Fill Your Jar Coaching

Category: wellness

  • Blooming intentions

    Blooming intentions

    My small and mighty jasmine plant gifted me eight blooms for my birthday this year. Just watching it grow bright green leaves and deeply aromatic ivory flowers fills my heart with so much joy. I could dance around my living room inhaling the intoxicating fragrance, with my eyes closed and a smile on my face, for a long while. Hoping all the loved ones I have lost over the years are swaying with me in celebration.

    I can hear the robins and the starlings welcoming a sun-filled spring day as I walk through Inglewood bird sanctuary hand-in-hand with my little niece. We all pause at the bridge to admire a vibrant wood duck; all the little ones exclaim “look, look!”, while all the adults meet their wonder. I look around to admire friends and family that have witnessed so much of my life.

    I can’t help but feel nourished to have a community that wants to celebrate my milestones and invest in my expansion through the seasons.

    This year I had the opportunity to write a short story for an anthology that honoured my lived experience while infusing feminist fantasy genre to dive in deeper as a writer, a behavioral scientist, and a woman.

    Three things I learned: Dedicating early mornings to write in Costa Rica while listening to the ocean, trees, birds and animals ignited a different part of my brain. I learned to navigate points of importance for myself and points of reveal for the reader in the story. Collective writing genuinely deepens contributive belonging.

    Two things that surprised me: I found auto-fiction liberating as it allowed me to play in the writing process. Just how quickly my inner questionings found their way in to the story.

    One question I am thinking about: Which story am I going to reimagine next?

    You are invited to the book launch celebration!

  • Is it growth or self-sabotage?

    Is it growth or self-sabotage?

    Road trips have grown to become one of my favorite brainstorming spaces. I have had some of my most meaningful conversations with self and others while admiring the scenes that pass by.

    It was about a six hour drive from the weekend at San Jose back to Guanacaste that had me wondering all the things I will miss from Costa Rica and all the things I miss from Airdrie. Do the things I miss and the things I don’t, reveal any insight into my what, how and why I value my way of life? I started the conversation with myself painfully aware of the privileges I have as an able bodied person with access to a ‘travel’ credit card. In the same wave length I wanted to acknowledge the challenges I navigate as a person of color in a female body wherever I go in the world.

    As the last week in Junquillal approaches, I can’t help but think about all the things I could, would and will do differently next time. Easily finding a way back to being hard on myself for stepping out of the race to success to step into wandering aimlessly for six weeks. Was it worth it to deplete some of my limited resources to simply swim in the ocean with so many colorful fish, wake up to the roar of howler monkeys, savor every bite of maracuyás and experience a different way of life?

    Three things I learned: Costa Ricans are not rushing to any place or any task. Folks avoid talking about work. And everyone pauses to enjoy the sunset every day.

    Two things that surprised me: I have had some of the best neapolitan pizza in my life (including Italy). The laws are open to individual interpretation and behavior.

    One question I am thinking about: How do I support someone in their dreaming, taking risks, failing and defining their own success especially when I don’t understand it?

  • Pura Vida

    Pura Vida

    It’s been ten days in Guanacaste and every time the trees loudly flutter in the wind, I still smile at them in amusement.

    I wanted to share a little bit about why I am here. For awhile now, there’s been this internal nudge of what would I be like in a different environment. A place where I woke to the alarm of ocean waves and songs of tropical birds.

    The routine of every day had started to feel less like a comfort and more like an unintentional reflex. And with that I started to yearn for new sights, sounds and smells for myself. My heart was dreaming while my head questioned every step; who am I doing this for (myself, or others)? Why would I leave my beautiful home? What would this experience cost me financially? Am I prepared to navigate the unexpected? Could I still celebrate this decision even if it does not live up to my expectations?

    Well, here I am writing – waking up to the melodies of song birds every morning. As soon as I step out into the balcony I hear the ocean. I sit in the shade of tall Teak trees. I giggle with the floppy banana leaves swaying with gusts of wind. I have to stop and admire every hibiscus flower along the path to the beach. I feel a magical calm at sunset every evening.

    Three things I have learned so far:

    *No two sunsets are the same. *Pineapples and papayas are the most delicious I have ever had in Costa Rica. *Body language is crucial to effective communication everywhere in the world.

    Two things that surprised me so far:

    *Costa Rica is expensive to live in and explore. *The country is extremely diverse in biospheres.

    One question I am exploring:

    *Could I really let go of all my familiar and comfortable, long term?

    Here is a way to get a unique keepsake and support us in Costa Rica!

  • Crisis intentions

    Crisis intentions

    “A furious thunderstorm came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, ‘Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?’ He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, Quiet! Be still! Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.” Luke 4:37-39

    I can’t believe two weeks have gone by since our city declared state of emergency in the face of this global health crisis. I felt uncertain, scared, protective and mentally exhausted within a matter of hours. It has been overwhelming to feel isolated with  lack of in person humanity but the creativity that our technology is providing for community is uplifting. I have good days and not so good ones through this time just like everyone else. So here are a few things I have been doing for all of my days so far:

    • Find comfort in stillness through prayer and meditation.
    • Think and feel globally, working together to provide safety for all humankind.
    • Be mindful of the news I allow into my space- I enjoy The daily social distancing show with Trevor Noah.
    • Dedicate a space (literal or figurative) to keep creating, continue to build into your skills and passions through this time.
    •  Listen to music, podcast, books etc. that provide distraction and support.