Kimberly Wilson's Blog, page 84

Giveaway: There’s Still Time

There’s still time to  win a copy of Bella Grace‘s latest work, Field Guide to Everyday Magic. I’ve extended the deadline until tonight 11:59pm ET.

Leave a takeaway in the comments section of Thursday’s Everyday Tranquility post to enter the giveaway and I’ll announce the winner tomorrow morning. Good luck and thanks for reading! x

The post Giveaway: There’s Still Time appeared first on Kimberly Wilson.

Everyday Tranquility {+ Giveaway}

Today I’m delighted to be part of Bella Grace‘s Blog Hop along with 15 other beautiful writers. See below for a chance to win a copy of Bella Grace‘s latest work, Field Guide to Everyday Magic, and read along for a muse on everyday tranquility.

There is no perfection, only beautiful versions of brokenness.—Shannon L. Alder

Over the past few weeks I’ve said goodbye to many things—a business I nurtured for 18 years, a therapy job and dear clients at a downtown center, a beloved neighborhood cat whose meow has been replaced with a shrine, and an office I’ve used since launching private practice. And these are just the ones at the top of my mind as I pen this post.

When I consider these changes, I’m reminded that change is the one constant in our lives and the ability to weather these shifts is what truly leads to everyday tranquility.

Sure, being surrounded by tranquility tools such as journals, cups of tea, flowers, books, and loved ones is divine, but those not-so-tranquil moments in between is when we’re tested and, ultimately, can grow.

For nearly two decades I’ve written about tranquility and shared numerous ways to find it in every day here on the blog, in the podcast, through books, and on retreats. Yet I’m learning that my ability to maintain a sense of tranquility is best when it’s not dependent on outside circumstances since they are constantly in flux.

I believe that what matters most is having a sense of tranquility deep within. A self-compassionate spirit that speaks kindly to oneself when under pressure and whispers a gentle, “bless your heart.”

I believe everyday tranquility is found through tiny pauses in between. For example, before diving into projects and seeing clients, I started today with a soak in the tub. Between clients and a meeting, I stopped into a local salad shop for a spinach, arugula, watermelon, and peach salad. As I type this, I’m sipping a green juice and facing the window to savor natural light. After seeing clients tonight, I’ll meet up with a girlfriend to see the Thich Nhat Hahn film, Walk With Me.

Sure, these are small every day sort of things, but they contribute to feeling grounded while the world whirls around me.

Life is not perfect. Change is hard. Loss stings. Flat surfaces in my home (such as those shown in these photos) are often covered with a thin layer of black pet hair and I eat too much sugar. As the above quote notes, “There is no perfection, only beautiful versions of brokenness.”

I  believe everyday tranquility is found in our imperfection. Embrace what makes you uniquely you. Find your own voice. Live out loud and don’t apologize.

Wishing you deep, intimate moments of messy, everyday tranquility. Bisous. x

Giveaway: Share a takeaway from today’s post in the comments section below by Sunday, September 17 noon ET for a chance to win a free copy of Field Guide to Everyday Magic. The giveaway is open to U.S. residents. International participants are eligible to receive a free digital edition of Bella Grace. The winner will be chosen randomly and announced here on Sunday evening. Good luck!

The post Everyday Tranquility {+ Giveaway} appeared first on Kimberly Wilson.

Scenes from Tranquil Space’s Team Thank You Soirée

On Wednesday, September 6, past and present Tranquil Space team members gathered to celebrate the co-creation of our special community. The evening was magical and these photos are an assortment of sweet moments. More images can be found here.

Tears flowed, along with hugs and belly laughs throughout the evening as we shared how much the studio has meant over the past 18 years.

This Maya Angelou quote embodies the studio’s ethos: “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” To our community far and wide, thank YOU for making me and thousands of others feel SO loved!

As J.M. Barrie said, “Never say goodbye because goodbye means going away and going away means forgetting.” This transition is so not goodbye. It’s a new chapter for the studio and community to blossom. Playing a part in planting and nourishing this seedling has been my greatest honor. Bisous. x

The post Scenes from Tranquil Space’s Team Thank You Soirée appeared first on Kimberly Wilson.

