bestofourselves podcast

Silence can be a gift. The pause helps us step back from reactivity, gain perspective, and listen for something deeper than our internal chatter. But not all silence serves us. Sometimes silence protects comfort, allows harmful systems to continue unchecked, or keeps us from living our values fully. Inspired by Martin Luther King Jr.'s 1967 speech A Time to Break Silence , this episode explores th...

Catching herself in a cycle of avoidance and self-judgment, Marcia explores the familiar urge to fix what feels off—and why that approach often backfires. Through a moment of honest reflection, she uncovers what was really underneath and discovers a quieter, more powerful starting point: acceptance. Not as a strategy, but as a doorway to real change.

A simple, unexpected note interrupts a cycle of stress and worry, reminding us how easily we overlook everyday acts of kindness. This reflection explores how small, ordinary moments of care—across differences and in our own communities—quietly sustain us, if we remember to notice them.

When life changes and familiar roles fall away, it's easy to feel unmoored. This reflection explores the quiet invitation in those moments—to pause, listen, and remember we are more than the roles we've played. Resources Connected or Separate?  - The Wave Story

In this episode, I reflect on a familiar story about an elephant held in place not by a rope, but by a belief that trying no longer matters. Living in northern Minnesota, and hearing directly from friends and family witnessing events in the Twin Cities, I explore how that same limiting story shows up in moments when constitutional rights are being tested. Drawing on the First, Fourth, and Fourteen...

A casual question during a cell phone upgrade sparked an unexpected political exchange—and a deeper inquiry into how we meet one another across difference. This episode reflects on presence, sacred engagement, and Martin Luther King Jr.'s reminder that love and power must work together if we're to create justice and avoid becoming what we oppose. Resources Healing the Divide

A Thanksgiving moment went wrong—a small dog, a sudden crisis, and my brain completely freezing. What followed wasn't competence or quick thinking, but a powerful lesson in how stress disconnects us from our bodies. In this episode, I reflect on what that scare revealed about presence, uncertainty, and the quiet wisdom our bodies carry—especially during long, difficult seasons. A reminder that whe...

What if strength isn't something we build for ourselves alone? Inspired by the Grand Portage Band's response to the closure of our local Coast Guard station, this reflection explores how Indigenous wisdom challenges our dominant story of competition, scarcity, and separateness—and invites us into a different way of living, grounded in connection, love, and shared belonging. Resources Imprisoned by...

Being human isn't tidy. In this episode, I share two moments—one small, one life-shaking—that pulled me right into the rawness of shame, fear, and uncertainty. What I'm learning is this: the struggle isn't a failure. It's the place where honesty and grace can actually reach us.     Resources Living in Uncertainty

A frown, a misunderstanding, and a lesson I'm still practicing: most of the time, it's not about us. Here's what that moment taught me about assumptions, boundaries, and staying true to ourselves. Resources Don't Take It Personally

Ever had a day where everything goes sideways at once? Mine included dog poo, burr-covered terriers, a broken garage door, and a nurse cheering for Tom's phlegm. This episode explores what happens when we let go of how life "should" be and meet what's real—with humor, honesty, and a bit of Anne Lamott–style grace. Photo: engin akyurt Resources Living in Uncertainty The Should Shower  

Burnout doesn't always show up as exhaustion—it can appear as impatience, numbness, or a heart that quietly tightens to get through the day. In this episode, Marcia Hyatt reflects on recognizing her own signs of burnout while navigating her husband's medical care and life's constant demands. Through the image "It's hard to hold hands with a tight fist," she explores how stress can close us off and...

How much do we share — and with whom? In this week's Best of Ourselves episode, I explore the fine line between privacy and authenticity… and what it means to let a little more light in through the cracks in our lives. Resources Help, Please: Lessons From An IKEA Box The Should Shower

Life doesn't come in neat categories of good or bad. In this reflection, I explore how staying open to the mystery can transform how we meet whatever arrives. Resources Living in Uncertainty

Some Assembly Required. Turns out that's not just a warning on an IKEA box—it's a reminder about life. In this week's show, I confess to my habit of saying "We're fine" when we're really… not. From sleepless nights to bolts and Allen wrenches, I discovered that asking for help isn't weakness—it's actually a gift to both giver and receiver. Because maybe the real self-care isn't doing it all oursel...

I used to think "living one day at a time" meant glowing serenity. But lately it looks more like noticing my cranky, overtired self and walking her home before she has a meltdown. This show explores the messy, human side of being present in the moment. Resources Living With Uncertainty Resilience or What

In this episode, I share how unexpected gestures of kindness have touched me more deeply than I ever imagined. From potatoes harvested to simple words of encouragement, these acts have softened old walls around my heart. Together we'll explore how the heart opens—not by force, but by tending the conditions of worthiness, courage, and compassion. Resources Kindness in Action How to Open the Heart b...

Life with uncertainty can feel like riding a seesaw with a 1000-pound gorilla—hope one moment, despair the next. In this episode, I share how "widening the lens" through simple practices like breathing, noticing beauty, or reaching for connection helps us find a space of grace.   Resources Living in Uncertainty Should Shower Resilience or What?

Resilience isn't about being tough — it's about living the "both/and." When life brings hard news, can we let sorrow and joy share the same moment? In this episode, I reflect on how we adapt, what keeps us present, and why resilience might mean, as Joseph Campbell said, "joyfully participating in the sorrows of the world." Resources Living in Uncertainty The Should Shower

The Should Shower 💦 Ever find yourself standing under a downpour of "shoulds"? I should be doing more. I should be feeling more. I should be… well, different than I am. In this week's episode, I share what it's been like navigating my husband's health crisis while my inner critic offers constant commentary — and how I'm learning to step out of the should shower long enough to find what's actually...

Life has a way of reminding us that uncertainty is the only thing we can count on. This week's show is raw and real — no tidy answers, no "5 easy steps" — just what it's like to live through sudden change and not know what's next. As Pema Chödrön writes: "We think that the point is to pass the test or to overcome the problem, but the truth is that things don't really get solved. They come together...

I recently came across a photo of myself as a Brownie—standing straight in my uniform, with this tight little smile on my face. I wasn't carefree or joyful. I was trying hard to get it right. Even back then, I had already learned how to shape myself to be acceptable—to be "good." Good as in quiet, helpful, not too much. I became a chameleon, tuning into what others needed and editing myself to fit...

Silence can be a refuge—or a hiding place. In this episode, we explore the ways silence shapes our inner and outer lives: when it helps us respond with clarity, and when it becomes a way to withhold our truth. What happens when we stay silent to stay safe? And what's the cost of leaving our voice unheard? With reflections and a powerful quote from Audre Lorde's daughter, this show invites us to li...

In this episode, the show takes a hard look at the power of words—how they shape our relationships, our communities, and the world we co-create. We challenge the old saying "sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me," because we know that words do hurt—and they can also heal. From middle school memories to the courage of John Lewis, we explore how easy it is to mirror hate...

This series explores tapping our full potential and living true to ourselves using the EnneaCrossings™ lens. This episode, the fifth in the series, explores the fourth portal or doorway to living a life true to oneself. Engaged Presence explores how to respond and participate in life from a place of wholeness, interconnectedness, and attunement to what is needed. Resources Deep Living Lab's EnneaC...