As a yoga instructor, I have come to love my breath. When I was an endurance athlete, I understood the importance of the respiratory system, but I never truly grasped the gift of my breath. Through my yoga schooling, I have learned that we often only use one-third to one-fourth of our lung capacity daily.

We aren’t breathing fully and deeply into our everydays.

Our breath gives us life―it is the life within us. Breath replenishes our systems, aids in our health, and can calm us―literally―in that moment of fight or flight. Breathing helps slow the production of cortisol, the stress hormone, and brings us back to a calm state.

During this seasonal change, I often find myself more busy than usual, which in turn manifests as stress. Spring is the season where I need to come back to my breath; to breathe into my full capacity of loving and living; to learn to inhale grace and exhale the things that aren’t priorities.

To learn to breathe in life, deeply and fully.

A Breath Exercise

• Find a comfortable, seated position bringing your back straight and gently placing your left hand on your belly and right hand on your chest.
• Begin by taking a few slow, conscious breaths through the nose, inhaling and exhaling deeply with a slight pause in between, simply observing the breath.
• Slowly begin to bring your breath in control. Make the breath a little deeper, longer in both the inhalations and exhalations. Try to expel every little bit of breath on the exhale before you begin another inhale. Keep focusing on the breath, listening and noticing.
• After a few rounds of breath, allow a brief pause at the top of the inhale, as well as after the exhale. Let your body move freely with the breath.
• Allow the belly to expand outward, while the ribs expand to the sides, and visualize the breath rolling up through the lungs, the chest rising at the top of the inhale. As you exhale, the body deflates: the chest dropping and belly coming in.
• After about five minutes of this focused, belly breathing, let go of the conscious control of your breath. Notice how your energy, thoughts, and emotions have changed during this time, the moment peaceful and purposeful. Your breath full.

Caitlin Lore is a storyteller and adventurer. By day she is a junior high English teacher, and by night she is a Holy Yoga instructor. She is also a wife, entrepreneur, marriage retreat maker, and aspiring novelist. After a jaunt with endurance racing, she now specializes in yoga for athletes and restorative yoga seeking to bring soul-care and freedom to those feeling constrained by anxiety, depression, and stress through the avenue of Holy Yoga. http://caitlinlore.com/

If you are community-minded, it’s energizing to get involved with a project or nonprofit and use your abilities to successfully reach the organization’s goals. However, as someone who does creative work, I’ve noticed that I am asked far more frequently than my counterparts in, say, the legal or accounting fields, to provide my skills and knowledge at no cost.

It’s tough, because when I am excited about a project I want to do everything I can to move it forward. And as a board member for a nonprofit am I not supposed to do money-saving work to better the organization? The things I do best include writing and editing, research, project management, and creating communication strategies. I like doing these things. I also get paid to do these things, and I know how much each is worth. Where do I set the boundary? Where do I draw the line and avoid giving away too much of my expertise?

Creative work is undervalued by those who can’t do it. It surprises me how often I hear people say that they hate writing marketing copy or they don’t know how to organize web content, but when they find that I can do these things, a switch is flipped and suddenly the work is so easy that, surely, I’ll only need a few minutes to do it. They’ve forgotten that affinity doesn’t automatically equal speed or ease.

If you are a creative, my advice is to determine what your time and talents are worth, and only give away the amount you consider reasonable. And if you aren’t a creative, stop asking those who are―writers, artists, musicians―to give you their time, talent, and intellectual property for free. They have worked hard to develop their skills and talents and deserve not only to be respected, but to be compensated.

After spending several years working as an academic reference librarian and a community college library director, Tanzi Merritt shifted her career to become a tech company’s sales & marketing coordinator. She sits on a number of nonprofit boards, and, during her off-hours, obsessively watches documentaries, buys art, and frequents local craft breweries. Connect with her: www.linkedin.com/in/tanzidmerritt.

Too often I find myself hearing what a person is saying but not really listening to what she is saying. As a social worker, part of my education was learning how to actively listen to clients. Although it’s something I struggle to practice in my everyday life, I notice such an improvement in understanding when I do. Because of this, I wanted to share with you a few ways you can be a more active listener to your loved ones.

Empathize – Attempt to understand and share their feelings. The old adage still stands: “Put yourself in their shoes!”

Ask Questions – Participate in the conversation. Replace the usual “mm-hm” or “yeah” with pausing for a moment to ask a question that lets the person know you’re really interested in what she’s telling you.