August in Review

Life is a process of becoming. A combination of states we have to go through. Where people fail is that they wish to elect a state and remain in it. This is a kind of death.—Anais Nin

August in Review

Last month was filled with adrenaline surges and emotional fluctuations. While I’m still a bit numb from it all, I feel myself slowly emerging. Into what, I’m not sure, but I do see a new normal on the horizon.

August included two trips to see pigs at Farm Sanctuary and Whispering Rise Animal Sanctuary, date night at The Kennedy Center, giving notice to The Women’s Center after three years to focus on private practice, selling Tranquil Space to YogaWorks, giving microgrants, hosting Writing Lab, releasing TranquiliT’s fall collection, decluttering, memoir writing, attending the Animal Rights Conference, and binge watching Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.

As the dust begins to settle and my heart rate slows, I hope to turn my attention toward deeper self-care, rest, and rejuvenation. And to nurturing our online community. Stay tuned for a reemergence this fall that will include Daybook 6.0, an online gathering, and more. I’ve missed you and look forward to reconnecting once the inner well is refilled.

Wishing you a beautiful start to this brand new month! Bisous. x

August Blog/Podcast Wrap Up

Announcing Daybook 6.0

New beginnings for Tranquil Space

Podcast #403: Creative Living

Podcast #402: A Paris Year

July in Review

Turn Toward the Light

September Wish List

Release two podcasts

Adjust to my new normal

Celebrate Tim’s birthday

Learn lots at memoir intensive

Host celebratory Tranquil Space team event

Make 50 lavender-infused face/body oil gifts

Transition to three days in private practice

Share more about Daybook 6.0

Collaborate with clients

Read, write, and practice yoga daily

Write 5,000 words of memoir

Set tea dates with friends

Dive into Veterinary Social Work curriculum

Spend a full day in declutter mode

Savvy Sources

Is meditation self-help?

An Anais Nin podcast

A brief yoga practice that quiets the mind

I kicked my smartphone addiction

How you can help animals impacted by Hurricane Harvey

Let’s hear it for the 4-hour working day

Writing letters to break vicious cycles

How to practice Vipassana meditation

The surprising way to grow your productivity

46 amazing new books to read this fall

7 reasons being a slow reader is good for you

Neuroscientist picks 12 books everyone should read

Manage your attention, not your time

11 ways to practice self-care (15 min or less)

4 ways to make space in your brain to create

The post August in Review appeared first on Kimberly Wilson.

Tranquility du Jour #404: Transitions

Transitions with me and Tim.  In this week’s edition of Tranquility du Jour, Tim and I discuss the transition of Tranquil Space to YogaWorks and what’s next for both of us {hint, it involves pigs and pugs}.

 

Direct download: Tranquility du Jour #404: Transitions

Upcoming Events

Writing in the Woods in West Virginia: October 27-29 {3 spots left}

Yoga + Mindfulness Mini Retreat in DC: December 31

Yoga, Mindfulness + Creativity in Costa Rica: February 17-24

Yoga + Art in West Virginia: May, 2018 TBA

Featured Guests: Me and Tim

Tim Mooney is a Washington, DC-based attorney and entrepreneur with a passion for technology and the law. In 2001, Tim relocated to Washington, DC and served as senior counsel at Alliance for Justice. There, he worked with nonprofits across the United States to strengthen their ability to influence public policy.

Tim spent the next decade as General Counsel and Director of Operations for Tranquil Space, Hip Tranquil Ventures and TranquiliT, running operations, technology, marketing, management, communications, and whatever else came up day to day.

He currently serves as a board member of Tranquil Space Foundation, a public charity focused on animal welfare through the Pigs and Pugs Project.

Most recently, Tim has discovered the joys of bike touring and has launched an online community and podcast devoted to bike touring lifestyle, Pedalshift. He was also one half of the 2013 book tour -slash- 11,000 mile North American RV adventure that was Tranquility Tour.

