What I’m Noticing

This year, something surprising happened. As I scrolled through my camera roll looking for photos for this newsletter, I noticed something missing. The garden.

Usually, my camera roll is filled with images of curling vines, sprouting leaves, flowers in bloom, and tomatoes ripening in the sun. But this year, there are almost none. Instead, my gallery is filled with mountains, oceans, flights, adventures with dear friends, and memories made with family. I have been in motion. 

This year, I’ve traveled more than I ever have. Some of it planned, some of it unexpected. All of it is beautiful.

I didn’t forget my garden. I just wasn’t in it.

And while the year has been deeply fulfilling in so many ways, I have missed the balance my garden gave me. What was once lush and full has been stunted. It’s struggling because life asked me to show up elsewhere. And the garden had to wait.

The other day, while watering the soil that had barely produced, I spotted a praying mantis, a sign of a balanced ecosystem, one that hasn’t been overtaken by pesticides or over-managed. Despite my limited presence, nature had still created balance.

It reminded me that even when I’m not tending things perfectly, life has its own rhythms of restoration. That which looks like neglect on the surface may, underneath, still be enough to create harmony. 

The other day, while watering the soil that has barely produced, I spotted a praying mantis, a sign of a balanced ecosystem, one that hasn’t been overtaken by pesticides or over-managed. Despite my limited presence, nature had still created balance.

It reminded me that even when I’m not tending things perfectly, life has its own rhythms of restoration. That which looks like neglect on the surface may, underneath, still be enough to create harmony. 

What I’m noticing is that the things that struggle in our lives, the withering plants, the unpacking that hasn’t happened, the forgotten calendar reminders, are not failures. 

They are messages. Mirrors. Invitations to get curious about where our energy is going and whether it’s in alignment with what we want most.

This season has shown me that I don’t want to live a life where I have to choose between the joy of travel and grounding in my garden. So I’m putting in a drip system and being more intentional with travel (next year). 

I’m learning to build better systems and get support, rather than just trying harder. Because sacrificing my garden, both literal and metaphorical, isn’t something I want to do again.

What I’m Obsessed With

The praying mantis is both a spiritual guide and a garden guardian. As a natural predator, it keeps the ecosystem in balance by feeding on pests, no chemicals, no chaos, just presence and precision. Spiritually, it symbolizes stillness, intuition, and right timing. It doesn’t chase; it waits, aligned with its environment. When a mantis appears, it’s a sign your garden, and perhaps your life, is finding its own rhythm again. That’s what I love most: it reminds me that balance isn’t forced. It emerges when we stop pushing and start trusting the season we’re in. Growth, after all, begins with stillness.

A Quick Helpful Tip

Take a moment to notice the areas of your life that require your attention and care: your body, your relationships, your work, your home, your garden. 

What’s thriving? 

What’s wilting? 

Let those signs guide your attention, not your guilt. You don’t have to be on top of everything; stay conscious of what’s being neglected.

The key is to make sure you’re not always dropping the things that matter most.

Balance isn’t a fixed state. It’s a living, breathing practice.

Motivational Quote

“We are not more powerful than nature. And when we fight it, nature always wins. So instead, let’s harness it.”

A Personal Share

This is newsletter number thirteen. A baker’s dozen. A full year. I want to take a moment to celebrate the support that made this possible, Grace, my assistant, who nudges me when I forget what day it is and takes on the parts of this work that are outside my nature.

Ten years ago, I dreamed of writing a newsletter. I thought I “should” be able to do it all myself. But the truth is: I needed help. And when I stopped fighting my nature and got support, it all began to flow.

So if your life feels too heavy right now, if your plants, your kids, or your inner peace are showing signs of struggle, please take that seriously.

You’re not lazy. You’re not failing. You’re likely just overloaded. And I’d love to help you find your way back into balance. (Just talking it through with a coach might be the shift you need.)

👉 Schedule a Consultation Here

Upcoming Events

August 24 - Wine About Life at Starfield Winery, Placerville

 A summertime favorite! Join us in Starfield’s stunning orchard amphitheater to pour life into each other through deep conversation and genuine community. The season’s warmth invites us to slow down, savor what matters, and remember that life is always blooming, especially when shared.

Register Here

August 27 - Intuition or anxiety WORKSHOP 

Intuition or Anxiety? Learn to Tell the Difference

We often get a gut feeling or moment of hesitation—but is it your intuition speaking, or is it anxiety? In this workshop, you’ll learn how to tell the difference between fear-driven overthinking and clear inner knowing. Discover how to trust your intuition while calming the noise of anxiety, so you can make aligned decisions with confidence and clarity.

This is a two-part experience. The second part will be held one week later, on September 3rd. Attending both sessions will give you the full benefit of this transformational work.

Register Here

September 12 - ICF Sacramento Fall Conference

Optional networking & mixer:

I will be cohosting a full day of speakers, workshops, and connections with a like-minded community. End the day with a relaxed mixer to deepen conversations and celebrate our community. Join us for a day of inspiration and fun!

Learn more

Closing Thoughts: Embrace Your Nature

You are not meant to bloom constantly. Even the most resilient ecosystems pause, recalibrate, and shift with the seasons. That’s not failure. It’s nature. It’s wisdom.

So if something in your life is wilting, let it teach you. If you’re feeling stretched thin, soften. If you’ve been holding too much, lay something down. This is your permission to release what no longer fits and make space for what does.

Here’s to tending what matters, moving with the rhythm of your own life, and trusting your season.

With love,

 Katie