EP278: Release, Readiness, and What Comes Next
True Stride
I feel like there’s been a lot of conversation lately about the Chinese zodiac and the year we’re moving out of, which is the Year of the Wood Snake. That year comes to an end on February 16, and then on February 17, according to the Chinese zodiac, we move into the Year of the Fire Horse. Even if you don’t follow the Chinese New Year, I’ve really appreciated how this way of marking time gives us an opportunity to slow down, reflect, and check our own reality. In this episode, I share why the energy of the Wood Snake has felt so accurate for this past year, with its focus on shedding,...
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EP277: Shape Your Vision with Creativity and Intention
True Stride
I’ve been thinking a lot about intention setting lately and how many different ways there are to get clear on what we want to attract. Some people love choosing a word for the year, others don’t resonate with that at all, and that reflection led me to revisit the tools I’ve used over time to stay grounded and inspired. What matters most isn’t the method itself, but whether we’re carving out space to reflect, get creative, and really listen to what’s calling us forward. Today, we’ll dive into how vision boarding has supported me in the past and how a simple, pen-and-paper practice...
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EP276: Looking Back Through Pleasure and Expansion
True Stride
At the start of a new year, I always notice a shift. It’s subtle, but it’s there. A little lightness. A sense that I can pause, take stock, and step into something new. Even though it’s just one calendar year turning into the next, it still feels like permission to begin again. To set new intentions. To let the past be the past. I don’t overthink it. I just pay attention to that sense of possibility. As I look back on the year behind me, it wasn’t especially easy. There were moments that felt heavy, uncertain, and stretching in ways I didn’t expect. Yet, when I slow down and really...
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EP275: A Word to Ground, Guide, and Inspire You
True Stride
I can’t quite believe that yet another year of us going on Wise Walks together has come and gone. In our last episode, I invited you to reflect on your previous Word of the Year, and I’ve been doing that too. Looking back, I can see how my word, Co-create, supported me in ways I couldn’t have fully anticipated at the time. Sometimes we choose a word with a clear sense of direction or intuition about what will help us feel more aligned and in our True Stride. When I think about why this practice matters to me, I always come back to the idea of choosing a word for the year not as something...
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EP274: Reflecting on the Year Through One Word
True Stride
As this year comes to a close, I wanted to slow things down and really look at how my word for 2025 actually showed up in my life. I’ve shared before that I no longer set New Year’s resolutions. Instead, I choose a word that helps ground me in how I want to show up and what I want to experience. This year, that word was co-create. As someone who has always relied on planning, structure, and execution, this word challenged me to loosen my grip and trust timing instead of forcing outcomes. It became a way to check myself when things felt rushed, heavy, or resistant, and to ask whether I was...
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EP273: Leaning Into Your Inner Athlete
True Stride
It’s funny how aging has a way of quietly changing the conversation we have with our bodies. I notice it when I’m moving or when a familiar pose needs more support, or when strength and flexibility show up differently than they used to. For a long time, I thought that meant I was losing something. What I’m realizing now is that it simply means that I’m being asked to listen more closely. There’s still a part of me that loves a challenge, that enjoys feeling capable and engaged, even if the expression of that looks different than it once did. Lately, I’ve been paying attention to...
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EP272: Freedom Waiting Beyond Your Limits
True Stride
Lately I have been spending time out on my Aunt’s ranch in Joshua Tree, California, and the rhythm of the animals has offered me a new perspective on how we respond to the boundaries in our lives. Watching the horses move through their space, communicate their needs, and express their energy reminded me how easy it is to accept certain limits without ever pausing to ask whether they still feel aligned. Their behavior became an unexpected mirror, showing me where I have honored barriers that were never truly mine or that no longer support who I am becoming. Their exuberance and clarity...
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EP271: Honoring Your Rites of Passage
True Stride
A conversation on a recent hike surprised me in the best way. My friend and I wandered into a chat about how we grew up and what shaped us, and it pulled up old memories I had not thought about in a long time. I shared a bit about my upbringing and the sense of community that came with it, but what really landed for me was how many different ways people mark the big moments in their lives. It does not matter if it comes from a formal tradition or something more personal. We all have these turning points that nudge us forward and help us understand who we are right now. Lately I have been...