Tim received a B.S. from Syracuse University/SUNY College of Environmental Science & Forestry and a J.D. from Pace University School of Law. He splits time between the Dupont Circle neighborhood of Washington, DC and his cabin retreat in Berkeley County, West Virginia with his multi-talented girlfriend Kimberly Wilson and their pugs, Mookie and Belle Starr, and their cat Jackson.

Savvy Sources
Find Tim

Tim’s website: tim-mooney.com

Mentioned in Podcast

Pigs & Pugs Project
The Starfish Story
Tranquil Space 10-year and 15-year mini-documentary
My therapy practice
Daybook 6.0
Images promised: Silkie chickens and Tim with potbellies

Social Media

Eye candy on Instagram
Pin along with me on Pinterest
Let’s connect on Facebook
Follow moi on Twitter
Watch via YouTube


Tranquility Tips + Tools

Shop slow locally-made, eco-friendly fashion: TranquiliT
Browse my 5 Books
New to Tranquility du Jour? Peruse the FAQs
Tranquility-filled E-courses
Download the Tranquility du Jour Podcast App: iPhone and Android
Sign up for Love Notes and access Tranquil Treasures
Read about my passion for animals

Request

Pen a review on iTunes and/or share this podcast via social media, s‘il vous plaît
Pen a review of my books on Amazon or Goodreads.


Techy

To listen, click on the player at the top of the post or click here to listen to older episodes.
New to podcasting? Get more info at Podcast 411.
Do you have iTunes? Click here and subscribe to the podcast to get the latest episode as released.
Get the Tranquility du Jour apps to download the podcast “automagically” on iOS or Android.

The post Tranquility du Jour #404: Transitions appeared first on Kimberly Wilson.

Announcing Daybook 6.0

Dearest Readers:

A BIG thank you for interest in the next version of the Tranquility du Jour Daybook. I’ve heard from quite a few of you over the last many months and appreciate your support!

I’m writing to give you a sneak peek at the covers and to let you know that more details will come out after Labor Day weekend. Wishing you a beautiful holiday filled with books, journals, flowers, and tea. Bisous. x

The post Announcing Daybook 6.0 appeared first on Kimberly Wilson.

New Beginnings for Tranquil Space

I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.—Maya Angelou

This quote has been my mantra for Tranquil Space over the past 18 years. With the help of an amazing team, we’ve sought to create a haven to nurture Washingtonians.

Yesterday YogaWorks became the new owner of my baby, Tranquil Space. Our beautiful community (note to them below) was notified of the transition shortly thereafter.

Although it’s bittersweet to pass my baby on to a new caretaker, I’m SO excited about the future of the studios under the structure and support of YogaWorks.

Here’s the press release that went out this morning. It’s so not goodbye, it’s hello to what’s to come. Bisous. x

What we call the beginning is often the end and to make an end is to make a beginning. The end is where we start from.—T. S. Eliot

Dearest Tranquil Space Community,

I’m writing to share some big news. As of August 29th, both Tranquil Space studios will become part of the growing YogaWorks family of 52 studios across the country. I realize this might be surprising and want to share why I made this decision and what happens next.

I’ve often described my original vision of Tranquil Space as “the TV show Cheers sans drink.” I wanted to create a space where Washingtonians could connect with like-hearted people in a nurturing setting (hello lavender, tea and cookies) and believe that we’ve been able to build this together.

Growing this community with you over the past 18 years has been my proudest accomplishment. To witness the growth of your practices on and off the mat has been an honor. Recently, however, after experiencing various personal losses, I’ve found myself unable to give our studios all the attention they need to thrive. After much reflection, I realized the best way to take Tranquil Space to the next level and provide our team with opportunities for growth, would be to partner with a like-minded company. YogaWorks is the perfect fit. They bring 30 years of yoga experience and share our commitment to creating a holistic yoga experience and fostering community. YogaWorks will give Tranquil Space an opportunity to blossom into its next phase of growth while staying true to our shared core values: compassion, passion, initiative, creativity, community.