Clarify – One of the reasons that asking questions is important in active listening is because it helps us clarify. Clarification is finding out what exactly someone means, and helps to prevent one of the biggest barriers in communication: misunderstanding.

Body Language – Last, but not least, body language is crucial. Making eye contact with the person speaking to you and having an open posture towards her has proven to engage a longer, and probably a more meaningful, conversation.

Listening with your heart to what someone is telling you and responding with real compassion or genuine feedback is the gift that gives back. You will be amazed at the difference active listening really makes in getting to know a person, or in simply being there for her.

Haylee Smoot is a social worker currently pursuing an MSW at the University of Kentucky. She is a Kentucky Proud foodie and passionate about her heritage, her pug Dodi, and helping others. 

Photography by Lupen Grainne.

There is something very exciting about building or renovating your own home. My boyfriend, Josh, and I were thrilled the day we drove our home, a 1978 Georgia Boy Cruise Air, to my parents’ farm.

I took some photos, we introduced the dogs to the RV (they didn’t want to leave), and we took it to Natural Bridge in Kentucky to test it out at the campgrounds. We donned our rose-colored glasses and charged forward like nothing could stop us.

When we began the demolition of the 1970s interior, however, we had no idea what 30 years meant in RV life. Deconstructing the existing cabinets was like solving a nonsensical puzzle. There were hidden screws that we didn’t find until frustration had led us to brute force. There was electrical wire hidden in walls, found only after they were already cut. The glue and adhesives holding the walls together were meant to last past the human race, and I have never seen so many ladybugs in such small spaces!

Needless to say, it has been an adventure. Not the rose-colored adventure we painted in our heads, but an up-and-down rollercoaster of an adventure.

The image of our perfectly aged RV started out surrounded by rainbows and butterflies, and sparkling surfaces. Now, the RV has a few scars, and a few more nonsensical designs because, well, that’s the only way we could get the closet as big as we wanted, or the shower in the right spot.

While our expectations have become a little more “realistic,” it is still very exciting to pick out handles to drawers, and curtains for windows. And we still smile really, really big about every single step. Because the magic of creating your own home is that it is yours, every brilliant bit of it.

Christine Williams is a Lexington, Kentucky-based photographer who prefers to think of herself as a storyteller. She loves surprises, imperfections and happy endings. Most of all, she loves days that give memories.  Goldieandchristine.com

Imagery provided by Christine Williams

I’m what you’d call a jetsetter. For the past three years, I’ve been based in Seattle with a musician boyfriend in Montreal. The reasons are complicated and frustrating, but from an outside perspective, it all looks very glamorous. Especially because, as a self-employed writer, I’m able to spend the bulk of my time with him, both in Montreal and touring the world (so far: Austria, Spain, Barbados, Hawaii, Toronto, Vancouver, at least a dozen cities across the U.S., and soon―New Zealand).

Suffice it to say that I’m no stranger to the phrase, “I want your life.” Because, just as social media tempts us to compare our lives to the news feed, the assumption is that if you’re a jetsetter, your days are filled with champagne in first class, productive workdays in exotic cafes, and layovers spent sipping free cocktails in airport lounges.

But nothing is Instagram-perfect, so most assumptions about this lifestyle are false. And truth be told, I never wanted to be a jetsetter. I’m a nester and a homebody who spent eight years building a business so I could work from home―not from all over the world. Then again, I also spent eight years in disastrous relationships, wondering when someone good would come along. Eventually I found him and felt I’d been offered an incredible gift, though the packaging wasn’t what I expected. But my choice was this or nothing―board the plane or disembark the relationship.

So I got on board. And I grew stronger and braver. Eventually, I replaced grousing with gratitude. I learned to appreciate the opportunity to see the world with someone I love. I learned to want the life I have. And I learned that it’s not about the packaging―it’s what’s inside and what you do with it that makes it a gift.

Nicole Christie is a writer and storyteller who splits her time between Seattle and Montreal. She is also the principal and creative director of NICO, Inc.―a one-woman firm specializing in fresh, honest, engaging employee and marketing communications for Fortune 500 corporations, leading-edge creative firms, and rapidly growing new technology companies. You can soak up her solopreneur wisdom at http://nicolechristie.com/.

One of my favorite and earliest cooking memories is of baking a cake with my grandmother. My little sister was bouncing around our feet, jabbering away to us. Grandma, in the patient way she could admonish without belittling, told my sister to leave me alone because I was a new cook who needed to concentrate on the recipe. I wasn’t happy with this remark; even at 10-years-old, I didn’t want to be thought of as a novice in the kitchen.

