Kimberly Wilson's Blog, page 99

Tranquility du Jour #376: An iPhoneography Project

An iPhoneography Project with Tammy Strobel. We talk grief and more from her book, My Morning View.

Direct download: Tranquility du Jour #376: An iPhoneography Project

Share with me where you’re listening from and what you’re doing while listening. Laundry, commuting, gardening, running? Thank you for being part of Tranquility du Jour!

Beatriz: I listened to your podcast yesterday evening for the first time, while cooking a couple of Spanish omelets. I downloaded a few more of your podcasts on the iPhone and will be listening to past episodes soon.Christine: You are my Sunday morning company while I drink my coffee and ease into my day. Sunday is my “me” day..it is slow and mindful. I do this to help recharge myself for the week to come. Listening to your podcast allows me to relax and enter the day with new knowledge of how to make everyday more mindful and meaningful. Thank you, Kimberly for being you…you and your podcast are a cherished part of my week and I am grateful for all of your wisdom.

Kudos to Hip Tranquil Chick 10-year survey winners: Deborah, Katie, Diane, Kirsten, and Katrin. Thanks to ALL of you for your feedback. SO grateful!

Upcoming Events

Fall TDJ Live: September 22

Writing in the Woods: October 28-30 {5 spots left}

Hip Tranquil Chick 10-Year Online Celebration: November TBA

New Year’s Eve Mini Retreat: December 31

Yoga, Creativity + Mindfulness in Costa Rica: February 18-25

 

Tranquility du Jour Guest

 

 

Tammy Strobel of Rowdy Kittens

Tammy Strobel is a writer, photographer, and teacher. She created her blog, RowdyKittens.com, in late 2007 to improve her writing and to share her story. Tammy spends her free time taking photos, walking, and hanging out with friends and family. She lives in a very tiny house in northern California, with her husband, Logan, and two cats. You can sign up for Tammy’s e-courses or purchase her books at rowdykittens.com.

Savvy Sources


Instagram: instagram.com/rowdykittens/
Website: rowdykittens.com/
Previous episodes with Tammy: Tranquility du Jour podcast #207 and #253
Journaling class with Tammy
Weekly Doga videos on WooFDriver’s Facebook page
I was interviewed on Squam’s Morning On the Dock podcast and Lara Ledsham’s Sparkle Explore Soar podcast
Summer’s TDJ Live Webinar Replay
My eye candy on Instagram
Pin along with me on Pinterest
Let’s connect on Facebook
Follow moi on Twitter
My 5 Books
Sign up for Love Notes and access Tranquil Treasures
New to Tranquility du Jour? Peruse my FAQs


More Tranquility

Tranquility University E-courses.
Shop my locally-sewn, eco-friendly TranquiliT clothing line.
Read along on Goodreads.
Tranquility du Jour Podcast App: iPhone and Android.
Read about my passion for animals.
Pen a review on iTunes or your other social media outlets, s‘il vous plaît.

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 get the podcast “automagically” on iOS or Android.

The post Tranquility du Jour #376: An iPhoneography Project appeared first on Kimberly Wilson.

Week in Review {Pics + Links}

Week in Review

I’m sitting at the Albany airport awaiting my return flight to DC. My mind is full after a week devouring writing practice tools. My body is open from yoga and whole foods. My heart is ready to return to my family.

Sweet Belle had a tumor removed this week and got through it without complication. Thank you to all who sent kind, healing thoughts our way. So very appreciated and clearly helped. Note her grey surgical body sock. It will have ribbons and tulle sewn onto it within minutes of my return home. I mean, who’s designing these things? No flair.

This week I wrote, walked Kripalu grounds, checked in often with home, met new friends and relished in hearing their work, read, slept a lot, soaked in the tub nightly, penned a pig poem, collaborated with clients via phone, sent reminders about the Hip Tranquil Chick 10-year survey (thanks for ALL your grand ideas—giveaway winners will be announced tonight), and drank one too many Moroccan mint teas.

