BOO506 - When Trying Still Matters
bestofourselves podcast
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...
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BOO505 - An Unexpected Lesson at the Cell Phone Store
bestofourselves podcast
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. Resources
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BOO503 - What a Holiday Scare Taught Me About Presence
bestofourselves podcast
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.
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BOO501- Choosing Love in a World Built on Dominance
bestofourselves podcast
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. Resources
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BOO499 - The Trouble with Being Human
bestofourselves podcast
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BOO498 - The Frown
bestofourselves podcast
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. Resources
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BOO497 - Loosening the Should Knots
bestofourselves podcast
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: Resources
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BOO496 - The Medicine of Gentleness
bestofourselves podcast
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. Resources
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BOO494 - How Much to Share
bestofourselves podcast
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. Resources
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BOO493 - Bad Luck - Maybe Not
bestofourselves podcast
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. Resources
info_outlineWhen we know someone's story, it is hard to make them an "other". We can get past the labels and see the humanity in those who have different life experiences.
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