September 3, 2026

I learned this afternoon that this was the longest summer since 2020— from the earliest Memorial Day to the latest Labor Day*.  And it felt like it!

As you reflect on your experiences over the past 106 days, what stands out for you?

 

So many of my experiences in this long summer expanded my personal and professional horizons: my artist residency in Greece, completing my certifications as a chaplain and spiritual counselor and as a mindfulness and grief coach, attending Drawing Perspectives: Health Graphic Narratives, Under Pressure, the Graphic Medicine 2026 Conference, enjoying the energy a house guest brings, visiting with a friend I haven’t seen in several years in northern California, hosting several ephemeral earth art sessions at retreats, facilitating an experiential session on trauma-informed care, and more. These were heart-opening—and yet other times were tough—as we weathered a variety of health challenges with our family. It was a summer of learning to cherish the heart-warming times, lean into my “strong back and soft front” (from Roshi Joan Halifax) to be responsive to the moment, and let go of what wasn’t essential. Life is full of opportunities for learning.

 

What are you excited about as we enter this next season?

 

Perhaps, “excited” is the wrong word. As you can tell,  this summer felt like a long ride on a roller coaster for me. There were highs and lows. I wasn’t always excited and happy; there were times of uncertainty, worry, sadness, and grief.

A better question is, how are you entering this new season? What’s on your mind and in your heart? What’s working – in your personal life, perhaps professionally and/or in your community? And what needs work and attention? Where will you put your time and energy in this new season?

Honestly, I’m ready for fall and the simple joy that comes with a routine. At the end of May, I said a formal goodbye to my colleagues at Bikablo – though my love and use of visualization are a part of all I do. I will continue coaching visual practitioners—both new and experienced—who are seeking a new lens to re-view and advance their work.

 

In reality, my plan for change began in earnest in January of 2025, I began the exciting journey of shifting my work to focus on my passion for end-of-life literacy and planning. In the summer of 2025, I completed the Arts-Assisted Grief Therapy Certificate from the Portland Institute for Loss and Transition. In December, I became a certified Morning Altar’s Teacher, adding this new area to my collection of workshops addressing end-of-life planning, grief, loss, change, transition, and self-care. The Mindfulness and Grief Coaching work and my own arts-focused grief coaching program, heART-mind Grief Coaching, complement my workshops and retreats focusing on self-care and personal development.

I’ve got some plans. I bet you do too.
I’d love to hear yours. I hope you will be in touch. 

 

• The combination of Memorial Day on May 25 and Labor Day on September 7 created an unofficial summer window of 106 calendar days. The same 106-day stretch last happened in 2020, and we will not experience a “mega Summer of this maximum length again until 2037.