“Once we start to act, hope is everywhere. So instead of looking for hope, look for action. Then, and only then, hope will come.” ~ Greta Thunberg Hi friends!
Happy start to fall! 🍁 Fall equinox feels different to me this year. Yes, the days are growing shorter, and there will be more time in darkness than in light until Winter Solstice. This is something I want to both honor and embrace. And, knowing that we are now in the last quarter of 2026, I am spending time in a thoughtful return to how I was feeling at the beginning of the year. What was I hoping for this year? Where am I regrading the shifts I was seeking? Knowing this year is starting its final stretch, where do I now want to focus my energy and attention? This is where the quotation above comes in. 👀⬆️ I cannot simply hope to reach my goals. Hope necessitates action. The yogis have an expression: Movement is better than stagnation. To me, this is an invitation to participate in creating what we hope for. If I want to deepen a friendship? I need to actively participate in that relationship. If I want to lessen stress and increase calm? I need to explore what works for me. Limiting screen time? Doing a restorative yoga class? If I want to increase my energy and my focus? Maybe it’s a pranayama that delivers the magic. Maybe it’s prioritizing my sleep schedule or gifting myself a yoga nidra. The action doesn’t have to be huge. It simply needs to move us towards what we say we want. I hope you can join me this Saturday for a VERY SPECIAL full moon yoga circle. We’ll be exploring what it is we want to gather, savor, preserve, and shed as we move deeper into autumn. The season has shifted. Maybe it’s the perfect moment to pause, check in, and decide how we want to move with it. What am I hoping for? What small action can I take towards it? Come explore with us underneath the Full Moon. 🌾🌕 Join me and Teresa: this Saturday, September 26 | 6 - 7 P With love and light, m
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“I have learned how to trust myself . . . perhaps one of the greatest gifts of getting older is realizing that trusting myself isn’t selfish; it is finally becoming someone I can count on.” ~ Alice McGinty, 96 years young Hi friends!
I am loving September Summer! Sure, the weather is a little less predictable these days . . . I’ve been rained on during an outdoor sound bath and a soccer game; choosing to leave ALL our windows open the other night may not have been the best choice (brrrr!); and, some of our recent boating attempts have been less than stellar. Too much wind. Zero wind. Flies. And you know what? It’s all been pretty great. This is my favorite time of year for boating. Having fewer boats coming in and out of our harbor means I breathe a little easier the entire time. And, the sunlight streaking through the moody sky? What a show. On Monday, as we were coming back into the channel, a monarch nearly landed right in the palm of Mike’s hand. It’s interesting. Every time before venturing out on the boat we look at the weather, the radar, the marine forecast, the Holland buoy report . . . with all of those data points, you’d think we’d know what we’re in for. Turns out, we are often surprised. And that’s one of the many reasons we love getting on the boat! It is different every time . . . always an adventure. I get it. The word “adventure” sounds both exciting and fun. In truth, “adventures” can be exciting and fun . . .and they are more complex than that. I’m sure my parents will have moments of uncertainty, challenge, and discomfort throughout their cruising adventure. All of that could be avoided by staying home. Getting out there, getting out of our comfort zone and our routines, can be discombobulating. I’m hoping their cruise strikes the right balance for them. That the fun, the beauty, and the richness of the experience outweighs the challenges. I think putting ourselves out there is a lot like caring for our muscles. We need to stretch, and strengthen, our ability to adapt and flow and get out there. It’s also important that we pick up the right-sized dumbbell. Too much weight = too much challenge . . . and then we don’t want to do that ever again. Maybe part of knowing ourselves is learning how much stretch is enough. I love the quotation featured above. ⬆️ I hope each of us acquires the wisdom to be someone we can count on. So, here’s to checking the forecast, gathering the data, and getting out there! Hopefully all the way to age 96! 😀 With love and light, m 
“As long as I’m alive, I will continue to try to understand more because the work of the heart is never done.” ~ Muhammed Ali Hello beauties!
I am very excited about September. The outdoor yoga season continues. Our humidity has dropped. I find myself reaching for an extra layer in the early mornings. The soccer season has started so I’m back in blue and orange. (How is Evan a college senior already?!) Every moment spent on our sailboat feels like an amazing getaway. And, after this past weekend’s absolute craziness on the water? I am ready for a few less boats bouncing around town! 🤪 Speaking of outdoor yoga, the deck at Lakeshore Resort has been stunning! Right now, the monarch butterflies are putting on a SHOW dancing around in the flowers. Simply the sight of them lifts my spirits and swells my heart with hope. Lately, I’m very curious about where I direct my gaze. My energy. My attention. Sometimes? What I value is not how I’m showing up. I practice cultivating presence, and yet my attention can be sideswiped by one electronic alert. I revere my relationships with family and dear friends, and yet weeks can pass without meaningful connection. I WANT to learn to understand, and to speak, Spanish. But, I’m not giving that any of my time. So, for the remainder of this summer season, I am tending to my attention. Not with a critical gaze. With the understanding that every “yes” to something is a “no” to something else. When I encountered the Muhammed Ali quotation featured above, it resonated. ⬆️ Here’s to always evolving because the work of the heart is never done. I don’t want life to simply slide on by. I want to be more intentional about what I decide to give my attention and my energy to. Isn’t it great that we can continue to learn and grow? Even as we age? I love that for us. ♥️ m 
“At any moment the fully present mind can shatter time and burst into Now.” ~ Br. David Steindl-Rast Hello and happy September!
September is off to a steamy start here in West Michigan, and our little towns still have strong summer energy. I’m hearing lots of conversations about this cusp time of year, where everything feels in transition. It’s back to school for kids, parents, and teachers. And that presents a whole host of shifts. For our small businesses, staff has most likely been reduced. For those workers who remain, it means even more hours and energy to keep up with summer season vibes. And, it’s hot. And stormy. I think folks are feeling it all. Driving home from acupuncture earlier this week, I had a challenging experience with a VERY aggressive, and VERY angry driver on the highway. It rattled me. Once safely back at home I took some time to unwind and breathe. The level of anger was so visceral. It made me sad. I understand that so many people are truly struggling. In real, and profound, and unimaginable ways. I think coming together to care for ourselves, and for one another, is especially powerful work right now. Cultivating peace. Fostering joy. Listening to our own internal knowing. Building a trust within our own bodies and beings. This is powerful medicine for the collective. This is how we move the needle towards light and love. I’m so grateful for ALL who are on this path. Deep bow of gratitude, m |
AuthorMichelle Shaw: Archives
September 2026
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