Dear Friend,
Holy moly someone turned on the oven over here in Boulder, CO. It’s hot, and you know what? I’m not really a fan of Summer.
But my family just got back from a lovely road trip to our old family cottage on Lake Michigan (where it was cool and cloudy for almost 2 weeks straight!).
We took our puppy friend, Blue Bear, for his 3rd annual visit to the cottage. He’s an amazing road-tripper and loves the beach and the water so much. If you’re interested, you can see more of our family travel photos in my IG stories, but for fun, here’s one of Blue swimming out into the lake to ask his papa what he’s doing in that floaty boat thing…
Our whole crew stopped in Chicago on the way to Michigan so my guys could drop me off and I could spend a few days with my dearest high school girlfriends, which was so nourishing for me.
When I had had my fill of the big city Chicago scene, I rented a car and drove to Michigan to meet the rest of my family at the cottage, where I woke up early each morning to run down to the beach with Blue Bear, cooked at least 9 dinners for the family, watched the beautiful Lake Michigan sunsets, and played intensely light-hearted, competitive family beach bocce ball.
As much as I love road-trippin’ to the cottage, I’m finally ready to admit something to the world:
I am not a summer girl and never have been. I get weird skin rashes almost every summer, I easily overheat, and I don’t like the feeling of wet sand on my feet!
But my husband’s family has this old family cottage (built in 1903) near a beach, and it’s been a tradition to go there every summer. What is an overheating dragon supposed to do? Take as many ice-cold showers as she needs throughout the day and read books in the shade!
So, on the heels of some R&R, I’m back and sharing some summer reading inspiration for you!
Business Insider Article Feature
First up, I was quoted in the Business Insider for the first time!
There is nothing like having a journalist reach out, take the time to understand my financial therapy work, and then create a great piece and quote me well. I was recently interviewed by Ella Hopkins for Business Insider on how inheritance can tear families apart and some strategies on how to work with these kinds of conflicts. We talked about a lot more than what was included in this piece, but it’s a good condensed summary:
Inheritance Can Tear Families Apart. A Financial Therapist Shares 3 Ways to Manage Conflict
I’m always grateful for the great media quotes and articles that include my work. You can see some past media here and you’re always welcome to reach out for a quote or an interview.
Second up, Summer Reading Recommendations.
I always get some extra reading in when we do this summer road trip. My husband likes to be the driver guy so I get to sit in the passenger seat and plow through many books, and then once we make it to the cottage, there’s lots more reading that happens, especially on rainy days.
My favorite summer reads are always novels and memoirs. Storytelling is simply the best way for me to learn about human nature because I can put myself in the body of someone else to understand what it feels like to be them. This grows my understanding and compassion for other people’s experiences of life tenfold.
On the recent summer family road trip, I especially loved reading two memoirs.
The first was What My Bones Know: A Memoir of Healing from Complex Trauma, by Stephanie Foo. Stephanie was a radio producer for This American Life when she started having panic attacks and was finally diagnosed with complex PTSD. The memoir is about complex trauma, her personal story, all the different therapies she tries, and her healing journey.
The second memoir was Between Two Kingdoms: A Memoir of Life Interrupted by Suleika Jaouad. The story is about her experience going through a bone marrow transplant at the age of 22, her recovery, the beautiful people she meets along the way, and a ritual road trip.
The writing and storytelling are excellent, and you may recognize her because she’s married to Jon Batiste, the multi-instrumentalist who won 5 Emmys in 2021. (If you haven’t watched the beautiful documentary on Netflix about the two of them called The American Symphony, I highly recommend it.)
I must also mention the novel All Fours: A Novel, by Miranda July. I read it at the beginning of summer and I’m still thinking about it. It’s funny, weird, and irreverent. It’s not for everyone but if you crave a story that takes you into the wild ride of perimenopause, sexual desires, motherhood, and creativity, this will be a great read for you.
Some Money Teachings + Inspiration For You.
It’s no secret I tend to repeat myself when I’m teaching, and I’m okay with that. I know it’s important because learning about the many facets of money work takes time and repetition.
I’ve been told countless times by my community members and students that they need (and want) to hear these core financial therapy teachings again and again, each time in a slightly different way.
So, know that I repeat myself not because I think you all aren’t smart enough to get things the first time you hear it, but because this is simply the nature of letting in money and life lessons.
To that end, here are some of the core money teaching principles that I have on repeat. They are oldies but goodies and I hope they land with you in the right spot.
Tiny money shifts add up to big change
Trust your timing. Not anyone else’s. Especially with money.
Have Compassion for Your Financial “Mistakes”
We don’t believe in tough love here
It’s okay to not be everyone’s cup of tea
11 Things Your Financial Therapist Wants You To Know
Ok, that’s a little summer reading love for you.
I hope you take some time to slow down, listen, and learn.
And I hope I can go find a pile of snow to lay down in up in the mountains.
With my dearest wishes,