Since then, food has transformed my interest into a passion, taking me to culinary school and jobs in professional kitchens. Through all this, I’ve never forgotten that afternoon with my grandmother. I wish we could cook together one more time.

This Apple Stack Cake is very different from the one my grandma used to make. My recipe is vegan and calls for nourishing ingredients such as spelt flour, unrefined sweeteners, raw coconut oil…plus a little bourbon (I couldn’t ignore its affinity for apples). Best to get started the day before serving to allow the apple butter filling to moisten and infuse the dark, rich layers of spiced cake.

Bourbon Apple Butter

2 tablespoons unrefined Coconut Oil
8 medium Apples, cored and chopped
8 Medjool Dates, pitted
Good pinch Sea Salt
1 tablespoon ground Cinnamon
1 tablespoon Blackstrap Molasses
2 tablespoons Bourbon, or to taste

1. Place the oil, apples and dates in a large pot over med-high heat until they begin to sizzle. Stir in the salt and cinnamon, then cover the pot and reduce the heat to low. Cook the apples, stirring occasionally, until they’re completely tender.
2. Once tender and cooled slightly, use an immersion blender or food processor to puree the apples. At this point, measure out and refrigerate 95 grams (about ¼ cup and 2 tablespoons) of the puree. This will be used in the cake batter.
3. Return the remaining puree to the pot and place over medium heat then stir in the molasses. Cover the pot, leaving the lid ajar, and cook the apple puree for 1.5 to 2 hours, until it’s reduced, thickened and darkened. Stir frequently and adjust the heat periodically to prevent the bottom from scorching.
4. Once the apple butter is thickened, remove from heat and stir in the bourbon to taste. Store covered in the fridge up to 1 week.

Stack Cake

½ cup (125 milliliters) Plant-based Milk (I used a mixture of almond and coconut)
1 tablespoon White Vinegar
½ cup + 1 tablespoon (170 grams) Blackstrap Molasses
1 ½ teaspoons fresh Ginger, grated
1 tablespoon Vanilla Extract
1 ½ cups + 2 tablespoons (184 grams) Light Spelt Flour
1 ½ cups + 2 tablespoons (184 grams) Whole Spelt Flour
½ teaspoon ground Cinnamon
1 ½ teaspoons ground Ginger
¾ teaspoon Sea Salt
1 tablespoon Baking Soda
1 teaspoon Baking Powder
½ cup (113 grams) unrefined Coconut Oil
½ cup + 1 tablespoon (113 grams) Coconut Sugar
¼ cup + 2 ½ tablespoons (95 grams) Apple puree (see above recipe for instructions)

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the plant-based milk and vinegar then set aside for at least 10 minutes to sour. After 10 minutes, whisk in the molasses, fresh ginger and vanilla extract.
3. In a large bowl, sift together the flours, cinnamon, ginger, sea salt, baking soda and baking powder.
4. In a stand mixer, use a paddle attachment to beat together the coconut oil and coconut sugar until fluffy. Then, mix in the apple puree.
5. Change to a whisk attachment on the machine. On low speed, whisk in a third of the dry flour mixture. Once incorporated, whisk in a third of the soured milk mixture. Stop the machine and scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl as needed. Continue alternating between the dry and wet mixture for two more batches, until everything is fully incorporated.
6. *To bake, divide the batter into 3 mostly equal portions. Use a small spatula to spread one portion of the thick batter evenly across the bottom of a small cast iron skillet, coated with coconut oil. Bake each layer for 17-20 minutes, or until the edges are slightly crisper than the middle and a toothpick inserted into the cake’s center comes out with dry crumbs attached. Allow each layer to cool in the skillet for 10 minutes before turning out onto a wire cooling rack.
7. Since this is a rustic dessert, there’s no need for the layers to cool completely before spreading the apple butter between each layer and on top of the cake. The cake’s flavor and texture will only improve over the next few days. Store covered in the refrigerator, but bring to room temperature before serving.

*You can also transfer the entire batter to an 8” round cake pan, coated with coconut oil and dusted with spelt flour. Bake for 40 to 50 minutes, or until it passes the toothpick test. Allow the cake to sit in the pan for 10 minutes before turning out onto a cooling rack. Cool completely before cutting into 3 layers with a serrated knife.

Marci Cornett is a (mostly) plant-based chef who promotes health-supportive cuisine and the development of sustainable food systems. After graduating from the Natural Gourmet Institute in New York, she worked in several professional kitchens including the renowned vegetarian restaurant, Cafe Paradiso, in Cork City, Ireland. She develops and publishes nourishing recipes and writes about the latest thinking concerning nutrition and food issues on her blog, marcicornett.com. Connect with her on Facebook and Twitter.

