cook tip slightly less...because cheese, amirite?

• B and I also have a few travel and new life ventures on the horizon, and I want to be open about our continued practice of faith and gratitude, as well as the journey of our relationship in general! And maybe even a bit more of our mutual weirdness, and why it has worked for us so far :)

So here's my humble ask: Will you subscribe to my letters, here? (Or share with someone else who may be interested?) <--that's a vulnerable ask for me, can you tell?

And, will you let me know what kind of letters feel really good to receive, so that I can create, curate, design, and grow something of meaning with you?

I'm excited.

And, as always, very grateful...

with love,

Trish

hey, whatcha got in there...

I practically fist pumped and high-fived myself when I saw how Book Passages in the Ferry Building (my most favorite SF landmark) labeled the traditionally classified "self-help" section:

...thank gosh, amirite?

"Self Help" has such a cliche vibe to it now. People are (unnecessarily) embarrassed to be seen in the "Self Help" section. "Self Help" sends out this false image of a single, over weight woman with her 22 crying cats sitting on her couch watching Lifetime movie marathons and waiting for Prince Charming to come along & fill the void she pretends doesn't hurt with the help of her "Self Help" book stack....

Sorry. Got ahead of myself.

But introspection.

Yes. 

Introspection is so much more accurate.

Everyone can...should...get behind that.

​I know it's where you can find me :)


In Gratitude,

Trish

It was very overdue, this visit. To leave the city and spend a few nights with sweet Honey, in the woods.

Honey is wild and smart and accomplished in both traditional and uncommon ways. She is all things natural, and healing, somehow managing to be both warm & cool with the ways in which she welcomes you in and calms you immediately. Lighting you up, and bringing you to your center.

Honey is compassionately introspective and a juicy, succulent kind of hokey that I am so drawn to.

She is hiking; a quick, uphill pace or a slow, wandering stroll -- it's your choice, your body to move and stretch. Your bones to creak awake in rhythm with your breath.

Cabinets of natural products meant to aid the body and not harm the earth. Deep, fresh air filled lungs and glasses of good wine. Red wine. Whisky while snuggled by a fire or under layers of blankets while watching a movie. Swapping story after story, listening and connecting. Talking so much, so openly, the dog starts to feel neglected; just a couple of hens squawking to him. Talking about god, directly or abstractly. Wanting more of god.

Trinkets around the home representing a beautiful and eclectic energy: witchy, wild, magic memories or wishes. ​Prayers for things yet to be, and tokens of gratitude for everything there is now.

Curiously watching the world while openly participating in its most generous, vulnerable offerings. 

She is she. She is so very she. A shifting energy of multi-faceted womanhood: Barefooted, unpretentious, explorer, home body. Amusingly, endearingly ferrel. I read an article recently in which a tribe of native women refused to wear donated shoes because, as one woman explained, she could not "see" with them on. This resonated so deeply with me, as a person who could never quite explain her deep desire to be barefoot year round, and hatred of socks, even in winter. Honey understands this, too.

Introvert/extrovert...depending on what the soul requires. Listening to the soul to choose each day.

I wish to bottle her womanly energy and spritz myself when (always) I need to be found again. To emotionally wrap myself in her cashmere blanket, smelling the earth's heavenly scents trickle through an open window. To be given permission to howl at the moon or hum a made up song for the sake of feeling the vibrations in my throat.

To be given permission, in general. 

I love my visits with sweet Honey, in the woods. I feel so much more like me again.

Wouldn't you?

​In Gratitude,

​Trish

delicious, this one is...

These photos don't need much of an introduction other than to say I went with cousin Meggie to the San Rafael pet adoption fair over the weekend, and it was cuteness overload. 

Figured I'd share in case your Monday needed a little bit of cute, too :)

I tried once again to use my DSLR, but this spread has a few iPhone snaps as well. I mainly wanted to kiss & cuddle the dogs, so photo taking just wasn't my priority!

 
Meg & Jonny found a new bubby to take home while we were there! It's her birthday this week (HBD, Meggie!) so Jonny gets quite a few fiance points for this gift.

Internet, meet Fritz. (Or Mr. Fritz, as I like to call him, since we are still getting acquainted). This little doxiepoo is only 3 months old and already a hit with the ladies.

He is delicious and ... as an older woman once said to B as a compliment on his looks (no joke)... "crispy". Yes, crispy is my new favorite term for delicious things like B and Fritz. 

Oh mylanta, amirite?

Another win for adoption!
​

In Gratitude,

Trish

Happy Monday, Grateful Lifers!

B's parents flew out to visit with us this past weekend, a first for them, so I thought I'd share a couple of my favorite snaps from our time together. I feel grateful that they have been so kind and welcoming to me since day one -- it was a true pleasure (and fun!) to host them, and I know not everyone can say the same about their significant other's families.

One of B's extremely generous clients gifted us with his to live for gorgeous home in wine country for two nights. It was the perfect way for B to catch up with his family outside of the city hustle, and for us to relax under the remaining few weeks of summer sun. I took full advantage of their lovely pool to re-connect with my mermaid roots. We are so thankful for their hospitality and hope to visit again sometime! (hint hint, Brandon, make sure you keep up the good training work!!) 

Another highlight was certainly getting to stomp grapes Lucy & Ethel style at Grgich Hills Estate, though admittedly if we hadn't also been given a t-shirt to put our red foot prints on, $30 would have felt like a bit of a waste. As you'll see by my delicate expression, it mildly grossed me out at first. Gosh, I am such a catch. At least we can officially check that off the California bucket list :)

This is a mix of iPhone & DSLR shots, since I am still figuring out when it is most appropriate to use which. And by that I mean I am still trying to muster up the energy to lug around my big camera more often vs. the ease & convenience of just whipping out the ol' cell.

 
​I hope everyone else had an enjoyable weekend as well, and that October is off to a beautiful start!

More essay responses to my amazing readers are in the works, by the way. Thank you for continuing to stick with me on those...


​In Gratitude,

Trish