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ShiftCon 2020: Virtual Shift

14 Oct

Well, the closing of 2019 and going forward apparently did not go as any of us may have planned. I had big ideas and well intentioned plans to do so many things including posting here regularly. And I even had the makings of some drafted posts in my brain as I finished the last one back in October of 2019. But not only does SHIFT happen as those of us who attended ShiftCon like to say – but SHIT happens, too. And lots of it in the past year. So while it may have been a ridiculously long time since I connected with folks here on the website, it was not for lack of caring or wanting to.

I am back again, for now. Until the next shift or shit happens I suppose. But I’m happy to report that even with all of the heartbreak, stress, loss of multiple sources of income, along with neverending grief – I miraculously made it to the 2020 Virtual ShiftCon. And boy, am I so grateful that Jessie from Tiny Yellow Bungalow and I purchased our tickets during the closing party fun at ShiftCon 2019. We both made it virtually, and had another incredible experience in 2020. ShiftCon Virtual Shift may very well have been the BEST thing to come out of this year. Just ask my parrot Merlin who attended at least half of the sessions this year with me. If she learns any new words in 2020 I do hope they are in the vein of sustainability, zero waste, regeneration, environmental justice, soil health, and collaboration.

ShiftCon 2020 was different in the sense that we were not there in person able to hug our friends, shake hands with and eventually hug the new friends we would inevitably make, sample things during the Expo, or sit down to share a meal with everyone during the Keynote sessions. But that does not mean it was any less meaningful, worthwhile, or successful. And honestly, considering all that had to be done to put this together, I was beyond impressed with how engaging it still was even with us all attending virtually. Kudos to everyone who helped make the conference happen. What a remarkable accomplishment to bring all of us together and get so many people not only connected but also getting so many people fired up and ready to go MAKE AN IMPACT!

The motivation to do all we can to support and educate others about regenerative agriculture is sticking with me. I had already felt this way for a while. But after attending the breakouts, keynotes, and watching the documentary “Kiss The Ground” and attending the Virtual Q&A on Day 3 of the conference, I can’t STOP thinking about it, or talking about it with others. I am now officially fired up, too – and that takes a lot after the devastating Winter, Spring, & Summer I just endured. There are so many more things I am still processing and want to share about this year’s event. But for now I am needing to rest while I process, and support my own wellness practice that is crucial to me being able to attend these types of things to begin with.

I am sincerely hoping that this change in energy which I could feel from the moment I logged onto the online platform for this year’s event is just the start of many good things to come and I welcome the shift and inspiration I felt during and now still after the conference (even though like last year I got all sappy and cried a little after it was over).

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Shift Happens Part 1: ShiftCon 2019

12 Oct

I know I need to check in here because I have not done so in way too long AND I just returned from one of THE BEST experiences I personally have had at a conference in recent memory at ShiftCon which was hosted in Atlanta this year. I am reeling from the whirlwind of information, events, connections, and an overall feeling of inspiration, empowerment, and love for our Earth. But at the same time, I am also struggling to recover from the travel, the mishaps that, of course repeatedly occurred, and also from an unwelcome allergen exposure that knocked me back a bit soon after we arrived.

My hope is to share ShiftCon 2019 tidbits in little chunks. I will throw you what I’ve got for the duration of my energy levels. And then I will break, rest and come back to share more when I’ve refueled.

My first memories of the conference are of some of the people who I was lucky enough to meet and share this special experience with. Two of those humans who shared their magical energy were Jessie – Tiny Yellow Bungalow and Ashlee – Simplholistic (they crossed my path at just the right time, and I am very grateful). You should check them both out because they are not just super kind humans – they also have some great resources online. Give them a looky look.

For now, I am going to process the last week of travel and awesomeness while I attempt to recover from the impact it had on my very sensitive body. I am so grateful to have been able to attend such an inspiring event surrounded by so many stellar humans. I am also going to sit with that gratitude for the time being as well. I leave with you a photo of the outside view of the Japanese Garden at the Grand Hyatt in Atlanta, which was sneakily hidden between two outside terrace patio areas. I wish I had snapped some photos of the actual garden. But I was too busy enjoying its beauty & the calm when we walked through.

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Unity~Community: Heartland Yoga Fest

7 Jun

HYFNamasteInTheHeart

Hello from Kansas City. I never mean to neglect my wellness advocacy side of life that I like to chat about here in the world of food allergies, lifestyle medicine, and autoimmune stuff. I’ve been busy working on something pretty cool this year which has been consuming a lot of my time. But it has been SO inspiring, healing, and actually something I adore being a part of. What a nice shift from past instances of missing out because I was too busy and tired, or too sick from working decades in toxic and ill fitting job environments. Enter the first ever Heartland Yoga Festival. I will spare you all of the details, because if you want those, you can & already have clicked on the link (which I highly recommend you do if you are free June 22-24, love yoga, & want to take a healthy vacay or staycay near my hometown of Kansas City)

I am meeting and working with some of the most interesting and truly visionary types of humans while I work on this project. And during the different stages of a festival coming together, so many other areas have come together with my own perspective and feelings for the heartland. Stuff IS really happening here. Like the things that I have felt for years were so far off that I would have finally opted to move away, or have passed away by the time KC experienced these particular concepts. I am so thrilled that I AM alive and still residing here to witness change as it happens. It feels so incredibly good. And in the case of the yoga festival, I feel fortunate to be a part of something like this that will help further bring the community together. I’m glad that we did not end up moving seven years ago when I was so fed up with my health, that I thought the only answer was leaving town. I know that part of the series of things that led to me settling down and feeling more content with my location, and actually excited about the potential for growth was the opening of Hagoyah, my home away from home. It started out as the “coming soon” sign on the vacant spot that was just blocks from our house. And behind those doors, I knew that some day would be a yoga studio, where I could WALK to class, and cultivate that community I was feeling I had to seek outside of KC. After over five years of practicing yoga there, and working part time behind the scenes with Hagoyah, (which is a Holistic Beauty and Wellness concept bringing together yoga, massage, skincare, hair services, & local retail, artists, and makers in the community) I have been lucky to grow with the different evolutions of where things started. And for 2018 this brought the chance to work with the Heartland Yoga Festival, which was co-founded by the owner of Hagoyah along with the owner of Karma Tribe Yoga (KC’s non-profit, donation based studio). All of this (and more) has kept me grounded with the current mindset that I’m OK to stay in the heartland. Maybe not forever – who knows. But I no longer have one foot out the door, booking my next flight to escape twice monthly as I once did. I’m finding contentment, peace, opportunities, community, Vitamin IV therapy, dog friendly establishments, other people who are child free by choice (I am overjoyed that this is finally a THING in KC – it seriously was such a rarity for so many years), and EVEN kombucha on tap + people who know what functional medicine is IN my own hometown. I need these things if I want to stick to my autoimmune protocols, and move forward with healing.

So my update to everyone is that yes, I’ve been away. But this time it’s not because I had a setback with my inflammation that was so terrible that I could not use my arms (that was last year).  I’m so glad that the *busy* state which has kept me away from the blog, and the social media for Feud With Food, and many of the other endeavors that I absolutely look forward to returning to has been for a healthy reason. It feels good to finally be doing things that help with my healing vs further contribute to chronic illness and autoimmune flares. I have found my tribe, and am slowly working in the direction that I know aligns more appropriately with my path. I don’t know what is next in line for me. But I know that my current experience in the present is giving me much to think about, tons of learning opportunities, and a plethora of gratitude. And for now, I am going to Namaste in the Heartland.

 

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