Hey, joyful humans!

Thank you so much for being here.

My sister has this line that I've loved for a while, and now seems like a good time to discuss it.

For context, she's a kickass, guns-a-blazing kind of lady with a lot going on. She has a more dedicated workout routine than I do and a cozy home with her husband and two adorable doggos.

Her line? Protect your peace.

It's more than just a line - it's a declaration of the boundaries she keeps for herself to continue giving to others.

It's so easy to give more to others than ourselves. I'm working on this myself - one of my goals this year is to break fewer promises to myself. I wonder if you can relate: you're taking care of yourself, but then someone asks you for something, so you immediately prioritize them over what you need (because you can totally pick up where you left off... right?)

Find that balance as best you can so you don't lose yourself.

Remember - this line doesn't permit you to stick your head in the sand and retreat from the world, where you can come back and say, "Oh, I'm just protecting my peace like you said, Dani." It means you can still help and support, but you refuse to let others shake your space. It's a classic "put your mask on before others" trope because, and I say this most lovingly, my friend, you can only give your best when you give yourself time to rest and set healthy boundaries to reduce your fight or flight.

What does protecting your peace mean to you? It may mean prioritizing your joy to share it with others. Maybe it means examining which people bring joy or anxiety to your life and adjusting who you spend time with. It may mean reviewing your priorities, seeing what shakes your peace, and adjusting as needed.

This can still be our year to lean into what we want to achieve while also being a little more of a parent to ourselves so we can have more opportunities to allow peace and joy into our lives.

Join my Monday night IRL yoga classes!

*Update!* I will close out this Monday night yoga series at the Corydon Community Centre on April 21! We will take a short break but will be looking ahead for more opportunities to connect! (Thinking: 🌲 🌸 🥰) If you are looking to come, this is your sign!!

Looking for a new IRL option in your workout routine? Join us for Monday night slow-flow yoga! It's a great way to relieve body aches and pains, laugh with new friends, and reconnect with your breath.

Song of the Week

Thunderstruck - AC/DC

Because sometimes you need a full-on BANGER.

Thunderstruck AC/DC PREVIEW   ​

Find this song and all the others on the ​Joyful Beats playlist​ on Spotify!

Video of the Week

​We're working on our balance in 2025!​

Practicing our balance is crucial for our bodies, especially as we age. The best part is it can literally be done anywhere... including while watching TV. 😏

While you're at it, follow me on Instagram!​

Good News Wednesday

Check out the good news around the world! In our fast-paced world, it’s important to remember “the helpers.”

• The Democratic Republic of Congo is creating the Earth's largest protected tropical forest reserve! "The Congo Basin, the world's largest tropical forest carbon sink, is threatened by war, poverty and the climate crisis."
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• Solar power provided more energy than coal in the EU last year for the first time ever! Go renewable energy!
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• Sacramento, California will be home to a 'new innovative homeless campus'. The Watt Service Center and Stay Safe will help support the estimated 6,615 people experiencing homelessness in the area while keeping costs down. Estimates say it costs the city $45,000 a year for each homeless person, while this campus would cost $3,600 per person.
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• Organ donations are on the rise in the US, and one beneficiary of this is an 8-year-old girl from Maine who received a lung transplant to have a new lease (and lung) on life.
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• Looking for a ride in Las Vegas? Meet Alegna, the first all-female ride-sharing service. It was created after its founder experienced negative interactions with previous companies.
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• Doggos to the rescue! Trained therapy dogs visit hospital staff in the US to help them decrease their burnout and anxiety.
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• ​Dutch designer Bas Timmer created a "sheltersuit" - a snowsuit that converts into a warm sleeping bag to support those experiencing homelessness stay warm during the cold nights.
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• Over in Los Angeles, instead of building a new jail, they are building The Hilda L. Solis Care First Village. This hybrid facility offers permanent and temporary housing to people experiencing homelessness out of shipping containers!​
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• Thanks to a successful breeding project, the chequered skipper, a butterfly previously extinct for 50 years in England, is now thriving!​
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• The Calgary Tower recently became home to a fully functioning 6,000sq m indoor garden! It produces a variety of crops, including strawberries, kale and cucumber.
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Find more good news at Good Good Good!​

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In gratitude and thanks,