03 Mar Hibernating
Normalizing Rest. Are you one of the 24 Tribe Tilt members who joined since our last rest Edition 70 Sustainable You? Every 7th edition is a rest and recap edition. (Why Rest? Why Seven? answered here!) In an “always-on” world it is a 21st-century skill to pre-emptively rest before you burn out.
This edition is a bit busy for a rest edition. It makes up for the super short edition last week:
- Hibernating: In the Northern latitudes, we are coming into the lighter days, and shedding that need to hibernate. Is there value in hibernating?
- Meet a Member: Many Tilt Tribe members want to discover more about those within our community. This week we get to know Christin Chong.
- A request: “Ripples” (working title) explores the lingering effects of traveling to 16 countries over 9 months with our three children in 2004-2005. As you open this book, do you have questions you’d expect to have answered?
- This past cycle: One-stop shop. Links to editions 71-76 in publication cycle 11, including some of the comments they generated. What questions did they raise for you?
Hibernating – Nature’s call to rest
Rest. If it’s good enough for God, it’s good enough for you.
We are coming into the light. I noticed this as the birdsong woke me before my alarm this morning. This idea that I am ready to wake feels different from the need to conserve, to stay coddled and cuddled which was typical of the darker winter months. So, why do some of us gravitate towards a period of quiet and rest?
Leanne Gordon had an intriguing post on LinkedIn recently on the topic of seasons – in particular the six Noongar seasons and the second summer (Bunuru) they experience in Perth, Australia. It got me thinking about the way nature rests differently, in different hemispheres and latitudes. And the fact that regardless of where you live in this wonderful world, you will experience seasons. In the little research I have done on the topic, I find that human hibernation (or torpor) in the long dark winter months is natural and restorative.
In the Nordic, Russian, and Indigenous cultures prior to electrification, it was rare to sleep uninterrupted through the long night. Their circadian rhythms automatically adjusted to the seasons. They woke on a “night watch” between first and second sleep – a moment of calm and reflection (and other things!) It apparently releases its own endocrinology.
Interestingly, more research is being done on this topic as we explore long-distance space travel.
We are Tribe Tilt, a diverse collaborative, vocal, and supportive community that believes we can make a difference to the people and places that are precious to us. We are resources for each other. Our individual life journey can help others carve their own. As parents, educators, and guides this is also a great resource group when you are asked “What does a [Nuclear Engineer], [Agronomist], [Podcaster], [Wild life conservationist], [Futurist], [Sports Marketer], [Chaplain], … do?” Our own version of LinkedIn.
Allow me to introduce you to:
Meet a member: Christin Chong, Chaplain, Kind Camp
First, let’s all thank Christin. She is one of the first to like my newsletter when it comes out each week. Without that early support – that “being seen” – I don’t think I would have had the confidence and motivation to make it past edition 33 – particularly after preparing to be embarrassed by my BTS funnel post. (Her enthusiasm to post my funnel to all SM channels was so encouraging!) She is the reason I pay it forward by showing my support ❤️ for fellow writers’ newsletters.
That kindness is characteristic of Christin. And a reason she is currently training to be a Chaplain. Chaplaincy is not a profession many know about, so I thought I’d explore it with her.
“It’s like a nurse to a doctor — but for spiritual care instead of physical healthcare. They are found in hospitals, hospices, and prisons. They serve as a person of comfort in situations of crises. I try and turn the crisis into an opportunity. Our teacher says that our main product is prayer.”
They are also highly skilled at listening – a skill that Christin uses in her coaching practice. She also hosts Kind Camp, a self-discovery guided space where you uncover and unlock issues getting in the way of your writing practice.
“Wait. You also have a Ph.D. in Neuroscience,” I asked, wondering if one informed the other. She responded, “The Christin who pursued the neuroscience path is hell-bent on understanding the human condition and relieving us from suffering. I didn’t find all the answers with neuroscience, and am finding more incremental answers with spirituality pursuits.” It is a different approach – an AND. This blend of spirituality AND science to design exercises is what makes Kind Camp a different experience.
Here are the primary UN Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG) that drive Christin. Only three because I restricted her!
To get to know Christin better, visit her newsletter Christin’s Newsletter
Click here for previous profiles of Tilt members
- edupreneur David Dvorkin E39
- soil agronomist Sam Knowlton E37
- solopreneur Terri Lonier E48
- wildlife photographer Kathy Karn E36
- Future of Work strategist Karena de Souza E35
Can I profile you next?
“Ripples”
I am writing my second travel-related book. Working title “Ripples”. I explore the effect of taking our three children around the world for nine months in 2004-2005. If you picked up this book, what is one question you would like to have answered? [Book 1 Contours of Courageous Parenting discusses the various decisions we made along the way.]
I’m motivated by a tweet thread this week which got 6378 views, 82 likes and questions on the budget.
This past cycle:
Looking to share this newsletter with a friend? This edition gives them the gift of seven in one.
If you are looking to catch up on older editions, every 7th edition is a review of the previous cycle of seven [or hit the ‘previous’ arrow at the bottom of this post].
The editions in this past eleventh publication cycle did not fall cleanly into one category or another, but instead showed the intersection between Raising Future Ready Leaders, Future of Work, and Climate.
- E74: Liminality – where the light searches for a new way in. — Managing transition states is a key pillar of my work when discussing Future of Work. I consider it a key 21st-century skill. This discussion on Liminality also pointed to the work of other writers exploring these concepts — from a slightly different perspective. In the generosity characteristic of our tribe, those profiled or who commented write about their own experience so they can be a Wayfinder for those currently in the middle of a transition.
commented: “… it is rare that anyone talks about the need for a relationship to liminality, acknowledging the challenges inherent to transitioning. I’m really impressed this so clearly on your radar, one of your pillars for Tilt the Future.”
And this from Laila Faisal who is working on her Ph.D. on Education and Transitions: “.. basically we’re always in some sort of liminal space. They’re just not usually in the same areas of life ..” - E72: 30 years and 2.5 billion humans ago — “Maybe we would not be where we are today (as far behind as we know we are) without the Rio Summit. Maybe the Earth Summit was a loose collection of seeds (just beginning to root and shoot).” This edition debated whether Climate is a messaging problem. It generated the most activity this series. Various Tilters sent in podcasts, articles and videos that spoke to them on the topics primarily of balancing creating equity on earth while the climate collapses.
commented: I like how you are teasing things out here. It’s a fast closing window of opportunity to act … Policy makers need to act swiftly, and with good authority”
- E71: Nepal, Climate and What to Bring to Mars — “What to Bring to Mars” discusses how we raise our future-ready leaders to thrive in conditions we cannot predict. Bringing together our travel story (Nepal) and climate, it also talks about the delicate balance in traveling into remote areas of the world.
commented: “You inspire me to think bigger about the opportunities we can create with children.”
- E73: When the Muse Refuses to Speak to You — Know yourself. Plan for a dip. One of the challenges of publishing a regular newsletter is how to do it without burning out. Trial and error have led me to realize that what works for someone else doesn’t have to work for me. This includes a quick YouTube playlist on creating sustainable content.
- E76: Bumps on the Road of Life — Thanks to each of you who took the time to reach out, and join me in invisible messages of support for one of ours.
- E75: Toothbrushes, Books and the Earthquake — A collection of ideas around learning, including pre-orders for books from writers Ozan Varol and Ana Fabrega whose ideas always enthrall me.
New here? Please join our Tribe. We love the company and the curiosity.
Stay warm and healthy, everyone. I’ll see you next week.
Karena
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