One advantage of living more slowly and doing our best to step back from so many commitments is that time opens up. The challenge, of course, is that things have a way of sneaking into that newfound time. Before that happens, it might be helpful to consider in advance something you'd like to return to, or even try if you feel led to pursue a new area of interest. I'd love to hear what you would love more time for in your life. The only rule is nothing that's about being more productive or "worthy." (You are worthy as you are: We do not earn our worth.) Bonus points if it's something just for you. :)

In a fast-paced world filled with noise, our nervous systems spend a lot of time on high alert. Life is often not only loud but busy. And when emphasis is placed on "optimizing" our lives or "hacking" our days, it feels like there is no time left for rest. However, in a recent conversation with my therapist, she mentioned that as little as 15 minutes a day away from screens and constant stimulation can help give our nervous systems a chance to settle. I was definitely a little taken aback. With so many people championing elaborate, romantic routines that seem to stretch on for hours, I've often wondered how they accomplish anything in their days. And that makes it easy to say, "Maybe I'll start tomorrow." But fifteen minutes feels achievable, and I'm pretty sure that's the point. We don't need to buy anything or try to become someone new. We just need 15 quiet minutes to return to ourselves and the present moment. . . . I plan to post a new 15-Minute Friday check-in each week. And I'd love for you to join the conversation. In the United States, it's a holiday weekend, and it might be a very busy time for many. It's times like these when we perhaps need the biggest push to make our well-being a priority. 𝐒𝐨 𝐈'𝐝 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰: 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐢𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐞𝐭 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐤𝐞𝐧𝐝? 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦? You deserve 15 minutes for yourself each day. I hope you will join me. :) Amanda

On Wednesdays, I thought it might be fun to check in on our wanders in nature. Right now, however, I realize many of us might not be out more than we have to be. So instead, please feel free to share a photo from a recent wander or simply tell us about a favorite place you hope to return to once the temperatures abate.

When I first signed up for a couple of Skool groups, I was 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐦𝐞𝐝, especially in my inbox. As I build my community right now, I will be posting and adding things more frequently than I will once we are fully "in swing." Obviously this group is all about pursuing a slower and softer life with "less noise," so I definitely do not want to add stress or overwhelm. 𝐈𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮'𝐝 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐲 𝐡𝐨𝐰-𝐭𝐨 𝐨𝐧 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐨𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐲 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐥 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬, 𝐈 𝐚𝐦 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝟒-𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐭𝐞 𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐨 𝐈 𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐩 𝐛𝐲 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐩 𝐨𝐧 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐩 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐬 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐟𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰 (𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐦𝐞 :𝐃 ) . I hope you find it helpful. Video instructions to stop the email "madness": https://www.skool.com/educate/welcome-newcomers If you would prefer written instructions, you will find those here: https://help.skool.com/article/95-how-to-manage-my-notifications Thank you for joining me in the early stages of what I hope will be an amazing community. I hope you have a lovely day. Amanda

In today's world, great emphasis is placed on what many call "progress." We must run faster, grow bigger, and eschew the old in place of the new. But in this effort, we often lose sight of what we already have. We miss what is here with us, right now, in this very place. In nature, many animals thrive because they know a specific place very well, and they return there again and again. (And based on what I see of my bird and squirrel friends in my backyard, they frequently do so at around the same time every day!) In birding, a "patch" is a place we return to often. While it is exciting to spot a new bird and explore a new place, there is a comfort and intimacy that comes whenever we return to our patch. We begin to notice rhythms, and as the season shifts, changes that might go undetected by those less familiar. We learn to notice and appreciate the small things. We might even learn to apply this to other areas of our lives. That's my hope for this community. The Patch is a place where we will practice paying attention to the things that matter in our everyday lives and being present for them. You are invited to join, and to return, whenever you can. You will always be welcome here. For today, I'd love to get to know you. I invite you to say "hello" in the comments, and if you're willing, to share something small you noticed or appreciated lately. It could be a bird at your feeder or a quiet moment that made you smile. Welcome to Your Patch. Amanda