We're back
Just when you thought you'd seen the last of us
Hey, what’s up, hello
It’s been awhile– nearly two years to be exact. Time flies when you are birthing children, running small businesses, and trying to self-actualize. We both have a lot to say (as per usual), and felt it was time to return to sharing some of our thoughts in the form of a newsletter. We have switched to Substack because it’s where the cool girls are, and it’s free, and we hope you stick around on this new platform. Thanks for being here.
What to expect
Now that we are ‘back’, we are going to try to send out a little update at least once per quarter, and possibly more. At this point, all content will be free! We hope to use this space as an area to give all of you updates on our respective practices, share what we are doing in our shared work (speaking engagements and the like), and give you a bit of a peek behind the curtain of our personal lives.
An update from Emma
My life looks very different, in myriad ways since the last iteration of this newsletter. I live somewhere new, I have travelled, I completed my first marathon, navigated pregnancy, ended my marriage (more on this below), and have been a mother for just over 4 months now (more on this in the future).
In other ways, my life looks much the same. So many of the key relationships I had in 2023 are still there– and stronger. I still love to read. I still love to travel. I still deeply care about my work. I still am growing and changing, and trying to find the kindest and most authentic way forward.
As a therapist, I am always toeing the line of what is appropriate to share. In many ways, my clients not knowing too much about me allows them to use me as a blank slate to get an objective perspective on things. On the other hand, I am deeply relational in my approach, and never want my clients to feel that I am not also human– imperfectly, but earnestly engaging in the messy work of self growth alongside them. I have hemmed and hawed about this, and it sometimes feels easier to navigate this than others. But, as time goes on, I do feel that it is authentic to me to share that I have left my marriage, and am pursuing the challenging, rewarding, unexpected, scary, hopeful, brave road of a coparenting situation. In so many ways, my clients gave me the courage to do this. How could I sit, week after week, with folks who I encouraged to honour their truest selves, their kindest selves, their bravest selves, their most aligned selves, and not hold myself to the same standards? The details are unimportant, and banal, but the “why” is what I feel I want to share. When I sat with the questions, “what would my 7 year old self want me to do?”, and “what would my 70 year old self want me to do?”, the path was clear: leave. Since leaving, I have found myself more capable of making aligned decisions. I am able to feel more in touch with my intuitive sense (the “knowing” Glennon Doyle so beautifully writes about in her seminal book, Untamed), in all areas of my life. Running, motherhood, friendships, and family all feel more aligned with who I am and want to be. There have undoubtedly been challenges, and a lot of hard lessons with this new path, but I am very thankful to be living this life, in this way.
With all this being said, I am curious about what areas you could make a change in your life that would move you closer to your truest, bravest self? I am certainly not suggesting that you make a life-altering decision in the way that I have, but where could you be a little bolder? A little kinder? A little more silly? What would it feel like to honour your intuition instead of doing what you ‘should’, or always have? As you reflect on this, I would urge you to write down your observations, and take note of what else changes in your life as a result.
On this note, something that I recently came to the decision about by ‘going inward’ was my decision to return to practice earlier than expected from my maternity leave. As you may know, I have opened up shifts on Fridays and Sundays until the end of December, with a view to add more times in early 2026. The response to this has been wonderful, and I urge you to prebook your appointments if you are hoping to see me before the end of the year. Listening to my gut on this has proven to be the right decision– it has been so fulfilling to be back in the clinic, seeing some of your wonderful faces and using my brain for something other than tracking wake windows. Please stay tuned for more updates as I increase hours this Winter!
Here is my link to book, if you would like to come see me.
With care,
Emma
An update from Amelia
I always have a lot to say, we know this. But for this instalment of Food & Feelings I’d like to keep my side of things brief and take a moment to honour Emma. Her ability to offer honesty, grace, and transparency during a deeply challenging time is truly unique. I may be older in years than Emma, but I can confidently say her wisdom exceeds mine. How lucky am I to walk alongside such a bright light?
While my personal life has remained a little more homeostatic than Emma’s, my work life has changed since coming back from mat leave. I am in our shared office space Monday-Thursday, and on Fridays I am working in a primary care clinic with 2 physicians. Since becoming a dietitian 11 years ago, I’ve always dreamed of working in a team-based clinic. Our medical system is far from perfect, but I feel it’s been a huge step in the right direction to have dietitians work alongside MDs. Hooray! Better patient care, better health outcomes.
Massage-wise, I’ve added hot stones to my practice and they are SO GOOD. The heat is so soothing and relaxing— chef’s kiss. When booking online for a hot stone massage, book in for your regular desired time and in the “reason for treatment” text box please write: hot stones. Then I’ll know to fire up the stone warmer (aka the crock pot) well ahead of your treatment.
I’m looking forward to this new platform and perhaps a new newsletter tone. In many ways I am still me, but since becoming a mother, things are just different. Maybe it’s realizing I really don’t know what’s going on half the time.. and this is very normal and okay, or maybe it’s that I am more self trusting than I’ve ever been.
Stay tuned, more thoughts to come, talk soon,
Amelia
Rapid fire, 5 things: Fall Edition
Emma:
What I’m wearing: Diane Keaton-core x a spit-up stain from my son (glamorous)
What I’m eating: picky bits… chips, crackers, crudités, tinned fish, olives, hummus, nuts
What I’m listening to: Florence + The Machine and Olivia Dean
What I’m reading: The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson
What I’m looking forward to: cozy plans for October– Friendsgiving, pumpkin carving, and a friend’s annual witch party
Amelia
What I’m wearing: sambas, dark denim, knitted tops, baseball caps
What I’m eating: pumpkin bread, specifically this one
What I’m listening to: The 1975
What I’m reading: Pineapple Street by Jenny Jackson
What I’m looking forward to: RVM half marathon! Let’s go!
Until next time,
Emma & Amelia