Imagery by Sarah Jane Sanders.

My family and I are fortunate enough to live near a large reservoir. No one is allowed to swim in it, but we are allowed to sail, row, and play on the beaches.

The mountains peek through the view in the distance, teasing and calling us like Sirens. With the city circling our backs, it only takes a moment to heed their call. At our feet lie the rocks carved from the mountains and left behind as the water journeyed from the reservoir.

One of our most simple family activities is to go and throw rocks in the water. The handfuls the kids chuck make a not-so-quiet PLOP! PLOP! PLOP! as they break the surface, while we adults work hard to skip the not-actually-flat rocks.

We don’t talk much as the rocks fly. Everyone is in quiet contemplation with the rote nature of rock-flinging. For a group of people who have about as much spirituality all together as a yogini has in her baby toe, this is as close as we get to meditation.

Ultimately pointless, rock throwing can be done just about anywhere―the beach, a stream, a puddle in the back alley or the slough at a farm. Rocks plus water, that’s all you need.

The same effect can be had from gathering pinecones, looking for four-leaf clovers, searching for sea glass, and picking out pretty fall leaves. Being out in nature, in contemplation, engrossed in a repetitive activity, is indeed spiritual. It answers the Sirens’ call to leave the city behind. Even if you can’t actually do that.

Cheryl Arkison is a writer, quilter, and mom. She writes and teaches on quilting, craft, creativity, food, and family—all from her dining room empire. From this space she wrote her first book, Sunday Morning Quilts (co-authored with Amanda Jean Nyberg) and her second book, A Month of Sundays. Her third book will be released in 2015. A proud first generation Ukrainian, she is committed to not letting the artistry of food and craft from her heritage pass by unnoticed in the modern age. Cheryl is the mother of three kidlets and wife to her entrepreneur husband. www.cherylarkison.com

Imagery provided by Cheryl Arkison

It was girls’ night, and I was the first to arrive at our favorite cozy, dimly-lit bar (Beecher’s, of course)…which gave me more time to study the cocktail list. As Kate settled in, I mentioned that I had debated between two cocktails before ordering a French 75.

“Of course you did, Jean,” Kate said, laughing. “Ten out of ten times, you pick the gin cocktail.”

She was right, and a little light of recognition switched on in my brain. While I knew that I enjoyed a good gin cocktail, I hadn’t realized how often I chose them over something else. Which, as Kate pointed out, is nearly every time.

It was a moment of clarity that still makes me smile, because a dear friend helped me recognize something very consistent (although admittedly minor) about myself. I think that is friendship at its best.

Good friends help us see ourselves more clearly and can nudge us (sometimes gently, sometimes with a firm but loving push) towards knowing ourselves better. They can highlight our strengths and skills, the things we take for granted because they come so naturally to us. And they can pinpoint our favorite drink order, sometimes before we’ve even laid claim to it ourselves.

For the record, Kate never orders the gin cocktail.

While she’s almost an official New Yorker, now that she has spent the past eight years working for a large investment bank in New York City, Jean Blosser still cherishes her Midwestern roots, growing up in Columbus, Ohio. She is an alumnus of Boston College and enjoys her whiskey neat.

Imagery from CAKE&WHISKEY Issue 2 by Sarah Jane Sanders

For those who thrive on flux, flow, and fluidity.

The Renaissance was a period of awakening after the Middle Ages. What began as a cultural movement of perspective manifested itself in artistic expression, educational reform, and yes, political, religious, and societal change. Actions reflected changing thoughts about the way we live life.

It’s happening again. And I find myself a part of it. I’m a woman in STEM, and I advocate for more women to pursue careers of technology and adventure. This starts with access to and love of learning. I applaud Malala Yousafzai’s advocacy for female education. I discuss Sheryl Sandberg’s plight for women in the workplace, from Lean In to writing about closing the gender gap with Adam Grant to creating Board Bootcamps with Marc Andreessen. I follow Chelsea Clinton’s work at the Clinton Foundation in championing women and girls globally.

Is there progress? Well, yes, but we won’t close the wage gap immediately. There won’t be 50% women on boards next year. All girls won’t go to school tomorrow. But we are talking about it. More people are becoming aware, and supportive. It’s fluid. And the direction it flows is up to us.

