Welcome to a love letter, a monthly publication from artist, writer and yoga teacher Colby Mackenzie featuring stories of my loving practices and support for yours. This year (Oct 2021 - Sept 2022), we’re practicing with The Artist’s Way. Thanks for being here.
Hello loves!
Happy August and final full month of summer.
I’ve always loved August - the slow sunsets, the warming ocean, the cool evening breeze.
I love it most because it’s my birthday month - I turn lucky 33 on the 24th. Instead of anything fancy, I’m hoping for a nice long day at the beach, some space and time to reflect on all the change that’s happened, on all I have to be grateful for, on the optimism I have for another year of life ahead.
This coming year feels like a doorway into a new chapter, a new cycle. An invitation to process and let go of the past, to meet myself as I am right now. To get to know that self and ultimately, have the courage to be her.
I’ll be holding the below quote close, sent to me by dear love letter friend and fellow teacher Samar:
I have done nothing all summer but wait for myself to be myself again.
— Georgia O’Keefe
How are you doing?
I hope you find respite from the heat in cool water or in safe shade.
I hope you find space to tend to yourselves before the busy fall ramps up next month.
I hope you notice all the luminous gifts that surround us in summer.
An Artist’s Way
I put The Artist’s Way workbook reading and tasks on the back burner in July, though chapter 10’s themes of self-protection and toxic patterns appeared as a shockingly (though perhaps not) constant and visceral experience. It was very difficult, as this type of work can be, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t still find some moments of artist fun.
On one particularly rough mental health day, I made the above collage in my morning pages journal out of some old magazines. With scissors and a glue stick, I visualized things I love, a me that I love. It changed my mood from dismal to happy, hopeful.
Maybe one day this month, you’ll find the inspiration to do the same.
I’m on the second to last chapter of the workbook for August: Recovering a Sense of Autonomy. The author, writer and teacher Julia Cameron, covers themes of accepting and nurturing our artist selves, handling success, and “the zen of sports” - the critical practice of moving into a body of work by moving out of the head and into the body.
These concepts are timely once again as I prepare to re-enter the work world as a full-time artist, starting by offering one of my favorite ways to move into the body - YOGA.
Practice
I’ve been learning more about mindful ways to handle emotional distress. According to the latest research, the physiological effects of emotions last for 90 seconds in the body. Only a minute and a half! What keeps them going longer is our narrative, our thoughts continuing the story.
I first learned this in psychologist Joan Rosenberg’s 90 Seconds to a Life You Love, and had cause last month to practice it often. The key is to focus on breathing for those 90 seconds to ride the hormonal wave rather than reacting. Like with the morning pages, we stay with the present moment to get to the other side.
This month, our pranayama practice is a riff on the 5-finger breath. Going up one side of a finger for 5 seconds on the inhale, and down the other side for 5 seconds on the exhale. Doing that with all 10 fingers equals 100 seconds of breathing - the 90 second emotion wave plus a bonus 10 seconds.
In addition to the breath work, it has the added benefit of sensory focus (touch) as you move up and down your fingers, helping the mind to center on the activity rather than the perhaps difficult thoughts.
I hope this short practice adds another tool to your well-being toolbox.
P.S. In addition to my Mindful Breathing for Stress Relief class for organizations, I’m thrilled to start officially offering private yoga sessions for individual clients! One on one is perhaps my favorite way to teach because of how much deeper we can get into practice to meet YOUR unique needs. This may appeal to you if: you’re looking for accountability and guidance on your asana/pranayama practice, have specific physical issues/goals, want to incorporate more peace and mindfulness in your life, and/or crave customized, personalized attention.
Interested? Simply respond to this email! You will still get my OOO, but we’ll work together on setting up a time to chat. Love Letter friends who commit get a special discount all month long :)
Loving Lately: Our Dear Friend Tim
My dear friend and fellow love letter member Tim is asking for our help. Tim, a once vibrant professional and adventurer, has been battling multiple debilitating, chronic illnesses on his own for the past 6 years, draining his resources completely. Symptoms have been so severe he’s been unable to earn a living (or live a life at all). For those of us who’ve experienced this, it’s a very scary place to be.
This campaign is critical as, without our help, Tim will soon no longer be able to afford medical treatments or housing. Virtually all of his medical treatments and costs are not covered by health insurance.
America is a ludicrously expensive place to be sick. Until the system supports individuals the way it needs to, we have to look after our own. Any little bit helps - more donations (of any amount) mean more eyeballs on the Go Fund Me page. You can read Tim’s story and learn about the illnesses he’s been managing on the page as well.
If you have it in your budget, please consider contributing here.
Let’s help Tim be himself again!
May you be happy, may you be healthy, may you be safe, may you be loved.
Until next month, take good care dears.
To riding the waves,
Colby
This monthly letter is given freely with love. If you’d like to support or show appreciation for my work, option to Venmo any amount to @Colby-Sheffer. Want to learn more about me and my work? Check out my website. Thank you for your attention dear!
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