How are you feeling after making small, incremental changes?
For me, some days it can feel disproportionately successful—one more beautiful baby step in my healing. Other days, I still feel so far from where I want to be. Those days provide the insight and direction I need for realignment.
** Behind the Scenes: A Business Retreat
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Last week, I enjoyed a special day. I have been planning a business retreat for several months now, and on Thursday I met with two other business owners to work separately together.
We brain-dumped everything, connected the pieces, and pointed toward three achievable goals for the next three months. It was hard brain work, but we made it feminine, relaxing, and fun.
We started with a wooded river walk and focused on high-quality, nourishing food. For breakfast, we had fresh fruit salad with Noosa yogurt—if you haven’t tried it, it is creamy, rich, and decadent—and warmly spiced granola. Our lunch provided essential brain food: homemade bagels, creme fraiche, and smoked salmon sprinkled with fresh dill.
To break up the heaviness of thought, we played a few rounds of Spoons and Tenzi. Both games are fast-paced and require little thought, but they got us laughing and lighthearted.
** Goals and Creativity
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To keep the linear task of planning purposeful and joyful, we traded spreadsheets for crafting supplies. Instead of charts and graphs, we used colorful posterboard, post-it notes, gel pens, and string.
It produced the same results, but we used both the left and right sides of our brain together. I walked away with three goals—though I’m still searching for a more feminine word for that:
* 1 Measurable Goal
* 1 Stretch Goal
* 1 Habit-Forming Goal
** Shifting the Mindset on Movement
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Hopefully, in this glimpse behind the scenes, you noticed something key: Movement. Often, we think that to get our bodies moving, we need to carve out time for a dedicated exercise routine. While that works for some, for many busy mothers, it is neither practical nor attainable.
We can get our bodies moving through little shifts in mindset and intention. At this time of year, the gardens are calling. The earth is shifting. Little critters are waking up.
A seed planting ritual is a beautiful way to bridge the physical reality of Spring with the internal work of mothering. In this practice, the seed acts as a tiny vessel for your intention, while your movement serves as the catalyst that wakes that intention up.
** Bloom & Breath Ritual
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1. Vessel of Intention Choose a physical seed—flower, vegetable, or herb. Hold the dry seed in the palm of your hand. In a moment of stillness, identify one seed of intention for your motherhood journey right now. It might be patience, vitality, softness, or boundaries. Feel its weight in your hand.
2. Awakening (Movement) In the wisdom of TCM, Spring energy is about upward and outward movement. Before you plant, wake up your own Qi:
* Reach: Stand tall and reach for the sun, inhaling deeply. Feel your ribs expand as the sap rises in your body.
* Root: As you exhale, fold forward slowly toward the ground. Let your head hang heavy in a bow to the maternal lineage that came before you.
* Activate: Step into a wide straddle for a few slow Liver Twists. This wringing of the torso clears out winter dampness.
3. Planting Kneel on the earth. Use your finger to create a small space. As you place the seed inside, speak your intention out loud:
“I plant this seed of [Intention]. May it take root in my daily rhythm and bloom in my heart.”
Cover it gently. This is not about hiding; it is about providing the sanctuary the seed needs for the quiet work of transformation.
4. Sustenance (Fluid) Fluids are the lifeblood of the thaw. Pour neutral-temperature water over the soil. As it sinks in, imagine it nourishing your seed—whether that be a child, an intention, or the regeneration of your own healthy cells.
5. The Living Reminder Place your pot where you will see it daily. Every time you water it, let the first green sprout be a physical reminder that your intention is also growing, even on the days when it feels hidden.
** Why this works for Motherhood
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Motherhood often feels like a cycle of burying ourselves in the needs of others. This ritual reframes that burial as planting. It reminds us that the quiet, dark seasons of preparation are just as vital as the blooming ones.
As we conclude this month of gentle resets, I am reminded that nourishment is not just about what we eat, but how we support the growth of who we are becoming.
** May Calendar
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May is proving to be a full month for Two Hearts Healing. I would love for you to follow along:
* May 1 | Doula Dinner: Facilitating a sustainable business conversation for the WOMB Doula Collective.RSVP here (https://www.wombinitiative.org/event-details/doula-dinners-2026-05-01-17-30)
* May 2 | Wellness Fair: Visit my table at the Littleton Community Center, (https://littletoncommunitycenter.org/) 10 am – 1 pm. More info here (https://www.clearedtoflourish.com/flourishtogether)
* May 11 | WOMB Open House: Tour the Nursing Nook and meet our team in Littleton, 12 pm – 5 pm. Learn more (https://www.wombinitiative.org/event-details/open-house)
* May 13 | Radio Feature: Catch me on the Mind Body Soul (https://restorativehealththerapies.substack.com/) show at 1 pm on NoCo Community Radio.Listen here (https://nococommunityradio.org/project/mind-body-soul/)
* May 22 | Resource Fair: Joining the WOMB Nursing Nook (https://www.wombinitiative.org/nursingnook) in Colebrook, 12 pm – 5 pm. More info here (https://www.facebook.com/BrooksColebrookCountryDaySchool/posts/the-from-play-to-possibilities-resource-fair-is-right-around-the-corner-tag-your/1822793895700733/)
* May 26 | Service Showcase: Mini-demos and presentations at A Place Above the Notch (https://www.theplaceabovethenotch.com/) , 2061 Main St, Bethlehem, 5 pm – 6:30 pm. Information (https://www.clearedtoflourish.com/flourishtogether)
* May 30 | Good Grief 5K: Supporting Empty Arms VT (https://www.emptyarmsvermont.org/) for pregnancy and infant loss awareness.Register here (https://runsignup.com/Race/VT/SouthBurlington/EmptyArmsVT5K)
** Free Discovery Call
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Healing shouldn’t be another item on your to-do list that causes overwhelm. If you feel like you are struggling to find your place in the motherhood journey, let’s start with a simple, quiet connection.
I offer a 15-minute Discovery Call (https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=33984276&appointmentType=70964149) —a completely free, no-pressure space dedicated entirely to you. It is a moment for us to pause together and see if our hearts are a good match for your healing journey.
What to expect in our 15 minutes:
* Your Story: I want to hear what you need most right now. Whether it’s about your family life, your daily work, or the message your body is sending you, I am here to listen.
* Connection: I’ll share how the Body Code and my professional expertise can specifically support your unique situation.
* Moving Forward: If it feels like a “yes” in your heart, we’ll talk about the next steps to get you back to feeling like yourself again.
You don’t have to figure out the whole path at once. Today is for taking the first step.
Free Discovery Call (https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=33984276&appointmentType=70964149)
** Sneak Peek into Next Month
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In May, we are going to be talking about the term trauma informed and what that means for pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period.
Until then, find a sunny patch of earth and plant your intention.