Let’s reimagine the balance of power. Let’s ask what it means to be an equal partner in our work, in our homes, and in our society.

Gently.

Because shaking the foundations and screaming demands rarely achieves harmony. And it’s not my style. A good chance it’s not yours either.

Bethany Miller is an explorer in life and in business. She’s an airline pilot, veteran, and world traveler. Fascinated by global issues and the business of business, Bethany is a doctoral candidate at Université Paris-Dauphine in Paris, France where she researches extraordinary employees in chaotic work environments. www.GoodGlobalCitizen.com

Imagery from CAKE&WHISKEY Issue 6 by Jacklyn Greenberg

Kathrine Switzer began running at a time when “cool girls looked great all the time; they did not run.” In fact, commonly accepted myths and stereotypes led people to believe athletic women developed manly, muscular legs and moustaches and risked their uteruses falling out if they ran too far. Undeterred by the naysayers, Switzer ran wearing earrings, a headband and lipstick.

Switzer made history in 1967 by becoming the first woman to officially register and run the entire Boston Marathon. Her participation angered race officials who tried violently to eject her from the race as depicted in the now iconic photograph (see above).

Kathrine Switzer’s memoir Marathon Woman: Running the Race to Revolutionize Women’s Sports portrays the story of the infamous race that ultimately changed the course of women in sports, specifically women in running. Throughout the book, Switzer shares her story about overcoming what seemed impossible and changing lives. With the same determination and courage it took for her to run the race, Switzer went on to organize women-only races, and she effectively petitioned the IOC to make a women’s marathon part of the Olympic Games while also launching a successful career in journalism and business.

Switzer’s memoir isn’t just about running and her professional career. She offers inspiration for women around the world, as she explores issues faced by women in numerous countries. She inspires us to face naysayers, heartbreak, hard work, and risk of failure. She also encourages us to accomplish tasks by strategizing, setting goals, and tackling difficult tasks bit by bit: the same way her dad taught her to run one lap around their yard at a time 50 years ago.

Renee Boss is an educator and activist who believes access to quality education is a right for everyone. She is also a book lover, who has made it her goal to devour a book a week. She lives in Lexington, Kentucky with her husband and two sons. www.reneeboss.blogspot.com

Do you have an inspirational sports story like Switzer’s to share? In our upcoming Sporting Issue, CAKE&WHISKEY is celebrating the powerful women in the sports industry: the players, of course, but also the women working behind the scenes. We want the encouragers, those who help young women and girls build self-esteem through sports. We want the physical therapists, the product developers, the corporate iron-women, and the after-school tennis coach. Tell us about the innovative thinkers & inspiration-givers in the sports industry today. We would love to hear about them. Send thoughts, proposals, and submissions to editor@cakenwhiskey.com.

It’s funny how you can walk past a thing hundreds of times but not really see it.

Last week I admired—for the umpteenth time—the mystery tree we have in our paddock that is covered in clumps of Dr. Seussian turquoise, blue, and fuchsia berries every autumn. Although I’ve been wondering about it for the past four years, it wasn’t until this month that I finally asked Greg, a friend of ours with a decidedly green thumb, what he thought the tree was.

As he peered up into the leafy canopy he declared, “That’s gotta be pepper.” Pepper! Never in my wildest imaginings…

Although I am a self-sufficiency fan and love growing weird and wonderful things in my gardens, I had never thought about growing pepper, or any other spice, save for ginger and turmeric. Excitedly, I gathered a cluster of the vivid berries and photographed them, then searched online to see if they truly were peppercorns. Sure enough, they were.

I am thrilled with our discovery and have had such fun learning how to ferment the colorful peppercorns, dry and get them ready to fill our pepper grinders with.

The no-longer-a-mystery Peppercorn Tree now serves as my reminder to inquire, not just admire.

Krista Bjorn is a wood-burning artist, goat farmer, author, writer, and photographer. Although she was born in Canada, raised in the USA, and shaped by her European roots, she now lives on a goat farm in Queensland, Australia with her husband, Bear. There, she celebrates anything that leads to healing, thriving, and loving. http://www.ramblingtart.com/

Imagery provided by Krista Bjorn

If you’re anything like me, you love nothing more than to host your family and friends whenever you get the chance. But let’s be honest, hosting is hard work and can bring out the good, the bad and the ugly in us all. So I’ve put together my five foolproof tips for perfecting the art of hosting while avoiding all the stress.

Tip 1.