YogaWorks has a successful history of partnering with established studios by honoring the students’ practice and maintaining continuity of teachers and staff. This was one of the reasons I chose YogaWorks as the only company I would trust with my life’s passion and with the people I have come to view as extended family. In this recent Mindful Studio magazine article, the YogaWorks CEO, Rosanna, and I were both interviewed and emphasized our aligned vision for a successful studio.

This is a big step and fresh start for Tranquil Space. While our website and the studio name will transition in a few months to YogaWorks, our schedules, classes, workshops, and team will stay the same. Your existing memberships, class passes, online account, and password will also not change.

I want you to know I have truly loved creating our community together with you and our amazing team. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your ongoing support. On a personal note, I’ll be practicing yoga off the mat as a psychotherapist and will focus on growing Tranquil Space Foundation’s Pigs & Pugs Project. Of course, yoga, mindfulness, and YOU remain priorities in my life and you’ll still see me taking and teaching classes and workshops at the studios.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out. I’m forever grateful to our community and look forward to being part of your continued evolution on and off the mat. Thank you for joining me on this journey and I’m excited for what lies ahead! Namaste.

The post New Beginnings for Tranquil Space appeared first on Kimberly Wilson.

Tranquility du Jour #403: Creative Living

Creative Living with Jennifer Schelter.  In this week’s edition of Tranquility du Jour, we discuss Jennifer’s inspiration behind a performance piece called Breaking Ground, how her writing practice is the underpinning of her creative life, and how life has evolved since she was on the show in 2015.

Congrats to Katherine for winning a signed copy of A Paris Year in the recent giveaway!

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Direct download: Tranquility du Jour #403: Creative Living

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Upcoming Events

Writing in the Woods in West Virginia: October 27-29 {4 spots left}

Yoga, Mindfulness + Creativity in Costa Rica: February 17-24

Yoga + Art in West Virginia: May, 2018 TBA

Featured Guest:

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Jennifer Schelter has over 25 years’ experience as an entrepreneur, motivational leader, and speaker, and has led over 80,000 people to become their better selves.  She understands that ultimately, change and self-discovery is about reaching inside your self. Through hourly sessions, workshops or a weeklong retreat, Jennifer supports and empowers change and growth through her unique offerings of leadership skills, one-on-one coaching, mindfulness, meditation, retreats, yoga and writing.

She was the expert life coach and yoga teacher on “Natural Reboot” TV show, called “One of the most inspiring Philadelphian’s” and “Best of Philly” by Philadelphia Magazine.  She facilitates mindful and creative workshops and retreats with University of Pennsylvania Wharton Leadership and Management Programs, Morris Arboretum, Woodmere Art Museum, Kripalu Center, and the Radiant Retreat in Tulum, Mexico. She is the Co-Founder of “Reach & Raise ” for Living Beyond Breast Cancer (Philadelphia, Kansas City, Denver) and annually leads 2,000 people in a public yoga and meditation class on the Philadelphia Art Museum steps.

Jennifer’s mission is to inspire well-being and champion creativity in self-leadership.  She is the producer of “am awake” CD and “The Art of Vinyasa Yoga” DVD. Recently, she was selected for Our Bodies, Our Selves, Gallery 128 show at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, and read her story Breaking Ground. Currently, she is a Post Bacc student at PAFA, writing and illustrating a memoir.Jennifer is available to for retreats, workshops, or one-on-one sessions.  www.jenniferschelter.com.

