It can feel good to step away. To take a break from the every day and redirect our focus and energy towards something new. During this time at home, some of us may have reached into the back of our closets for a bit of entertainment. Maybe you’ve stumbled on a puzzle purchased, but never yet assembled. As a few of us have found, placing that final piece can feel oh-so-satisfying, especially during this unfamiliar time. Puzzles have benefits that stretch far beyond the act of

There’s no doubt that we’re living in an extraordinary time. As we have now shifted to our “new normal”—we're curious how you think you might remember these last few weeks. Today, we invite you to sit down and do your best to record your thoughts about this unusual period. Set the scene. Maybe you curl up in a quiet space—or blast your favorite tunes and brew a cup of coffee. Grab a pen and paper (or open a blank word doc), reflect on your feelings, and jot down what's stirri

Close your eyes. What do you hear? Maybe it’s a soft chirp from the window? A collection of voices rising above the surf? A scratch from the pavement beneath? We recently tuned in to an episode of The Outside/In podcast where host Sam Evans-Brown chatted with Bridget Butler (aka The Bird Diva) and together they ventured out their windows to unpack the practice of slow birding. The idea? While traditional birding can be complex, requiring lots of travel and equipment, not to m

With daffodils peering from greening fields and robins calling from the trees above, this time of year has us eager for warm days ahead. The combination of spring weather and focus on the home front has us pondering the cultivation of the green space that surrounds—whether it’s acreage in the backyard or a sunny windowsill. Gardening can invite us to get messy, experiment, and create (plus, there’s nothing better than the feeling of watching sprouts pop-up from the ground bel

As we venture further into this time of social distancing, some of the things we miss most are chats over coffee, marathon dinner conversations, and laughing while we're doing dishes. This time certainly has us craving connection—and often, those moments come as a result of sharing a meal with our circles (no matter if it’s leftover pizza or a homemade delicacy). Today, we invite you to do just that. Take the time to connect with your family or housemates while you eat breakf

There’s no doubt that this time has brought challenges for many. Despite the sadness, our circle has spent this period searching for the silver linings. The Saturday afternoon spent reading without the need to go anywhere. The smile from a neighbor through the window. A little extra time in the morning to sleep-in. A Zoom chat that reconnects old friends. Sometimes they can be difficult to notice, but we’ve kept an eye out for the bright spots and shared what we've discovered

Have you ever seen a mandala? We recently stumbled upon a bright photo of a Buddhist monk crafting one, and it piqued our interest! In certain circles, mandalas are symbolic diagrams created as a means of meditation. Some use colored sand or stone to craft intricate designs, others use found objects from the natural world, and still more craft them on paper with varying shades. No matter the medium, the act of creating one can leave us feeling centered and energized. Finding

We're living in an unfamiliar time. Under "normal" circumstances, our response might be to hug one another, to comfort our friends and family, and to gather together. While we're grateful for the ability to FaceTime our friends, chat with grandparents on the phone, and connect with coworkers over Zoom...nothing quite replaces the delight of receiving a letter in the mail. Today, we invite you to put pen to paper and write a letter. Use the backside of a scrap of paper, or tha