A welcome tray: A welcome tray is simple to do and will make your houseguests feel simultaneously spoiled and right at home. You can place the tray on their bed or a nearby table so they have easy access throughout the weekend. I love to include water (Pellegrino and Aqua Panna are my go-tos), beautiful glassware, fresh flowers and a light snack, like these homemade nut bars, to ward off hunger after a long day of traveling. You can find a similar recipe here.

Tip 2.

Flowers: You can never go wrong with fresh flowers! Place them next to the bed, in the kitchen or in your bathroom to make the living space feel fresh and homey.

Tip 3.

Stock up: Be sure to stock your fridge and pantry with plenty of food options for your guests. If you can, find out their favorite foods in advance and always be conscious of any allergies. Also, meal plan! Try to plan at least one meal at home and the others out at your favorite local spots.

Tip 4.

Cocktails: After planes, trains and automobiles, your guests will definitely be ready for that cocktail. Make sure you have all the staples on hand along with any mixers you might need. In our house this means beer, wine, vodka, bourbon and, of course, Champagne. Also, try offering a seasonal cocktail to make the weekend feel extra festive. Moscow Mules, anyone?

Tip 5.

The Essentials: It doesn’t matter how organized you are, even the most efficient packers forget something when traveling. Make it easy on your guests and have some of the essentials laid out for their stay. This can be as simple as placing a toothbrush, toothpaste, soap and a razor on a beautiful tray. Just remember that presentation is everything!

Enjoy!

After beginning her career as an intern at Vogue Magazine, Colleen Kennedy Cohen went on to manage events in-house for renowned brands such as Donna Karan, Yves Saint Laurent, Valentino and Cartier. She has been planning luxury events throughout the U.S. and Europe for major fashion houses since 2006.  After the birth of her daughter, Colleen launched Colleen Kennedy Events to bring her luxury brand experience to private clients. Currently, she lives in New York City and works as an event planner and certified health coach. With a love for all things beautiful, coupled with an eye for design, Colleen brings a versatile and fresh approach to each project she takes on. Follow her: Instagram: CKCohen; Pinterest: Colleen Kennedy Events.

Photography provided by Charlie Juliet Photography 

On the day I left to study abroad for a semester in Cork, Ireland, my uncle said to me, “Do things there that you can’t do here.”

With his words still ringing in my ears, I signed up for Irish dance classes. I stumbled my way through dance routines and tapped along clumsily to rhythms that my classmates already knew so perfectly. My teacher worked with me patiently. My friends did not let me falter. Together, this team of newly formed, kindred spirits pulled me through Irish dancing. And it was a triumphant thrill.

My friends and I “performed” our Irish dancing a few times at various pubs. We summoned the courage and pulled each other along to stomp and turn and shuffle. We found validation in our boisterous, Irish audience. It was a mutual appreciation of Ireland, music, and tradition that led into conversation with the locals about the wonder of life. I learned quickly that interacting with the people of a culture is the sincerest way to grow your love and knowledge of that culture.

Dancing in a pub was not like strolling through a gallery of priceless paintings. It wasn’t a steaming hot shepherd’s pie with a pint of Guinness to guzzle down (although these experiences were worth having!). It was so much more than that. It was real and timeless and heartfelt. It was Ireland embracing me and whispering, “Thank you for trying.” And it was me saying right back, “Thank you for letting me.”

Elaine Bailey is currently a full-time student majoring in writing, rhetoric and communication. When she’s not working on papers, she is spending time with her family and friends or pursuing her passion for travel. She lives life joyfully and wishes to radiate that joy, zest, and excitement for life to everyone she meets.

I work in an industry that is almost entirely reliant on personal connections.

And, given that I am tormented by the same anxiety as every other twenty-something in an uncertain post-graduate environment, I constantly ask myself: if everyone is keeping the same professional and pseudo-social calendar that I am, how can I be sure that people remember going to Starbucks with me, when they also were meeting with other twenty-somethings in the West Village for drinks on Thursday and have a mixer on the following Monday?

Of course, I’d like to think my sparkling personality and wit endear me to my colleagues, but if I need a little help (and, let’s be honest, who doesn’t need a little extra help here and there?) sending physical thank you notes is my go-to. And it’s not just thank yous, it’s thinking of yous, and happy holidays, and congratulations. It’s showing people that they are just as present in your mind as you want to be in theirs.

So hop over to your favorite stationery store, buy three or four sets of notecards that are undeniably you (pretty pictures and funny sayings, for me) and start writing. Because everyone wants to feel special sometimes, and connecting personally with colleagues and mentors can help build a supportive foundation of career-advice givers and problem solvers to help you advance in your industry.

