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With swift pace, light step, unswerving feet, so that even your steps stir up no dust, go forward securely, joyfully, and swiftly, on the path of prudent happiness.
St. Clare of Assisi
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Gratitude Box
These newsletters include a sidebar to cultivate the practice of gratefulness: for writing, for the natural world, and for all the gifts of Life.
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Gratitude Practice:
"Go Outside"
Sit in your yard or an easily accessible natural area. Simply be there: no phone, no computer, no watch, nobody else.
Breathe. Watch. Listen. Smell. Feel the air on your skin. Quiet your thoughts, still your body.
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In the Client's Words
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"Jennifer [suggested that I] delve very deeply into my brain, soul & heart. I think knowing that you are having this intimate moment with your inner self & the page inspires you to write without any pre-existing agenda."
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Books by
Jennifer J. Wilhoit
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Common Ground Between Crafts Collectives and Conservation
Weaving a Network
Available on Amazon or by order at your local bookstore
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Greetings!
I cannot believe it's already May. While I am accustomed to being outside in all seasons - living in an environment that offers little discomfort for year-round outdoor exposure, I am aware that for most people in the northern hemisphere we are just at the beginning of the hiking season. As always, I am offering in this newsletter some ways for thinking about our outdoor experiences as connected to our writing. For indeed, they are! Specifically, you will read a little bit about what we need to maintain endurance and safety as we wander in natural areas, as well as what we require in order to keep our pace and assurance as we write. So the focus for this month's newsletter is "stamina."
Blessings,
Jennifer Wilhoit, Writing Mentor & Guide
TEALarbor stories
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TEALarbor stories' newsletters offer inspiration, encouragement, and
beauty; inform about the connection between story, the natural world, and all things writerly; and promote professional writing and editorial services.
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Stamina & Safety in the Natural World
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I am an avid nature explorer! My home is a few minutes from a hilly conservation area where we hike several times a week. This season is stunningly beautiful - wildflowers abound, grasses green and tall sway in the breeze, the skies are clear and the hilltops afford great vistas of the valley and eastern hills. There are also cougars, rattlesnakes and vast shadeless areas where the sun beats down on unprotected hikers.
Savvy and trained outdoorspeople advocate for the inclusion of the "ten essentials" in every hiker's pack. These include:
- navigation
- sun protection
- insulation
- illumination
- first aid
- fire
- repair kit & tools
- nutrition
- hydration
- emergency shelter
While most of us venture into the wilds expecting to come back in a timely and safe manner, emergencies can occur. With proper preparation, we can weather these difficulties or assist somebody else along the trail. Enjoying the process of hiking or exploring the natural world requires us to take care in the outer landscape. Why wouldn't we do so on the inner landscape as well? (The next section explains more...)
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Spotlight: Stamina & Safety in Writing
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When we write, we need to take care within our inner landscapes. One aspect of this includes maintaining stamina in the more complex, long-term, challenging writing endeavors.
The ten essentials for writing stamina include:
- navigation of tough terrain (guidance - outlines, outside expertise, etc)
- manageable goal (protection from the heat of overwhelm)
- steady pace (routine & avoidance of burnout)
- respite (breaks & rest)
- accountability (to self, to the project, to somebody else)
- desire/passion (keeping the flame alight)
- tools (computer, pen, paper, editing, etc)
- knowledge (informed writing)
- inspiration (insightful writing)
- safety (emotional, mental, physical, spiritual)
With the compassionate support of a writing mentor, even the most intrepid writers can come to enjoy the process of hiking through their inner landscape; guidance from TEALarbor stories can help you move at a steady, safe pace through your writing. Please send an email to Jennifer: tealarborstories@gmail.com.
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Workshops
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Second Tuesday Writing Workshops
Come prepared to write the inner/outer landscape, bringing unlined paper and pens. All Second Tuesday workshops have a limit of ten seats. Drop-ins are welcome, however your seat can't be guaranteed without pre-registration. Contact Jennifer to register or for more information: tealarborstories@gmail.com.
***If you haven't yet pre-registered for the May 13th workshop, I strongly recommend doing so by sending an email to Jennifer; it's nearly filled up!***
May 13, 2014 from 6:00 to 7:30 PM
at Napa Bookmine, 964 Pearl Street. Drop-in fee $20.
Climbing the Mountain: Finding Stamina
Gather the "ten essentials" that will keep you safe in your inner landscape and offer sustenance for the prolonged effort of hiking through your writing project. Learn how to pace yourself as you engage the long-term process of writing.
June 10, 2014 from 6:00 to 7:30 PM
at Napa Bookmine, 964 Pearl Street. Drop-in fee $20.
Summer Solstice: Beauty, Ritual & Writing
Embrace the longest day of the year by exploring writing and ritual that celebrate the light in your life. Explore how simple beauty-making practices can nurture the wellbeing of your writing.
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News & Updates
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Updates
The Second Tuesday Writing Workshops are growing! This is very exciting news for TEALarbor stories; it means the work is getting out into the local community.
My blog (tealarborstories.blogspot.com) has two new weekly offerings: Monday Musings and Image of the Week. Please check out the blog each Monday for "quotes, mantras, reveries, practices offering simple ways to explore the ecotone of the inner/outer landscape." Then on Wednesdays enjoy a photo from the TEALarbor stories archives. Also, remember that the regular weekly (experimental prose) posting is generally on Fridays.
You may have noticed that the header for this newsletter has changed since last month. I've been busy updating the business, including a revised logo and banner.
TEALarbor stories is now on Twitter! Please follow.
Website Changes
The TEALarbor stories website is in constant movement now.
See the new monthly recaps of workshops (News & Events page), expanded services (Home page), and other changes, tweaks, revisions, edits and streamlining.
Remember: if you created a bookmark for the TEALarbor stories website prior to January 2014, it will no longer take you to my site. You can click on the link just above to add a new bookmark.
In the News
Check out the recent member spotlight on the Napa Valley Writers website blog.
Read about TEALarbor stories in the local newspaper article -December 2013.
See the Worldwide Who's Who VIP press release about my writing - October 2012.
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| Please Support TEALarbor stories |
 Like TEALarbor stories
 Follow TEALarbor stories
 View Jennifer J. Wilhoit's profile
Read the blog: http://tealarborstories.blogspot.com
Forward this newsletter to someone you know.
Sign up for a workshop. (You do not have to be in northern California to participate; email Jennifer to learn how.)
Give TEALarbor stories' writing services, story & nature guiding ©, or life transition support to a friend or family member.
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TEALarbor stories' mission is to support people as they discover and convey through writing their deepest stories.
The nature-based, creative processes help individuals to:
write for insight, write as rite, write for outcome.
Offering traditional writing services, story & nature guiding ©, and life transition support.
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