04/17/2026
Leading With Kindness,
In Person Events Mania,
& A New Tip Guide
❤️
Leading With Kindess
So, I'm a serial book reader - meaning I read multiple books at the same time. I've finally made my way back to "When Things Fall Apart" by Pema Chodron (https://bookshop.org/p/books/when-things-fall-apart-heart-advice-for-difficult-times-pema-chodron/4c166dbc8ffef52c?ean=9781611803433&next=t&next=t&affiliate=117237) and I was struck by one of her passages.
"But basically kindness is a down-to-earth, everyday way to describe the important ingredient that balances out the whole picture and helps us connect with unconditional joy."
Kindness is my jam. I love being genuinely kind, and I also love joy. I truly believe that accumulating joy is the act of building a foundation of happiness. You have to find and create joy. Notice joy, and tuck it away inside you. These blocks of joy have an expiration date so you have to seek it out constantly. Kindness is definitely a gateway for joy.
At this moment in time, kindness is a fundamental ingredient necessary in our day to day survival. This is not a metaphor. This is reality. As prices surge, as the threat of war gets louder, as national and global pedophiles are running rampant, as a "r**e academy" Telegram Group is exposed, and as people are having to make harder and harder choices for basic needs - this is when we need kindness the most.
Genuine kindness is a gift given without any expectation of return. Simply giving for the ability to give and make something better.
Kindness can be opening a door for someone.
Kindness can be donating asked for items to your local charity.
Kindness can be showing up in support of local businesses.
Kindness can be buying groceries for someone, or a cup of coffee.
Kindness can be a smile, a hug, or even space given.
These drops of kindness ripple out, and make differences.
Decide how you want to show up in kindness, and then do it.
Need help in ways to show up in kindness to yourself?
Book a Spiritual Advisement session to feel
supported, validated, and seen.
Retraining Our Brains For Joy
Here's a refresher on how cool neuroscience is and how you can brings more joy into your life with a little practice.
This has been one of the most rollercoaster infused years of all time. I’m more interested in curling up and hiding under a blanket than mustering up enough cheer to be worthwhile. So I thought it would be good to write about the neuroscience of joy. How can we take an active part in re-wiring our brain and training it to be happier? How do we keep ourselves from being grumpy and pessimistic and hating everything? How can we feel more joy in our day? Well it takes work, that’s for sure. And no, this isn’t toxic positivity where you pretend everything is okay and only focus on “good vibes.” This is being able to handle the hard things easier. It’s about having more balance in our perspective and creating resilience.
But first, a little neuroscience. Y’all know I love neuroscience. Our brains are so cool and our brains love, love, love patterns and repetition in order to create neuropathways. Neuropathways are like well-worn footpaths in a field. No need to venture off the beaten path. Sometimes that’s a good thing. Sometimes that’s not, like when there’s a giant mud puddle in the path and you go through it anyway without the waterproof shoes.
In order to help our brains pick a different way of doing things, we have to actively create a new neuropathway. We have to step off the pathway, which is scary. We don’t know what’s in the grass. There could be holes that we roll our ankles in. There could be snakes in those holes and they bite us and we die. There could be ticks and we’re wearing shorts! It is going to take us longer to get where we’re going and then we’ll miss the party!
Our brains are also really good at finding the worst case scenarios, horrible possibilities, and pessimistic outlooks. It’s how it keeps us safe, and how our species have survived for a millennia. If our brains can calculate and formulate the worst case scenarios, then we avoid those possibilities and stay alive.
As I write this, I can’t help thinking of my Nana, who is 92. Dementia is setting in and it’s not pretty. It’s full of paranoia, anger, and woe. I wonder what it would have been like for her to use neuroscience to keep her mind more focused on what’s going right. New studies have shown that happiness and joy lower your risk for dementia.
So how long does it take to retrain your brain?
It takes 30 consecutive days of dedicated actions and mindfulness to create a new neural pathway. It’s not a myth that new habits require 30 days to stick.
You might want to consider getting a journal for this process. I know I just made some journal fans out there thrilled.
Read the full article via the link below
💥In Person Events MANIA 💥
GIVEAWAYS ARE BACK!
Check out the links below to see what giveaways are happening!
All events are first come first serve for DTEO.
Be sure to show up early to guarantee a spot.
Note - Some events are separately ticketed be sure to purchase those separately!
Giveaways have requirements for entry.
Check out the giveaway links below for more information.
NEW LOCATION ALERT!
Friday, April 24th Eleven Winery Manette (https://share.google/Urr1fRYT0E89ybxkH) 5-7pm
Check out the Giveaway HERE! (https://youtube.com/shorts/F6FW3yhI6S4?feature=share)
Thursday, April 30th Tipsy Blackbird (https://www.tipsyblackbirdwinebar.com/) Bremerton 3-6pm
Check out the Giveaway HERE! (https://youtube.com/shorts/ImX8vnUUPvk?feature=share)
Friday, May 1st Cafe Corvo (http://www.cafe-corvo.com/) Bremerton 5-8 pm
Check out the Giveaway HERE! (https://youtube.com/shorts/U34uCn8NotA?feature=share)
Saturday, May 2nd Mayfield's Urban Garden Bremerton 11-2pm
Beltane Garden Party Free Tickets HERE (https://www.eventbrite.com/e/beltane-garden-party-tickets-1986839869534?aff=oddtdtcreator)
Saturday, May 2nd at Eleven Winery (https://www.elevenwinery.com/concerts-social-events) BBI Day Rd 4-7pm
Check out the Giveaway HERE! (https://youtube.com/shorts/vU1JCr0ZvTc?feature=share)
Sunday, May 3rd Bad Mom's Club Brunch (https://www.elevateeventswa.com/bad-moms-club-pnw) Bremerton 11-3pm
Get Tickets HERE (https://aftontickets.com/event/buyticket/k3xdlv3zjw)
Thursday, May 7th Silver City Brewery Taproom (https://share.google/PSn1bi6JWvZzy5YRS) 5-8pm
Customer Appreciation Event
Friday, May 8th Cafe Corvo (http://www.cafe-corvo.com/) Bremerton 6-8pm
Open Office Hours
$20.00 mini sessions walk-in and 2 - 30min spots available HERE (https://book.squareup.com/appointments/juoj41176kobwb/location/LS4EA02CMZ3D3/services/ER2U43OVP3QNTBOJ5DDBKVB5)
Wednesday, May 13th Zeitgeist Coffee (https://www.zeitgeistcoffee.com/) Seattle 10am-2pm
Phew!
❤️ New Tip Guide ❤️
I've done some updating to the DTEO Recommended Reading webpage. I've been adding new titles and recently became an affiliate with Bookshop.org.
You can directly visit my virtual shop HERE. (https://bookshop.org/shop/DownToEarthOracle) You'll find books and favorite Tarot decks of all kinds.
Don't know what Bookshop.org is?
Well, it's super awesome online bookstore that takes a portion of the proceeds from your direct purchases and gives it to local bookstores near you! You even get to pick the bookstore of your choice! This is a great alternative to buying books online from the evil "zon" company.
Besides, not only are you helping me by purchasing any of my recommended titles, you are also helping your local bookstore as well. It's a Win Win for everyone.
Excuse me, is this spot yours?
Is this your spot for a reading?
Why, yes, I believe so!
Be sure to book now before these spots are taken.
Monday, April 20th 12:30-1pm
Tuesday, April 21st 3-4pm
Wednesday, April 22nd 2-3pm
Thursday, April 23rd 11:30-12:30p,
Friday, April 24th 10-11am
Monday, April 27th 4-5pm
Click here for an update from Down To Earth Oracle!