May you know that you are a special, sacred soul. There is no one else like you. And you’re beautiful. Thank you for reading my words. I’m honored. Bisous. x

Pics in Review

My Mercy for Animals tee
Kripalu’s view
Reading Natalie Goldberg’s Thunder and Lightning in legs up the wall pose
Writing
Facetime pre-Belle’s surgery
Belle in her post-surgery body sock

Savvy Sources

3 Ways To Hack Your Environment to Help You Create

Just 6 Seconds of Mindfulness Can make You More Effective

Herman Melville on Writing and His Daily Routine

Watermelon Gazpacho

Maximize Your Writing Time Like a Pro

Why You Need a Writing Retreat

Henry Beston on Happiness, Simplicity, and the Sacredness of Smallness

Weekend Wish List

Yoga

Savor time with family

Savor movie + brunch with friend

Learn lots at vet class

Sew ribbon onto Belle’s surgical sock

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A Pig Poem

One of our assignments this week was to write a 10-18-line word poem based on one chosen by our teacher, Heather Sellers. I was given “pigs” in a folded up sheet of paper not to be opened until I sat down to pen the poem.

As I opened the carefully folded sheet of white paper yesterday morning at my desk—knowing that it had been specifically created for me—I sighed and was eager to get started.

Poetry has been a form deemed “for other people” since I never quite understood what was trying to be expressed. Heather defines poetry as “carefully observed truth, plainly spoken.” I get that!

While I’m no Emily Dickinson, here’s the pig poem I whipped up in 10 minutes and really like (because it doesn’t sound like a hair metal ballad which tends to be the norm when I’m told to write poetry):

Of Pigs

Pink and black.

Sometimes grey or even red.

Big sensitive snout. Expressive eyes.

Intelligent, emotional, territorial.

Wiry hair and curly tail.

Loves belly rubs.

Playful. Mud holes. Natural sunscreen.

Beds of hay, not concrete gestation crates.

Deserving of fresh air, family, and freedom.

Not bacon or ham.

Nor sausage.

Pigs.

A Chicago Tribune piece came out this week to shed light on the unacceptable treatment of these beings. Eyes wide open. I believe they are friends not food.

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Final Hours for Survey + Giveaway

Survey

Hip Tranquil Chick hit shelves nearly a decade ago. In preparation for our online celebration event in November, I created a quick 5-question survey to gather *your* Hip Tranquil Chick stories and wishes.

Giveaway

As a token of gratitude for your survey completion, I’ll be offering five complimentary spots to the online event chosen at random. Please complete the survey by Friday, August 5 noon ET to qualify. Winners will be announced in the comments section of the blog tomorrow evening.

Gratitude

Thank you for your time and input. I’m incredibly grateful for your support and collaboration. I can’t wait to celebrate with you this fall! Bisous. x

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There Is Nothing To Writing

Hemingway famously said, “There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit at the typewriter and bleed.”

I’m sitting in a contoured plastic chair at a desk that I’ve moved toward the window—always seeking light—clacking away on my laptop. The view from this Kripalu room overlooks lush grounds peppered with trees and shrubs and a lake tucked inside the Berkshire mountains. It offers a safe respite from the bustling activity of yogis, writers, and seekers outside these four walls.

This is the second time I’ve taken the six-day Creative Writing Practice Sampler with Heather Sellers (Tranquility du Jour podcast #369). Despite being a repeater, I still feel like I’m learning a new language. At least trying to.

Some of my notes state: “We pad our writing with emotions to keep from feeling it. Let the reader do the math. Show a lot. Tell a little. Never explain. Write what you see, not what you know. Write slowly by hand. Steer towards what’s alive and active. Write in nouns and verbs. Infuse tension. Read with attention. Include turns (something that surprises). Avoid summary, background, judgment.” And the list goes on.

Although I wrote and published books before learning all of this, my eyes have opened to the meaning of “show, don’t tell” and what makes good writing. At times it’s inspiring, mostly it’s disheartening. Why? Because there is so much to learn and stories rarely flow on command.

This morning we shared work written last night and dissected two pieces: “Pretty Ice” and “The Cat in the Rain.” Both are riddled with subtext—things not said, but implied. Not taking text at face value shocks my way of seeing the written word. Ever get the audio add-on at art exhibits and ask yourself, “how in the world did this narrator get that from this painting?!” Me too, every. single. time. I’m usually like, “ohhh, I love Bonnard’s use of purple and orange.” Face value observation. Same thing here with writing.

After studying with Natalie Goldberg in May, attending the Creative Non-Fiction conference over Memorial Day weekend, and exploring writing with Christine Mason Miller (Tranquility du Jour podcasts #153 and #235) in June, this is my final slated writing workshop this year so I want to, well, figure it all out. Memoir plot, structure, book outline, book proposal. You know, everything. No pressure.

