“In a world of noise, confusion, and conflict, it is necessary that there is a place of inner silence and peace; not the peace of mere relaxation but the peace of inner clarity and love.” ~ Thomas Merton Hi friends! I am so thankful for the return of good quality air in West Michigan! It has definitely been cooler this week, but as long as there’s that bright blue sky overhead? I find it easier to keep my mood elevated! 😎 There are so many inputs that impact how we’re feeling, and sometimes the waves of our day to day can be challenging. Lately, amidst some struggles, I have been reminded how powerful a daily practice really is. Taking even a few moments to get still. To tune into my surroundings. To my posture. To my breath. It makes all the difference. It’s in the pause, and the connection to breath and body, that I find greater clarity. When I turn down the internal noise, I can better hear what it is I need. I think the quotation up above makes an important distinction. ⬆️ “. . . not the peace of mere relaxation but the peace of inner clarity and love.” Inner clarity and love. This isn’t always easy to access. For me? One of the patterns I’m trying to shift is how hard I am on myself. Internally. I feel it takes me too long to change gears, release, and find ease. While I prefer levity, I can linger in a place that feels heavy. So, what can I do to help make that shift? How do I move the needle in the direction I want to go? One tool I am LOVING lately is Pranidhana Mudra, or the gesture of surrender. It represents letting go, trusting, and surrendering to the natural flow of life, and it’s super simple to do:
 So, if you’re wanting some support to soothe tension in the body, reduce stress, and find a greater sense of ease . . . give this practice a try! It’s an every day part of my world right now, and I am SO thankful for these tools.
Here’s to finding the inner peace of clarity and love, m
0 Comments
“If you truly want to grow, make a practice out of gratitude: the daily art of celebrating the life unfolding before your eyes.” ~ Morgan Harper Nichols Hello!
Every time I travel for coffee, it is a huge adventure. And like all adventures, the Colombia trip had both challenges and rewards. Colombia is GORGEOUS! 3 spines of the Andes mountains running through the country make for spectacular vistas at every turn. And let me tell you . . . there are a LOT of twist and turns. In fact, I had one of my worst ever struggles with motion sickness on this trip. And that’s not the important part. What is important are the amazing connections we made while visiting coffee country. Sometimes, we go on an initial exploratory trip, and we return with limited possibilities for future Farm-Direct partnerships. And that’s okay. It’s part of being boots on the ground and investing the time to find people who are doing good things for people, for the planet, and for their community. This time? We have MULTIPLE strong connections that are worth re-visiting. Bob and Michelle Fish are already hatching plans for their return trip! 🙌🏽 Coffee is always grown at altitude, and it is often planted in steep terrain. In fact, recently in Guatemala I remember thinking, “I have never seen coffee grown on such steep slopes.” Well, I think Colombia may have surpassed what I experienced in Guatemala. This time my inner narrative was, “Coffee is grown in impossibleplaces!” I cannot believe the work that goes into growing coffee . . . coffee producers are incredible! I have much more to share about the amazing people we met and the determination they have to live in peace through coffee production. An added bonus on this trip? I got to spend a few hours with my yogi friend, Mariana, while in Bogotá! It was such a blast to catch up. 🥰 Speaking of yoga, I have some exciting opportunities for us to connect: Mondays @ Satya in downtown Saugatuck | 8:30 - 9:30 A Saturdays @ the Saugatuck Yacht Club | 8:30 - 9:30 A (ALL are welcome) Sunday, September 21 | Oval Beach | 4:00 - 5:30 P | Fall Equinox Yoga + Sound Register here: https://satyayogasaugatuck.com/events And, it’s happening THIS SUNDAY! Mike’s band, with guest vocals by Michelle Fish (7 songs this time?! ♥️) at Red Dock. Hope to see you there! 3:00 - 7:00 P. Love, light, and ease in all transitions, m 
“I'm glad I understand that while language is a gift, listening is a responsibility.” ~ Nikki Giovanni Hi friends!
Last week, in honor of Andrea Gibson, I wrote about “trying softer’ rather than trying harder. I gotta say . . . both my memory, and my fuse, can be VERY short sometimes. Turn out, my previous patterns persist. Those worn out grooves of defense and reactivity? They are SO darned accessible . . . and I’m afraid they sometimes enjoy being on heavy rotation. 😔 And, therein lies the rub. I can fall right back into the pattern of being harsh with myself. That gets me all tightened up, and hardened, and it doesn’t feel good. So instead, I’m trying to remember to simply soften. That’s it. Soften. Soften my breath. Soften my stance. Soften my jaw. Soften my internal critic. Soften. And in this softer place, I notice I am better able to hear. I love the Nikki Giovanni quotation up above. ⬆️ When I soften, I am not only able to speak more clearly, more compassionately, but I am also able to listen more clearly, more compassionately. To my family, my friends, my community, and to myself. While I am new to trying softer, I am delighted to report that listening more compassionately within? It feels similar to the moment when we turn off Little Wing’s engine. Ahhhhhhhhhh. 🥰 Being home for the past seven weeks? It has been wonderful! And, it’s time to pack my bags for the next big Coffee Hunter adventure. This time? Colombia! 🇨🇴 I am SO excited. Come see me before I go! This Saturday at the Saugatuck yacht club. We’ll move, breathe, laugh, and be renewed. 8:30 - 9:30. ALL are welcome. With love and light, m P.S. Mark your calendars!
|
AuthorMichelle Shaw: Archives
January 2026
|
RSS Feed