It can be incredibly hard to find moments of joy when the world can seem so heavy and dark. It can also feel "wrong" to be joyful. But here's the deal. It is never all dark or all light. Even funerals will have moments of laughter. Sparks of joy can happen when we allow ourselves to be present to what is happening around us. Join Karen and Lynn as they share their own recent sparks of joy and how we can allow for joy in our lives.

This has been a full, hard week. In fact it feels like the 76th week of January with all that has transpired this week. Couple the national news, with anything hard happening in community, and then add in any hard personal pieces and the layers are overwhelming. We feel you friends and you are not alone. Join Karen and Lynn as they talk through how long their week has been and how connection is a way to lighten our loads.

Being a human can be hard. Especially when we realize that we have made a bad choice ... or said something hurtful ... or missed an opportunity. As humans, we all have moments of regret or wishing we could ask for a "do over." Embracing our full humanness means recognizing that we too are imperfect. Join Lynn & Karen as they talk through accepting our humanness and recognizing that we can make repair ... both to others and ourselves.

Did you know there was such a thing as "Quitter's Day?" It was created in direct response to the many New Year's Resolutions people set and the amount of time that passes before people fall back into old patterns. As they used to say on the TV sitcom Full House, "How rude!" If you feel the shame and guilt that comes with the judgment and ridicule of New Year's Resolution, hold tight. Karen and Lynn reframe our journey of change with self-compassion, practice and much more "being" than "doing."

In our day to day life, we are often met with responses to "see the bright side" or "be more optimistic" or "you need to get over it" when navigating challenging times in life. This toxic positive messaging seems to get amplified even more during the holidays when happiness or merriment is the only acceptable way to be. Enter Real Vibes Only. Our lives are complex and are composed of layers of impact. We hold emotion for our individual lives, as well as our families and friends, our communities, our country, our world. To say that it all needs to be positive is to avoid the realness of being human. Join Karen and Lynn as they unwrap the gifts of the season and honor all of the emotions and experiences we carry into the holidays.

As human beings, we hold a lot of emotions each and every day as we navigate our personal and collective lives. These days, changes in our world and the constant flow of information can be overwhelming, scattered and often attaches a sense of urgency. Join Karen and Lynn as they talk through their own experiences of being "all over the place" and finding ways to ground and center themselves when they can.

It can be challenging to offer support to someone who is struggling or in deep pain. Many times our first response is to offer advice to help shift the person away from their pain. We do this, not necessarily for the other person, but as a way to alleviate our discomfort from the pain they are expressing. But offering advice, rather than being present with the person, oftentimes misses the mark for both people. Join Karen and Lynn as they talk through the pitfalls of offering advice and how both people can enhance their connection.

As our November 5 election approaches, more and more people are feeling the stress and anxiety of the current state of our country and the possibilities that lie ahead with the outcome of the election. Politics and divisiveness aside, how are you feeling? How are you holding all of the emotion that comes up in response to current events and politics? Join Karen & Lynn as they talk through their own election anxiety and what they do to honor their emotion and stay present. And, join us for upcoming Community Living Rooms specifically for election anxiety and connecting around our inner journey (not candidates or issues).

Virtual - Wednesday, 10/16 from 11-1pm on Zoom

Zoom link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/96147135643?pwd=REk4NjA2M01yS1lLVTloVXBXMkd1Zz09

In Person - Tuesday, 10/29 from 4-7pm in our new space: 113 W Harris St, Appleton, WI