While the tools are plenty, it comes back to practice and process. The simple act of dropping into a chair, reaching for my Moleskine or laptop, and siting with the discomfort. Although I feel my confidence spike on rare occasion, it typically hovers near trauma.

Hemingway was right, the practice of writing is bleeding. Bisous. x

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The Beauty of Spontaneity

Forgoing to-dos and plans, Tim and I took a spontaneous 24-hour jaunt to Dewey Beach on Friday.

While this may feel like a small gesture, as someone who handed my clients a white slip of paper with all my 2016 away dates in January, I’m proud of our spontaneity. Sure, not everyone plans a year out, but for those of us who do, packing an overnighter and hitting the road feels liberating.

Tim had accumulated points that translated to a free room at the pet-friendly Hyatt Place, my Saturday plans shifted so the day was open, and Belle Starr had never seen a beach. Prepared to hit insane get-to-the-beach traffic, we left DC at 5pm and held our breath. Without a traffic back up in sight, we made it within 2.5 hours and exhaled with gratitude as we hit the beach town.

After dining on a pet-friendly patio as the sun set, we headed to the dark beach to hear the waves before bed. Since Dewey Beach is dog-friendly before 9:30am and after 5:30pm, when Belle began stirring at 6:30am, we all headed out to enjoy the full white sand experience. We grabbed a towel, dog bowl, tennis ball, water, a book, and the pugs.

The beach was quiet with few inhabitants so we let Mookie off-leash to {try to} run off his anxious energy. Belle stayed tucked around Tim’s legs—where she is typically found if not on his lap or hiding from me in her crate—clearly confused by the experience and scared of the crashing waves sound.

As the beach filled with people on phones, more dogs, and beach chairs, we headed back to the hotel to shower off the sand and nap before our drive home. To round out the adventure, we stopped at dog-friendly Dogfish Head Brewery in Milton, DE for a tasting and veggie burger. I highly recommend their lavender-infused Bière de Provence.

We were back to DC within 24 hours of leaving with exhausted pups, new beers, and great memories.

Although I’m still prone to planning and am eager to pen my August dreams, I love the freedom that comes with making decisions on the fly. It’s often during moments such as these where I’ll have “aha” moments or feel my shoulders drop from my ears.

There are few expectations and, instead, an overwhelming sense of adventure in what unfolds. What would happen if we lived life like this more often? Hmmm, one to ponder {and try}. You may just find you like it. Here’s to more spontaneous moments. Bisous. x

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Week in Review {Pics + Links}

 

Week in Review

What a monumental week for women! No matter where one stands on the political spectrum, I’m sure we can agree that a female presidential nominee is, well, a big effing deal (as VP Biden would say). I watched the acceptance speech with tears in my eyes and I know I’m not alone.

Growing up in Oklahoma, I  saw no women in positions of power at our community church (beyond hosting potlucks), learned that women received the right to vote less than 100 years ago (huh?), heard women introduced as Mrs. Fred Smith, and was stunned to learn that women earn .70ish cents on the dollar (less for women of color). Clearly not an empowering start. Once exposed to women’s studies during my senior year of college, I was mesmerized and went on to earn a master’s in women’s studies when I landed in Washington, DC.

We’ve come a long way, baby. And I’m still giggling over this video of Bill Clinton and the balloons. Such joy and the background music is perfection!

This week I survived the heat wave by doing yoga, collaborating with clients, meeting with my social work supervisor, getting Belle her first tutu, taking Belle to the vet (she has surgery to remove a tumor next week), getting Daybook 5.0 requests to my designer, battling migraines, savoring a mani/pedi, hosting the Bella Grace giveaway (kudos, Shannon), releasing podcast #375 with me and Tim, releasing the Hip Tranquil Chick 10-year survey, hosting another doga video with Mookie, bribing Belle with carrots, interviewing two guests for upcoming podcasts, resting a lot, and ordering fall shoot samples from seamstress.

In preparation for this upcoming weekend and our finale for July, let’s take a moment to review July’s dreams and experiences. List your takeaways (moi: biking the Grand Canyon, flying with Mookie, seeing Garth—twice—in Vegas, hosting a Virtual Retreat, watching the first female presidential nominee acceptance speech, etc.). Pen your August dreams. What do you want to bring forth and feel next month?

