Preparing Your Heart for a New Season

The Naturally Refreshing Journey

Connecting Mind, Body, Spirit & SoulHelping people slow down, notice what matters most, and reconnect with themselves.

Several years ago, a friend snapped this photograph while we were hiking Bishop Pass.

I wasn't thinking about having my picture taken. I was simply sitting quietly, taking in the mountains, listening to the silence, and feeling grateful to be exactly where I was. Looking back at this photograph today, I realize that moment captured something I've been trying to practice ever since. Preparing my heart before preparing my schedule.

You See every August has always felt like a season of preparation.

For twenty-six years, it meant getting ready for a brand-new classroom. I can still picture those days of arranging desks, decorating bulletin boards, sharpening pencils, and wondering about the students who would soon walk through my classroom door. There was always excitement, anticipation, and just a little nervous energy as another school year began. Even though I'm retired from teaching, I still feel that familiar rhythm every August. This year, that feeling is even stronger.

September marks my 50-year high school reunion. It's one of those milestones that naturally makes you pause and look back at where you've been and the people who have shared the journey with you. Before joining my classmates for our reunion weekend, I'll be spending five days and four nights backpacking with one of my longtime hiking friends. We both share a love of the trail, and it seemed like the perfect way to create a little space for reflection before celebrating this special milestone. Fifty years ago, graduating from high school meant stepping into a brand-new chapter. I was heading off to college with dreams, excitement, and absolutely no idea where life would eventually lead me.

Looking back now, I realize life has been a lot like a backpacking trail. There have been steep climbs that tested my strength. Beautiful views that took my breath away. Unexpected detours I never saw coming. Friendships that have carried me through difficult seasons. And quiet moments that changed me in ways I didn't recognize until much later.

As I've been preparing for this September trip, I've realized I'm doing much more than getting my backpack ready. I'm preparing my heart. One of the ways I prepare my heart has nothing to do with hiking.

Most mornings, before the world begins to bustle, Juniper and I head out for our walk. It's one of my favorite times of the day. The sun is just beginning to rise, the birds are waking up, and the world feels wonderfully quiet. Nature always seems to have something to offer if I'm willing to slow down enough to notice. One morning this week, three feathers caught my eye along our path. I smiled, picked them up, and tucked them into my pocket. A little farther along our route is a rosemary bush that grows beside the sidewalk. I never walk past it without gently rubbing a few leaves between my fingers and breathing in its fresh, earthy fragrance. It's become one of my favorite morning rituals.

Some people might think those are ordinary moments. I don't. I've learned that peace usually doesn't arrive with fireworks or grand announcements. More often, it's found in a sunrise...the scent of rosemary...the wag of a happy dog's tail...or three feathers waiting to be noticed. Those simple moments have reminded me that preparing my heart has very little to do with accomplishing more. It has everything to do with paying attention.

August is a season of preparation for so many of us. Teachers are putting the finishing touches on their classrooms. Parents are helping children get ready for another school year. College students are packing for a new adventure. Calendars begin to fill, routines return, and before long the holidays will be peeking around the corner. We prepare our classrooms.   Our homes.   Our schedules.   Our meals.   Our vacations.   Our backpacks. But somewhere in all of that preparation, it's easy to forget ourselves. Instead of asking, "What do I need to get done?" I've been asking a different question.

Who do I want to become in this next season?

That one question has changed the way I think about preparation. Preparing my heart isn't about adding more to my schedule. It's about returning to the simple practices that help me stay grounded. For me, that begins with time outdoors. It continues with prayer, meditation, Reiki, and making time to simply breathe before rushing into the next thing. Taking care of my body is part of preparing my heart.

As I train for my backpacking trip, I've become much more intentional about how I support my body before, during, and after every hike. Staying hydrated, nourishing my body, and creating simple recovery rituals have become just as important as the miles themselves. Over the years, I've found a handful of dōTERRA supplements and essential oils that have become trusted companions on the trail. They help me continue doing what I love—exploring the outdoors and preparing for the next day's adventure. I'm sharing my current trail routine in this month's newsletter for anyone who is curious about what I use.

As evening comes, my pace begins to change... before bed, I use my 10 ml roller of Lavender and Frankincense while I meditate. It's a simple ritual, but one I've come to treasure. It reminds me that every day deserves a gentle ending before a new one begins. None of these practices are complicated. They're simply small ways I prepare my heart.

Before every hike, I also take one last look inside my backpack. Every ounce matters. If I'm carrying something I don't really need, I know I'll feel it after several miles. It makes me wonder... What am I carrying into this next season of life? Worry? An overfilled calendar? Expectations that are impossible to meet? The pressure to do everything perfectly?

The lighter my backpack becomes, the more enjoyable the hike. I think life often works the same way. Maybe August is quietly inviting us to set a few things down before we step into what's next. Nature never rushes. The trees don't force the leaves to change. The seasons unfold one day at a time. Perhaps we were created to live that way too.

In just a few weeks, I'll shoulder my backpack and head into the mountains with a dear friend. A few days later, I'll celebrate fifty years since graduating from high school with classmates whose lives began alongside mine all those years ago. Both experiences will remind me how grateful I am—for the people I've met, the lessons I've learned, the places I've explored, and the unexpected path that has brought me here.

Before either of those events arrives, though, I'm choosing to pause. To notice. To breathe. To prepare my heart. Maybe this August is inviting you to do the same. Before you prepare your calendar... prepare yourself. You might discover that's the most important preparation of all.

If this season has you feeling stretched, overwhelmed, or simply ready to reconnect with yourself, I'd be honored to walk alongside you. Through Reiki, somatic practices, and gentle support, I help people reconnect with their mind, body, spirit, and soul during life's changing seasons.

If you've never experienced Reiki before, I invite you to enjoy a complimentary Holy Love Experience through my website. It's my gift to you and a gentle introduction to the calming, restorative benefits of Reiki from the comfort of your own home.

P.S. To all of my teacher friends: thank you. As you prepare your classrooms for another school year, I hope you'll also remember to prepare yourselves. The kindness, patience, and encouragement you give to your students each day truly matter. May this be a year filled with joy, curiosity, and moments that remind you why you chose to teach. Please feel free to share this with someone you care about.

Thank you for walking this part of the journey with me.

Until next time...

Slow down.

Notice what matters most.

And keep connecting your mind, body, spirit, and soul.

With gratitude,

Riki Marie

Naturally Refreshing