Surfing the waves of change
There are so many things happening in my life right now that I can barely keep up. I have a sense of catching a wave — and paddling fast to stay balanced on it! After a whirlwind few months of travel — the USA, then London for my book talk, then Italy where I’ve been preparing ideas for a future cookbook — I’m finally home in Vienna. For the first time in weeks, I have two glorious weeks at my desk. The first thing I wanted to do was write to you.I’ll share more about everything that’s been unfolding in my next letter, but first, I have something special to tell you: I’m appearing on Lou Hamilton’s Brave New Girls – Well Beings, Well Planet podcast.
Lou is an artist, author, and filmmaker — a luminous, feminine force for women’s wellbeing. Her show celebrates women “moving mountains for the wellbeing of people and the planet,” and it’s an honor to join her. And I love her Brave New Girl, which is why I’m sprinkling her and her inspiring messages throughout my newsletter.
When Lou and I talk, the subjects we cover range from wellbeing to health to transformation, but always have one thing in common: the desire to make the world a better place, one woman at a time. Lou will be interviewing me about my new book Embody: The Power of Presence in an Age of Distraction, and talking about—surprise surprise—embodiment, and why it’s not something to save for “one day when there’s time.” So many people don’t realize is that there is something we can all do to shift how we are with ourselves. It’s not hard work. It’s a new way of being that allows us to relax and enjoy this dazzling digital world without losing ourselves.
Embodiment isn’t just wellbeing. It is a necessity to live and thrive in the digital age. Why? Because our lives have changed! Did you know that we now spend more than 6 hours a day on screens? Our attention span has shrunk from 2.7 minutes in 2004 to just 46 seconds today. The number of connected devices in the world has hit 19.8 billion, far outstripping the human population. The pace isn’t just fast — it’s relentless.
No wonder we feel scattered, anxious, or exhausted. But if you can’t seem to get off your phone, just know that it’s not your fault. Our nervous systems weren’t built for this level of input. But they can adapt — when we learn to return home to the body.Learning to live from your body — not just your head — changes everything. It’s not a quick fix, but the effects are immediate: more ease, more clarity, and a quiet sense that you’re finally where you’re meant to be.
Think of it as an upgrade for your human operating system.That’s what Lou and I will be exploring together on the show. We will talk about the clues in childhood that led me to this work, what made me stop and reassess everything, and how I came to understand presence not as an add-on, but as a hard skill for modern life.
So join us to discover what it means to live fully awake in a digital world — and how your own body may be the most advanced technology you’ll ever own.
And I may let on the reason why I’ve been exploring the Maori Haka dance — and how it will fit into this exciting new direction the waves of change are taking me.Sending each and every one of you much love so that you, too, can start to surf the waves of change just like the Brave New Girl.