I believe life is about accumulating experiences. What are your accumulation dreams and wishes? Bisous. x

Pics in Review

Avocado toast
Her first tutu
Mookie + Belle napping
Tim calls this my foreign policy tee
Belle’s bling

Savvy Sources

8 Small Actions To Help You Feel More In Control of Your Life

How To Become a Success at Everything

What Most Successful People Do In the Evening

How To Keep Going with Meditation

Tricks To Transform Your Lunch Hour Into Vacation Time

Humanistic Philosopher Eric Fromm on Having vs Being

DIY 3-Ingredient Solid Perfume

How To Not Feel Trapped By Your Inner Critic’s Nagging Voice

Rescued Farm Animals Visit a Nursing Home

Dani Shapiro On What it Means to Grow

Weekend Wish List

Practice yoga

Get hair did

Family trip to dog beach

Reunite with Amtrak internship colleagues

Safe travels to Kripalu for Creative Writing Sampler

Settle in for six days of writing practice and study

Read

Write

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Bella Grace Giveaway Winner is . . .

#16, Shannon*, whose self-love tip is:

“This feels really silly, painful, weird at first but try saying in your mind “I love you” every time you pass a mirror. I’ve been doing it for months now and instead of seeing everything wrong with myself I feel love and that is huge.”

A BIG thank you to all who submitted self-love tips and kind words. Because of YOU, we now have 37 new ideas on how to practice self-love beautifully shared in the comments section. Wishing you deep moments of self-love. You are beautiful and deserving.

Reminder of another giveaway: answer five brief questions and enter to win one of five spots in our upcoming Hip Tranquil Chick 10-Year Online Celebration. Bisous. x

*Shannon, please email me your snail mail addy. Congrats!

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Hip Tranquil Chick 10 Years Later {Survey + Giveaway}

One chilly 2006 November night, we gathered to celebrate the release of my first book baby, Hip Tranquil Chick. It was birthed two years post-conception through nine months of intense writing and six years of dreaming.

The newly-opened Hotel Palomar down the block from Tranquil Space’s P Street location offered a swanky spot for an evening infused with pink and leopard-print. Even lavender-infused “TranquilTinis.”

Louis—who suffered from separation anxiety—began screeching when I started speaking at the podium and had to be removed for those few minutes. That’s why Tim and I are laughing as we’re reunited after the reading in the above photo.

I wore a custom TranquiliT dress and pink leopard-print heels. Louis wore a custom Hip Tranquil Pug sparkle tee—a surprise gift from my pug-loving seamstress at that time. Guests were gifted a leopard-print scarf in a leopard-print bag with pink tissue paper. The room was decorated with pink gerber daisies and stargazer lilies, along with images of Paris in sparkly frames and silent auction items to raise money for Tranquil Space Foundation. Jazz played in the background and veg hors d’oeuvres were passed around the room.

I felt like a princess. Similar to how little girls must feel at their princess parties. Does one ever outgrow this appreciation of girly delights? I sure haven’t.

Looking through the photo gallery from this event was an immersion into the past. So many faces of beloved souls who have moved away from DC, married, had babies, or moved on over the past decade. A reminder of life’s impermanence and deep gratitude for those I’ve met along this journey.

I also found Tranquility du Jour podcast #58: Hip Tranquil Chick Book Launch where I recount the event in detail. Ah, the beauty of social media.

It’s hard to believe an entire decade has passed. In preparation for a 10-year online celebration event in November, I’d LOVE to hear your Hip Tranquil Chick stories and what would be most beneficial for you as we honor the book’s birthday and our online community. I’ve created a quick 5-question survey to gather your stories and wishes.

As a token of gratitude for your time, I’ll be offering complimentary spots in the online event to five souls chosen at random. Please complete the survey by August 5 noon ET to qualify. Winners will be announced in the comments below on the evening of August 5. Thank you for your feedback and support. Bisous. x

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Bella Grace Giveaway

One of my writing goals for 2016 was to be published in my favorite magazine, Bella Grace. I was over the moon when I received word that my “20-Step Recipe for Self-Love: A Bed Day” was in their summer issue (pp. 72-73). This magazine is filled with inspiration and eye candy while oozing creativity.

As mentioned in today’s podcast, I’d love to offer one complimentary copy to YOU.

To enter the giveaway, please share your favorite self-love tip in the comments below. The lucky winner will be chosen at random on Thursday, July 28 noon ET and announced below.

I can’t wait to read your tips and invite you to indulge in a moment of self-love. Meditate. Read. Write. Breathe. Sip tea. Soak in the tub. Honor your efforts. Daydream. Bisous. x

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