In this episode, I reflect on a familiar story about an elephant held in place not by a rope, but by a belief that trying no longer matters. Living in northern Minnesota, and hearing directly from friends and family witnessing events in the Twin Cities, I explore how that same limiting story shows up in moments when constitutional rights are being tested. Drawing on the First, Fourth, and Fourteenth Amendments—and Martin Luther King Jr.'s wisdom about power and love—I name what it means for ordinary people to stand together lawfully and nonviolently. This is a reflection on civic courage, community, and why showing up, even without certainty, is how democracy is sustained.

A casual question during a cell phone upgrade sparked an unexpected political exchange—and a deeper inquiry into how we meet one another across difference. This episode reflects on presence, sacred engagement, and Martin Luther King Jr.'s reminder that love and power must work together if we're to create justice and avoid becoming what we oppose.

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Healing the Divide

A Thanksgiving moment went wrong—a small dog, a sudden crisis, and my brain completely freezing. What followed wasn't competence or quick thinking, but a powerful lesson in how stress disconnects us from our bodies.

In this episode, I reflect on what that scare revealed about presence, uncertainty, and the quiet wisdom our bodies carry—especially during long, difficult seasons. A reminder that when answers aren't available, staying honest with what's here may be enough.

What if strength isn't something we build for ourselves alone? Inspired by the Grand Portage Band's response to the closure of our local Coast Guard station, this reflection explores how Indigenous wisdom challenges our dominant story of competition, scarcity, and separateness—and invites us into a different way of living, grounded in connection, love, and shared belonging.

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Imprisoned by Our Story

Suffocating

What Do You See?

Being human isn't tidy. In this episode, I share two moments—one small, one life-shaking—that pulled me right into the rawness of shame, fear, and uncertainty. What I'm learning is this: the struggle isn't a failure. It's the place where honesty and grace can actually reach us.

A frown, a misunderstanding, and a lesson I'm still practicing: most of the time, it's not about us. Here's what that moment taught me about assumptions, boundaries, and staying true to ourselves.

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Don't Take It Personally

Ever had a day where everything goes sideways at once? Mine included dog poo, burr-covered terriers, a broken garage door, and a nurse cheering for Tom's phlegm. This episode explores what happens when we let go of how life "should" be and meet what's real—with humor, honesty, and a bit of Anne Lamott–style grace.

Photo: engin akyurt

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Living in Uncertainty

The Should Shower

Burnout doesn't always show up as exhaustion—it can appear as impatience, numbness, or a heart that quietly tightens to get through the day. In this episode, Marcia Hyatt reflects on recognizing her own signs of burnout while navigating her husband's medical care and life's constant demands. Through the image "It's hard to hold hands with a tight fist," she explores how stress can close us off and how gentleness, awareness, and small acts of care can help us soften, recover, and reconnect—with ourselves and those we love.

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Breathe

Living in Uncertainty

How much do we share — and with whom? In this week's Best of Ourselves episode, I explore the fine line between privacy and authenticity… and what it means to let a little more light in through the cracks in our lives.

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Help, Please: Lessons From An IKEA Box

The Should Shower

Life doesn't come in neat categories of good or bad. In this reflection, I explore how staying open to the mystery can transform how we meet whatever arrives.

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Living in Uncertainty