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EP270: What Gratitude Makes Possible
True Stride
Happy Thanksgiving, fellow Striders. If you’re celebrating here in the U.S., I hope you’re surrounded by loved ones, friends, or even your fur babies, and that you’re feeling a sense of appreciation for the blessings in your life, the ones you’re experiencing now and the ones that have shaped you along the way. This time of year is a good reminder to pause, take a breath, and really acknowledge the good that is already present. As I’ve been reflecting on gratitude, I keep coming back to how much shifts when we look at what’s working instead of what’s missing. When we notice the...
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EP269: Marathon Lessons to Finish Strong
True Stride
I was really moved recently when a Strider reached out to share that they had just completed the New York City Marathon and were reflecting on what that experience meant for them. They realized after crossing the finish line that they wished they had celebrated more and invited others to cheer them on, because training for something so big ends up being a rite of passage. Their honesty stirred up memories from my own marathon experiences and reminded me just how powerful those transitions are when we separate from who we were and stretch ourselves into something new. It got me thinking about...
info_outlineI'm in the final days before closing on my St. Augustine home, and I forgot how truly exhausting and emotional moving can be. Amid all the boxes and decisions, I found unexpected peace through a creative project of building custom crates to protect my framed pictures. What started as a money-saving task turned into a grounding experience that reminded me how much joy and calm I find in working with my hands and being present in the moment.
In this Wise Walk, we explore how creativity can serve as a powerful grounding tool when life feels overwhelming. Whether it's building, painting, playing music, or teaching yoga, I share how creative outlets help me stay connected to myself and centered in my environment. I invite you to reflect on what activities bring you back to yourself and offer space to breathe a little deeper.
● What tools do you fall back on to stay grounded, present, and refueled when life feels overwhelming?
● Are you aware of the moments when you need to lean into those tools to retreat from chaos and reconnect within?
● What activities help you feel grounded, present, and connected to your body, mind, heart, and senses?
● How do those activities help you slow down and let the non-creative parts of your brain turn off?
● What experiences in your life help you switch modes, breathe deeper, and feel more centered and satisfied through your senses?
I invite you to explore the creative outlets that are calling to you. Use them to ground yourself, especially when life feels chaotic. And if you’re inspired, I’d love to hear what’s working for you, so feel free to share and send ideas my way. I’ll see you next Thursday for another Wise Walk.
In this episode:
[03:27] To save money, I decided to build a crate system to keep my pictures safe while moving.
[04:18] I really got into the project, and realized I really enjoyed working with wood. This gave me peace of mind and will make moving the pictures really easy.
[05:20] My supportive sister agreed to help me. She also got a rush of satisfaction from completing the project.
[06:33] The project and the construction made me calm and helped me be present. You can't work with power tools and not be present.
[07:13] Creativity and creative outlets is one of my grounding tools.
[09:03] There are many psychologists and scientists that talk about the power of using creativity as a grounding tool. It promotes relaxation, triggers endorphins, and helps us be present.
[10:53] Rock climbing is another activity that helps me shut off parts of my brain. I need to be present for the next hold that I can grab safely.
[11:30] Make a list of the things that are in your toolkit that will help you express yourself creatively.
[12:01] Grounding is a way to center yourself on the most basic function. It's being present with what you're doing.
[13:28] Creativity and mindful movement allows us to use specific parts of our brain.
[14:03] Another way I'm grounding is by teaching yoga. When I'm teaching yoga, it feels like I'm fully present and grounded.
[15:37] I just wanted to share how impactful these creative tools have been for me during this crunch time.
Memorable Quotes:
- “Grounding is really just about tuning out the noise and tuning in to the here and now.” - Mary Tess
- “There’s something so satisfying about creating with your hands, moment by moment, and then stepping back to see what you’ve built.” - Mary Tess
- “One of the grounding tools that becomes really important for me when I'm under stress or overwhelm or exhaustion is using my creativity.” - Mary Tess
Links and Resources: