Always, the trees
I raise tired eyes to the sky
taking in a world beautiful and vast
and I can see again.
My lungs fill with air that trees freely give
and I can breathe again.
Seeing Solstice
There is a pause now
this quiet Solstice time
before light slowly lengthens.
The temptation?
To count the days.
To hold our breath
until daylight stretches into evening
and early morning forces back the darkness.
What a relief it will be
these light-starved eyes
to see again
no longer fumbling in darkness.
Still,
somewhere deep inside
past resistance and reason
you know this darkness, too, is your home.
A place you […]
The Partnership of Leadership
Wild leaders understand, deep in their bones, that leadership is never a solo act. It moves through the whole team. Sled dogs illustrate this truth beautifully—and powerfully.
Yes, I am technically the leader: the musher, the one responsible for feeding them, tending their yard, training them, and caring for them in a hundred quiet ways. But […]
For all
For the peace and promise of a sunrise.
The quickening of breath that comes
when we take in the beauty of our surroundings.
For the mystery and humility
of daring to see how we are all connected.
For the opportunity, over and over again,
to choose joy.
For waking up every day to the unknown
and the courage to walk into that day.
For […]
Lessons from Lead Dogs
Almost without fail, one of the first questions people ask about dogsledding is how you choose the lead dog. As usual, what works with a sled dog team mirrors what works for human teams.
Here are a few parallels regarding leaders…
Ultimately as the musher, I am the leader, the one who decides our route, the teams, […]
Remember
Remember…
If anxiety walks beside you
like an insistent child,
if rested contentment is but a distant memory,
Take a deep breath.
Pat yourself on the back for paying attention,
for not looking away,
then go to ground.
Go to ground until the smell of moist earth
fills your nostrils with the comfort of home.
Until you can see in the darkness
the faint outline of […]
Forget about the box, just think outside
Whether or not you have ever paddled a canoe in whitewater, I guarantee you know what it feels like when conditions change and the route you thought you were going to take is no longer an option. You are almost certainly experiencing that feeling right now. In rapids, you eddy out (get safely either to […]
A Love Letter to Grief
Oh, heart of mine,
were you beating in another’s chest
the words would come easy…
Be gentle, try to rest.
It’s ok to just be.
But beneath my own ribs
Put your feet on the ground
Put your feet on the ground.
Really.
Take your shoes off if you can.
Dirt is good or grass, rocks…even pavement.
Put your feet on the ground.
Close your eyes.
Tune in only to sounds that center you.
Feel the air against your cheek.
See if you can feel or imagine
the rich deep pulse of the earth
Notice how your own heart naturally shares […]
What brings us together
Teamwork and community take on a deeper meaning in times of crisis. And right now, so many of us are navigating wrenching challenges.
For decades I have guided dogsledding trips at Wintermoon. Some of you have been on those trips, and most of you have heard me speak about the wisdom of our beloved dogs. So […]