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Savvy Sources
Find Jennifer

Facebook
Twitter
Website
Instagram

Mentioned in Podcast

Jennifer’s former interview on Tranquility du Jour








Social Media

Eye candy on Instagram
Pin along with me on Pinterest
Let’s connect on Facebook
Follow moi on Twitter
Watch via YouTube


Tranquility Tips + Tools

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Shop slow locally-made, eco-friendly fashion: TranquiliT
Browse my 5 Books
New to Tranquility du Jour? Peruse the FAQs
Tranquility-filled E-courses
Download the Tranquility du Jour Podcast App: iPhone and Android
Sign up for Love Notes and access Tranquil Treasures
Read about my passion for animals

Request

Pen a review on iTunes and/or share this podcast via social media, s‘il vous plaît
Pen a review of my books on Amazon or Goodreads.


Techy

To listen, click on the player at the top of the post or click here to listen to older episodes.
New to podcasting? Get more info at Podcast 411.
Do you have iTunes? Click here and subscribe to the podcast to get the latest episode as released.
Get the Tranquility du Jour apps to download the podcast “automagically” on iOS or Android.

The post Tranquility du Jour #403: Creative Living appeared first on Kimberly Wilson.

Tranquility du Jour #402: A Paris Year + Giveaway

A Paris Year with Janice MacLeod. In this week’s edition of Tranquility du Jour, Janice shares the inspiration behind her new beautiful book, how life has changed since writing Paris Letters, her favorite spots in Paris, and kindly assists me in pronunciation {lots!}. Giveaway: leave a takeaway from this podcast in the comment section below by Friday, August 11 to enter to win a copy of Janice’s new book!

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Direct download: Tranquility du Jour #402: A Paris Year

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Upcoming Events

Writing in the Woods in West Virginia: October 27-29

Yoga, Mindfulness + Creativity in Costa Rica: February 17-24

Yoga + Art in West Virginia: May, 2018 TBA

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Featured Guest: Janice MacLeod-Lik

[image error]I am the artist behind Paris Letters, a painted letter series sent out via snail mail to those who crave getting fun snail mail from the land of fromage, rosé  and lippy waiters.

After a childhood in Canada that was just dysfunctional enough to make me funny, I became an advertising copywriter and eventually an associate creative director. Most of my time was spent in top agencies throughout the USA and Canada, because I’m kinda into fame. And modesty. I’m humble, too. And perfect.

Paris Letters

After 110 years of writing junk mail in advertising, I devised an exit strategy to finance my own sabbatical. My Shawshank Redemption, if you will. When I met my financial goal, I skipped town and traveled with nothing more than my suitcase and a small set of watercolors. Along the way, I painted letters about my travels and mailed them to friends. Enamored with this unique medium, I opened an online shop. Each month I create one painted letter, copy it, personalize it and mail it to hundreds of subscribers who are hungry for fun mail.

While in Paris, I met the lovely Christophe, who built me a closet so I would finally unpack my suitcase. I’ve been an embarrassment to the French language ever since. We got hitched and hit the road. Now we’re hanging our hats in the Rocky Mountains.

Books

I wrote the New York Times best selling book Paris Letters (Sourcebooks, 2014), which is really a long-form version of this About page. But with more pictures.

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If Paris Letters is about BECOMING an artist in Paris, A Paris Year is about BEING an artist in Paris.

Part memoir and part visual journey through the streets of modern-day Paris, France, A Paris Yearchronicles, day by day, my daily discoveries in the world’s most beautiful city. This is more than a diary or travel journal: it’s a detailed and colorful love letter to one of the most romantic and historically rich cities on earth.

Before all this crazy Paris-themed goodness, I co-wrote two books: The Breakup Repair Kit (Conari Press, 2003) and The Dating Repair Kit (Conari Press, 2006).

I have had airtime on TV shows such as Tyra Banks Show and Movie & A Makeover. I’ve also been featured in magazines such as Elle, National Geographic, Canadian Living, Canadian Family, Cosmopolitan, Chatelaine, Glamour, Flare, Psychologies, Huffington Post, The New York Times… whew… long list, Psychologies, Renegade Collective, Business Insider, and and and… the list continues.

