Category: Article

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

Coincidences get my attention. I see them like a stock tip—whenever they show up, I know something interesting is just around the corner. Lately, I’ve noticed a lot of them, which feels right since I’m standing at a crossroads. Crossroads can be scary because they signal change. The tricky part about change is that to let something new into your life, you have to make room for it. That means letting go of the old and navigating a period of not knowing before anything  arrives. “Not knowing” is a place our minds really don’t like. We’re so biased against it

Summer is upon us, and with it, a powerful sense of transformation is in the air—not just in the world around us, but in my life, too. We’ve recently moved from Italy to Vienna, I have an exciting new cookbook coming out next year, and I’ve just returned from a whirlwind conference and workshop tour in Finland. It was an incredible experience introducing my book, Embody: The Power of Presence in an Age of Distraction, to the Finnish business community. My talks and workshops were filled with open-minded entrepreneurs who embraced the concept of embodiment with the same fervor they embrace their beloved nature. At the

I hope you’re getting some sunshine – the roses here in Cordovado are in bloom, and after picking up my car in Austria (post-accident repairs!), I even braved a quick dip in freezing Attersee lake in the Salzkammergut. Today to celebrate May Day, I have a little gift for you: a 2-minute video: “From Distraction to Presence: Inside the Launch of Embody” Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JObooS6sKxw In it, I share why I wrote Embody: The Power of Presence in an Age of Distraction. If you’re tired of being told to “just stop scrolling,” this is for you. I don’t want you to

We’ve developed our IQ (Intelligence Quotient) through education and cultivated our EQ (Emotional Intelligence) through personal development. Yet there’s a crucial third intelligence that is a crucial skill to develop in today’s digital world: Body Intelligence (BQ). What is Body Intelligence? Body Intelligence is your capacity to listen to, interpret, and respond to the wisdom of the body. It allows you to: Unlike IQ, which measures cognitive abilities, or EQ, which addresses emotional awareness, BQ focuses on the intelligence that resides in the body—a powerful wisdom that has evolved over millennia. Why BQ Matters More Than Ever In our screen-dominated world,

Where I live in Italy, there’s wild garlic in the fields right now—earthy, pungent, alive. I’m kneeling in the damp grass, fingers brushing green blades, and for these moments, I’m not a brain on a screen. I’m in a body in the world. This is the basis of embodiment. Neuroscientifically, it’s called sensory grounding (touch, smell, movement). This shifts us out of hypercognitive mode—that frazzled state where we mistake ourselves for thinking machines. Studies show even brief nature exposure lowers cortisol, while tactile engagement (like foraging) reactivates the vagus nerve, dialing down stress. My new book, Embody: The Power of Presence in an

The first one is skiing—just look at those colors! I took that photo a few weeks ago in Cortina d’Ampezzo (Italy). This rejuvenates the soul as well as body. I’ve got two other ways that are equally as powerful. The “24-hour reset The first one is the “24-hour reset.” Carving out a day dedicated to sleep. That’s right: 24 hours in bed, free from distractions, responsibilities, and external stimuli. Why wait until you’re completely burnt out or sick to give yourself this incredible gift? What Does It Involve? My rules are simple: 24 hours in bed with no input from

Today is the vernal equinox. The official start of spring is a great time for new beginnings, which is why I’ve chosen to show you the new cover of the book Embody. Designed by the fabulous American graphic designer Pamela Berry, the cover shows me watching the sunset in 650,000 square meters of sand in the Empty Quarter Desert of Oman. I was in Oman to prepare my last great Scottish event. Sitting in the silence of the desert, I realized just how small and inconsequential I—and all my plans—were compared to the magnificence of nature. It was a wonderful

Guincho beach in Portugal, as seen from our hotel room window. Every year we come here, staying at our favorite hotel, the quirky Muchaxo, to recharge our batteries. I try to limit all digital and electronic input while I’m here. Nothing but stare at the sea, walk on the beach, and see old friends. It’s great to do something like this once a year. Stop the input. Check in with myself. See what’s new. Mourn what’s gone. Be open for new ideas.  It’s so wonderfully simple and yet so nourishing I had to show you a photo of where we are.

My newsletter is late this week because I was working yesterday, as you can see from the photo above. I slipped away from my desk in the afternoon to take advantage of the 3 hour ski pass which is on offer less than an hour from where we are living in Italy. I told myself that I had to get ready for my brother’s family, who are traveling from Atlanta to visit us in a few weeks time. My nephew is a top skier and I want to retain my position as “cool aunt”. I’m also preparing myself because my