Balance in All Things. Perfection in None.
Every other Monday, Nourishing Words come into your email sphere. Some of you have been with me for years, and I’m taking a moment here to truly express gratitude that you are inviting my words into the valuable real estate of your inbox.
From time to time, I’m going to write a less “meaty” post for you, in the interest of staying connected to my goal of writing my next book. (I promise it will be worth it.) I’m also toying around with the idea of only publishing this Substack monthly during the summer months (June, July, and August), so that I can stay focused on book-writing. I’d love to hear how you feel about this.
Maybe a monthly newsletter serves you well, too, during the easier, breezier months of summer. However, maybe you need the support and inspiration more than ever. Please let me know. While I’ll continue to try to take care of my needs and give myself the space to write my next book, I also want this newsletter to serve you well. If smaller but consistent email connections get your vote, please speak up.
It’s sometimes challenging to balance my written and creative offerings with my clinical practice and other responsibilities. I’m tweaking this all the time (and trying not to “tweak out,” which is new slang to me for anxiously dramatic behavior). I recommend tweaking (not tweaking out) to my clients all the time.
Every few months, take a good look at your “situation” and adjust as necessary. Your needs and priorities are always changing, but if you don’t take a moment to check in with yourself and notice that, you might keep operating from some old assumptions and patterns that no longer serve you and your evolving values.
As some of you may know or guess, writing a book (and a book proposal) is a significant undertaking. There’s lots of research, reflection, revision, and hair-pulling. I’m not someone who can do a tiny bit of writing at a time. I need big blocks of binge-writing (pun intended, since I write about our relationship with food) to create a balanced collection of words.
I’m going to sign off and get to my book-writing work. I love it so much (seriously) that I’m choosing to do it on this holiday. (My late WWII-veteran grandfather, also a hardworking science-type, is forgiving me for working on Memorial Day.)
Here’s my last longer post with significant reflections on healing our relationship with our bodies. I got lots of appreciative feedback on this post, and I don’t want you to miss it if you need a bit more inspiration to honor and care for your body and self this week.
Other Nourishing Nuggets:
I have reserved a couple of new slots for individual professional supervision/consultation for registered dietitians and other health professionals who see clients with eating disorders. Respond to this email if you are interested, or you can set up an initial appointment directly on my website.
I’m offering a (free) monthly “Creative Clinicians” Chat on Substack for helping professionals who are balancing artistic or creative pursuits. This happens the second Friday of the month—alongside my other monthly Chat about the “empty” nest time of life on the first Friday of the month. Instructions about accessing these interactive, ad-free, supportive community spaces are here. You can pop on Substack Chat any time, though I’ll put a welcome prompt on those Fridays. I’ll be there to answer questions and provide solidarity and community space.
Parents and caregivers are busy people; I’d love more reviews (on Amazon and Goodreads) of my second book, Nurture: How to Raise Kids Who Love Food, Their Bodies, and Themselves. Reach out to me at heidi@anourishingword.com if you’d like a copy in exchange for writing an honest review. (I also read the book aloud on Audible.) Thank you for considering this!
This week I’m recommending this lovely little book, an inclusive and radical guide to body honoring and self-love: My Body, My Home by Victoria Emanuela and Caitlin Metz.
If you are in the Boston area, please join me and Encore Dance Ensemble for a class and performance of two new original modern dance works at the lively Dance for World Community Festival in Harvard Square on June 7.
I wish you a beautiful kick-off to summer, as this weekend is often representative of that here in New England. In fact, I’m going to enjoy a bit of this holiday and head outside for a walk before I hunker down with some more writing today.
Balance in all things. Perfection in none.
