Break the Script: Stop Saying, “How Are You?”
1. Break the SCRIPT! For the love of all things holy, I am trying to stop asking, “How Are You?”. Why? Because it elicits robotic responses (usually) and messes up my connecting process. Instead, I am trying to ask something jazzier or different.
Here are a few options I am working with:
What’s happened so far today that was good?
How’s Scorpion season for you, thus far? (or fill in the blank what astrologic sign we are in!)
Tell me something that left you in AWE this week….
These sorts of questions ask a bit more of the person you are interacting with—they have to briefly go back and search their memory banks for an answer…and that forges a deeper connection. This will be fun!
2. FOSTER Connection with Texts. I learned this one from that cute little bird app called FINCH (an app for self-care). One of the things my little finch reminds me to do is to send a connecting message to somebody each day.
For today, l was standing in the ICU waiting room to visit a friend and noticed another friend’s name on the wall as a donor. I messaged her and thanked her for helping to build such a sunny and wonderful waiting room…how much that meant to me. Doing daily texts of appreciation builds connection!
3. Spend Time With ORIGINAL Art. It matters!
“Enjoying original works of art in a gallery can relieve stress, reduce the risk of heart disease and boost your immune system, according to the first study of its kind.
Researchers measured the physiological responses of participants while viewing masterpieces by world-renowned artists including Manet, Van Gogh and Gauguin in a gallery.
They found that art positively influences the immune, hormone and nervous systems all at once – something never previously recorded. The findings suggest that seeing original art not only moves people emotionally, but also calms the body and promotes health and wellbeing.
The study, involving 50 people, had half of them view original artwork, while the other half looked at copies of the same paintings in a non-gallery environment.
From these samples, researchers found that levels of the stress hormone cortisol fell by an average of 22% among those viewing original art, compared with just 8% looking at reproductions.
“The fact that viewing original art lowered these markers suggests that cultural experiences may play a real role in protecting both mind and body,” said Dr Tony Woods, a researcher.”
Visit a museum as a healing meditation!
The art in my own home speaks to me DAILY! I feel so grateful to it…for the grounding it provides. You can see some of my original art here!
4. Spiritual Advice for Today: (a new experiment for me to offer you this week! Please let me know what you think….)
Allow yourself to be led. Stay gentle. Be devoted to your own path. Don’t strive to influence or force. Accept life on life’s terms and be modest.
5. Invite Some Poetry Loving Friends Who Can Keep Death Close Over to Watch this! It’s on Apple TV which can join for a month and quit.
It is SO beautiful.
How the Worst Day of My Life Became the Best
Andrea Gibson1975 –2025
When I realized the storm
was inevitable, I made it
my medicine.
Took two snowflakes
on the tongue in the morning,
two snowflakes on the tongue
by noon.
There were no side effects.
Only sound effects. Reverb
added to my lifespan,
an echo that asked—
What part of your life’s record is skipping?
What wound is on repeat?
Have you done everything you can
to break out of that groove?
By nighttime, I was intimate
with the difference
between tying my laces
and tuning the string section
of my shoes, made a symphony of walking
away from everything that did not
want my life to sing.
Felt a love for myself so consistent
metronomes tried to copyright my heartbeat.
Finally understood I am the conductor
of my own life, and will be even after I die.
I, like the trees, will decide what I become:
Porch swing? Church pew?
An envelope that must be licked to be closed?
Kinky choice, but I didn’t close.
I opened and opened
until I could imagine that the pain
was the sensation of my spirit
not breaking,
that my mind was a parachute
that could always open
in time,
that I could wear my heart
on my sleeve and never grow
out of that shirt.
That every falling leaf is a tiny kite
with a string too small to see, held
by the part of me in charge
of making beauty
out of grief.
From You Better Be Lightning (Button Poetry, 2021) by Andrea Gibson. Copyright © 2021 Andrea Gibson.
If you’re longing for support in the form of coaching, healing work or shamanic mentoring- you can book that here.
The more resourced we are the better we do!
much love,
Sarah
P.S.
I just dropped a bunch of small pieces, restocked greeting cards, books and card decks to ALT Creative in Duluth which is a magical place!
They are located right net to Gear Exchange on 4th street!
508 East 4th Street in Duluth, MN
(Tap on image below for a quick TOUR)
Dreams come true!
My art is NOW available at @jewelweed.shop in their NEW Excelsior, MN location! If you see a painting above that you love- feel free to contact them- they ship!
952-476-7631
Plan a visit soon to stroll this quaint + lovely downtown and get all the goodness- flower essences, wonderful books, crystals, and SO MUCH MORE! I’ll be teaching a workshop there July 13-you can contact them to see if spots remain! See a short video tour of my visit here.
(these are the pockets sized Creative Soul Retrieval Books we will be making!)
Local friends! I’ll be teaching at @duluth folk school in January 2026! Would love to create with you! You can register here for Creative Soul Retrieval!