Ashley Collom is a Texan 20-something who now resides in NYC. She works in book publishing, lives with her pet tortoise Maxwell House, and has a soft spot for craft beers and pint-sized ice cream. You can follow her on Twitter @ashohley and contact her for freelance writing assistance at http://ashleyscollom.wix.com/freelance.

“Do not leave the arena to fools.” –Toni Cade Bambara

What a beautiful thought. And a powerful message.

To not just participate in the conversation, but to shape it. To bring your skills, knowledge, and heart to the table to do good.

The arena can take many forms: the workplace, a nonprofit organization, the kitchen, or a public office. The challenge is to step into it with assurance, not trepidation.

This can be intimidating, especially if it’s a new arena. In 2007, I entered a particularly intriguing one. Politics. An English major fresh out of college and out of a rocky break-up, I decided to explore unfamiliar territory. The girl dreaming of writing a novel signed on as deputy finance director for Steve Beshear’s Kentucky governor campaign. (Writers take note: there’s lots of good material to be found on campaigns.) With zero experience in fundraising, I was initially paralyzed by the fear of being unqualified.

Soon, however, I got my bearings, helped along by long hours and wise-cracking colleagues. Lesson after valuable lesson followed, and by the time the team poured celebratory bourbon on Election Night, I felt like I had earned it. It has now been seven and a half years, and I am still working for Governor Beshear, having served in roles from assistant speechwriter to scheduling director.

As I enter the Capitol building in the mornings, Bambara’s words echo in my mind.

Whether we wield a gavel or a wooden spoon, we’re meant to do it with courage and aplomb. Have you abandoned your arena? Or are you seizing it?

Elizabeth Roach is a graduate of Furman University and the Columbia University Publishing Program. She has worked in Kentucky government and politics for more than seven years and is currently Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear’s scheduling director. Based in Lexington, Kentucky, Elizabeth is a frequent traveler who writes freelance articles about bourbon, baking, and her culinary adventures. elizabethroachwriter.com

The last period bell shatters my eardrums as my sixth graders file out the door, and I begin to feel a heaviness settle in my chest. The “school day” was over, and I suddenly feel the silence. My prep hour begins to wash over me; my thoughts bursting forth: copies to make, stacks of quarter end grades to mark, PARCC meeting after school, two yoga classes to plan and teach, and Eowyn…my story…dances in my head, waiting to be written.

I close the door stepping over to my carpeted library corner, a makeshift yoga studio, allowing my dreams a moment to live.

Coming down to all fours I sink my hips to my heels, forehead to the floor, arms outstretched, finding my breath. The work before me beginning to dissipate while my Ujjayi breath centers my thoughts. Like a child, I let my worries go disappearing into my own world where I bring my story forth―my imagination powering up as I unwind.

In my fifth inhale, I root into my palms and, exhaling, lift my hips up and back, drawing my heels towards the floor in downward facing dog. I am no longer in a classroom worried about meetings and plans, but lost in the power of story, swept away in the characters I am creating. Walking my heels to the rhythm of my breath, I allow my heart to be vulnerable as scenes vividly play out on the backs of my eyelids, my characters coming to life.

After many breaths here, imagining now where my story is headed, I sink my knees back to the floor, letting go, and gently roll to one side as I work my way to Savasana pose, resting and breathing. The heaviness of the day―of my responsibilities―leaves me as I come to the place between dreaming and awake.

The place my story comes alive.

I allow my dreams to burst forth, beckoning me to chase them.

Caitlin Lore is a storyteller and adventurer. By day she is a junior high English teacher, and by night she is a Holy Yoga instructor. She is also a wife, entrepreneur, marriage retreat maker, and aspiring novelist. After a jaunt with endurance racing, she now specializes in yoga for athletes and restorative yoga seeking to bring soul-care and freedom to those feeling constrained by anxiety, depression, and stress through the avenue of Holy Yoga. http://caitlinlore.com/

Imagery from CAKE&WHISKEY Issue One by Andrea Hillebrand

I love how birthdays are celebrated in the workplace here in Germany. Every single person in the office, even the ones you don’t see very often or talk to but once a year, come to visit you, shake your hand, give you a hug, and wish you a happy birthday. Honestly, it is such a nice gesture and something I hope to bring back to the workplace in the states. In my office of 30 coworkers, we have a calendar of birthdays hanging on our bulletin boards to make sure we don’t miss anyone.