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Savvy Sources
Find Janice

Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Etsy
Books
Blog

Mentioned in Podcast

La Cuisine
Jardin des Plantes
Mosque near Jardin des Plantes
Janice’s former interview on Tranquility du Jour












Social Media

Eye candy on Instagram
Pin along with me on Pinterest
Let’s connect on Facebook
Follow moi on Twitter
Watch via YouTube


Tranquility Tips + Tools

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Shop slow locally-made, eco-friendly fashion: TranquiliT
Browse my 5 Books
New to Tranquility du Jour? Peruse the FAQs
Tranquility-filled E-courses
Download the Tranquility du Jour Podcast App: iPhone and Android
Sign up for Love Notes and access Tranquil Treasures
Read about my passion for animals

Request

Pen a review on iTunes and/or share this podcast via social media, s‘il vous plaît
Pen a review of my books on Amazon or Goodreads.



Techy

To listen, click on the player at the top of the post or click here to listen to older episodes.
New to podcasting? Get more info at Podcast 411.
Do you have iTunes? Click here and subscribe to the podcast to get the latest episode as released.
Get the Tranquility du Jour apps to download the podcast “automagically” on iOS or Android.

Save

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The post Tranquility du Jour #402: A Paris Year + Giveaway appeared first on Kimberly Wilson.

July in Review

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When she transformed into a butterfly, the caterpillars spoke not of her beauty, but of her weirdness. They wanted her to change back into what she always had been. But she had wings.—Dean Jackson

July in Review

Last month was filled with travel, family, and friends. From savoring four tea dates, to spending a weekend with a girlfriend of 30 years, to seeing Garth for the 13th time—July offered an abundance of experiences.

Monday night I penned this muse for the Tranquil Space newsletter using the above Dean Jackson quote. The notion of spreading our wings has motivated me since my early 20s. In the muse I tried to convey the discomfort in change (former caterpillars may not approve) and importance of finding your own way. Taking flight connotes freedom.

July delights: wandering through the Cloisters and Hillwood gardens, riding two carousels, picking lavender, attending a DC Council meeting to support an animal welfare bill (it passed unanimously and has one more round to go), biking around the city, celebrating Mookie and Belle’s gotchaversary with my parents and their former foster parents, hiking the hills in Oklahoma, seeing Cabaret at the Kennedy Center, spending an afternoon decluttering, going through a minor surgery and receiving good results, releasing the Pigs & Pugs tee, and holding the fall TranquiliT shoot.

Keats wrote, “I almost wish we were butterflies and liv’d but three summer days—three such days with you I could fill with more delight than fifty common years could ever contain.” A gorgeous reminder to infuse our days with experiences and simple pleasures, to treasure the moments in between as if they were our last.

Now, let’s spread our wings and fly. Bisous. x

July Blog/Podcast Wrap Up

Turn Toward the Light

Summer Reading List

Podcast #401: Finding Your Inner Artist

400th Follow Up + Giveaway

Podcast #400: Celebrating 400 Episodes

August Wish List

Learn lots at this weekend’s Animal Rights Conference

Smooth travels to and from Farm Sanctuary Hoe Down in New York

Host inspiring Writing Lab

Complete 5,000 words of memoir

Date night to see The King and I

Release two podcasts

Announce plans regarding Daybook 6.0

Collaborate with clients

Read three books from Summer Reading List

Spend full day in declutter mode

Savvy Sources

The feminist consultants for “A Dolls House, Part 2”

A neuroscientist reveals the most important choice you can make

The importance of being unproductive

Yes, you can buy happiness if you spend money to save time

An essay primer: 6 essay types you should know

Can animals suffer from PTSD?

How to eat vegan for a week for under $50

I quit sugar for a week and here’s what happened

Do you often wake up between 3 and 5 am? A higher power is trying to tell you something . . .

4 ways to make space in your brain to create

Tons of people ditching meat after watching Okja

Becoming Jane: How Austen transformed into a chick-lit icon

How to live a life of reading with no regrets

How pursuing a quest can bring purpose to your life

5 tips we can learn from the French way of grocery shopping

Thoreau on defining your own success

The post July in Review appeared first on Kimberly Wilson.