April Love prompt: “what nourishes me”: practice (yoga, meditation, writing, and dog), my tiny family, the beach, long walks, nature, sunshine, cooking, eating well, music and movement, being creative, reading, story, naps, rest, quiet, stillness, calm, being in relationship, generosity, service, laughter, love.

April Moon prompt: “the last time I felt completely relaxed was”: What makes this difficult to answer is the addition of the condition “completely.” I feel somewhat or mostly relaxed a lot — when I meditate, when I practice yoga, even when I teach yoga, when I’m reading or writing, when I’m walking the dogs, when I’m hanging out with Eric, when we are at “our” house at the beach, when I’m watching movies with my mom, when I’m having lunch with a good friend, when I’m at work with my door closed, when I get in bed at night, when I’m doing laundry or buying groceries or waiting in line at the post office — but “completely”? Not so much. In fact, I’m not sure if I’m ever completely relaxed, even when I’m asleep. There’s a part of me that just can’t let go, won’t shut up, finds it hard to settle down. I’m working on it, but I’m just not all the way there yet.

April Love prompt: touch. Pen to paper, but it’s so much more than that.

April Moon prompt: “Giving birth doesn’t have to be literal. So far in my life I have birthed…” Birth is simply the beginning or coming into existence of something. I’ve birthed suffering. I’ve birthed healing. I’ve birthed new versions of myself. I’ve birthed wishes and dreams. I’ve birthed space, connection, and laughter. My deepest longing before I’m done is to birth ease, in myself and the world, as well as a few books.