I've spent years looking for myself. Who am I? What does it mean to be authentic? It's a trap. One that will have you trying to conform to this so-called authenticity. Because the mind will want a snapshot. To capture an image and perpetuate it: the authentic self. And round and round we go. It's … Continue reading Finding Myself
There's a hum in my head compelling surging me forward zzzt zzzt zzzt like the neon sign of an all-night diner. It's become my rhythm fraying my nerves false beat. This is not rhythm. This is noise. Feeling for my rhythm beyond the hum perhaps beneath it. It has to be there flow not … Continue reading Child’s pose
When I published my first Anna book last year, I committed to having a tree planted for every print copy sold — to offset all of the trees that have filled our homes, schools and libraries with beloved books over the last century. My mission: to plant a million trees in my lifetime. After spending … Continue reading Tree-planting Challenge
I'm knee-deep in the process of manuscript revision. At first, it seemed impossible to remove 30,000 words from my 120,000-word story. 30,000 words. That's a small book. But I did it. And there's a tipping point. Just like cleaning your closet. The mountain looms large and you trudge hard. But at some point, you reach … Continue reading What you don’t need
It's funny how life and writing intersect. I'm in the process of trimming the 110,000 word yoga memoir manuscript down to 80,000 words. It's hard at first... cutting down your writing. It seems like such a monster. Where to start? So you do a few words here and there. Then you leave it. Then a … Continue reading Clean up your mess
"It's funny to have the sun shining and the snow falling." My words to my husband on a recent family trip to Radium, BC. It's not unheard of. In fact, it's a regular Canadian spring. It's still funny. Not funny haha. Funny interesting. Curious. Fascinating. While away, I plunged into Dr. John Sarno's book, Healing Back … Continue reading The Wisdom of Spring
Today is day ten of our Nourish twenty-one day detox. Last week found me expounding to my weekly meditation circle about supplication of emotions through substance: in this case, food. Today, perched upon my stationary bike reading The Art of Memoir by Mary Karr, a moment of clarity arrives. Seemingly disconnected dots (memoir and detox) … Continue reading The Memory of Food
2 years ago, almost to the day, I was working out at the local YMCA. Right in the middle of a set of pull-ups, I experienced an intense hot flash. Followed by another. And another. In fact, that day began a 2-year string of hot flashes. I was confused. I headed to my doctor since … Continue reading Hot Flash Pilot Program
I can't say this enough: Nature is the greatest teacher. We forget. We work to harness her, manage her, use her. When we release our fear of her and our need to control her, she will restore our senses. Nature heals the body and boosts the spirit. If you commit to one small act for … Continue reading The greatest teacher
"The winter solstice has always been special to me as a barren darkness that gives birth to a verdant future beyond imagination, a time of pain and withdrawal that produces something joyfully inconceivable, like a monarch butterfly masterfully extracting itself from the confines of its cocoon, bursting forth into unexpected glory." ~Gary Zukav During our … Continue reading A Solstice Commitment
Stephanie Hrehirchuk - Author 