Oh, and did I mention? The birthday boy or girl brings the cake or doughnuts for everyone to eat. Every. Single. Time. Having a decade birthday? Then the celebration just got better. Several times a year we have huge lunches for my coworkers turning 40 and 50, and the birthday boy or girl pays for the whole meal! Complete with a celebratory small glass of Prosecco or beer.

Also in Germany it is considered bad luck to wish someone a happy birthday before their actual birthday. Same with baby showers. No baby showers until after the baby is born. And instead of asking “How old are you today,” in my office they say, “How young are you today”?

I’m curious: How do you celebrate birthdays at work? Do you keep a list as well? Take the birthday gal or guy to lunch? Would you consider treating your whole office?

Mandy Byron is a budget analyst, climber, DIY addict, and world traveler who was born in Germany and moved every three years thereafter with her three sisters. She blogs weekly at www.wethreemothers.blogspot.com.  After getting her MPA and working as an environmental consultant, Mandy decided to pursue her passion for traveling and started a federal career in Bavaria, Germany. A few years later and a few moves later, she and her husband, Frank, have returned to the Bavarian countryside with their children, Cooper and Lily.

Once upon a time, I was the girl who hated group projects.

I believed that if I wanted something done right, I should do it myself. Truthfully, a part of me also wanted to make sure that I got all the credit, and the best way to ensure that was to cut the “group” out of the equation altogether: No one to share my spotlight with.

But I realized completely owning and controlling every project on the committees I volunteered to chair meant that the best work wasn’t getting done: other people’s good ideas and energy were wasted, and I was tired. I made myself the responsible party for every aspect of every project, and, in doing so, I stressed myself out. I was also paranoid that others were trying to overstep me, which didn’t win me any friends or gain the respect of my colleagues either.

So, I decided to share the reins. Being in charge didn’t mean I needed to make every decision. If someone had an idea, they were free to run with it. It wasn’t always easy to do, but people appreciate their ideas being considered and want to be allowed some responsibility, otherwise they wouldn’t have gotten involved with the project in the first place.

This little shift in perspective has resulted in better work from the group, less stress on me, and a sense of camaraderie that comes with true collaboration.

I even found that at times I preferred to be just a committee member, and in charge of nothing at all.

I still fail at times but I keep working at working with others, and the rewards continue to be worth it.

After spending several years working as an academic reference librarian and a community college library director, Tanzi Merritt shifted her career to become a tech company’s sales & marketing coordinator. She sits on a number of nonprofit boards, and, during her off-hours, obsessively watches documentaries, buys art, and frequents local craft breweries. Connect with her: www.linkedin.com/in/tanzidmerritt.

“Is anybody hurt?”

I had a yoga teacher in college who started every 8:00 a.m. class with this question. Students were hesitant to respond, understanding an injury as a weakness.

Through this question, however, I became more aware of my body. And through this new awareness, I developed an exuberant gratitude for it that has allowed me to take better care of myself in the way of a healthier diet, more rest, and a more grounded sense of self.

Here’s a good meditative exercise to help develop healthy body awareness. I call it FeMeditate.

1) If it is the end of the day, reflect on the moments you were ungrateful for your body or treated it without care. Did you listen to society’s beliefs about what your body “should” look like instead of listening to the love inside of you?

If it is the morning, start your day anew. Let your commitment to love and peace of the body be known.

2) Next, find a place to sit in stillness. If you cannot find a quiet space, allow the background noise and listen to the silence in between.

Take time to repeat each of these mantras today. Do not be discouraged if you struggle with them at first―we are hardwired to believe awful lies about our bodies. If you can return to love, even just for a moment, opening that door will move mountains for your inner work. Have faith.

Gently close your eyes. Become aware of your surroundings and the positive, loving energy around you.
Breathe in. Breathe out.
Inhale: I accept that I have placed false illusions upon my body.
Exhale: I release these harmful expectations.
Inhale: I am aware of my body. I listen to my body.
Exhale: I honor my body.
Inhale: I see my body for the light that it is.
Exhale: I am grateful for all my body has given me.

Meagan Roppo has been a student of meditation and yoga, as well as a 60-hour trained advocate for women, for the past four years. She has dedicated her time and passion to women’s crisis shelters, feminist studies, and writing on women’s issues. By founding She Enlightened in 2014, Meagan encourages and empowers girls & women to bring forth the unique gifts, voices, and light shining inside each of them. Meagan currently works as Chief Operating Officer of Young Professional Women in Energy, a Pittsburgh-based nonprofit that works to employ more women in the energy industry. http://www.sheenlightened.com