The June 2025 Edit
candle gazing, my new favorite pants, & asking for referrals
Helllllllo friends!
I am writing this in my bed, heating pad cranked up all the way, as I reflect on this past month.
June will forever be marked by the distinct memory of my body bent at a 120-degree angle for days—thanks to the repetitive twisting required to fulfill approximately 10,985 child requests from the passenger seat during our 10-day trip to the South.
Back problems are no stranger to this body, but nothing humbles you quite like the sudden, full-stop incapacity of a 42-year-old mom’s back giving out.
I have two exciting announcements for July!
I’m hosting two Substack LIVES this month, and I cannot wait to share these conversations with you.
The first is with Dr. Patrick Fox at 12PM PST on July 10th. We’ll be diving deep into the gut-hormone-skin connection and getting all of his best tips for supporting skin health from the inside out.
The second is with Tarielle Thomasco, founder of Innervrse. We’ll explore the mechanisms behind microdosing psilocybin, how it can support mental health, sobriety, and so much more. This conversation will take place at 12PM PST on July 17th.
Mark your calendars! Both of these will be chatty, informative, and super fun. If you can’t join live, I plan to share the recordings afterward—technology willing.
And now, without further ado, here are some of my favorite discoveries and moments from June, using the six pillars of The Recipe for Being Well as my guide.
The Emotional:
I recently discovered my favorite n/a beverage of all time: Parche. The desert margarita blows my mind and I am looking forward to trying the spiced piñarita. The past few months, I have attended many large gatherings where I would previously have had a full security glass of “something” alcoholic in hand the entire night. After discovering this canned mocktail (and of course, these), I did not miss my wine one bit.
The novel, Sandwich, is the Summer read you didn’t know you needed. The plot is a woman navigating middle age, her changing body, and family dynamics during a week filled with both joy and hidden tensions — an all too familiar situation. I read this book in mere hours, and finished feeling better for it.
The Physical:
The Summer recipes coming are SO GOOD. It is hard for me to profess something when there could be criticism, but when I think back to how I cook, my POV, and the unbiased truth — I really like what has been coming out of my brain and kitchen recently.
When I was in Nashville, I got some Imogen and Willie chore pants that I have been wearing during the inaugural Seattle June gloom. They are indeed comfy, fashionable to me, and functional — the ultimate trifecta.
In addition to picking up these chore pants, after 25 years in Seattle, I finally purchased a lightweight rain coat that doesn’t double as my Winter coat. Nashville was calling for rain, and ironically, I had nothing to wick water from my clothing. The price is good, the quality is good, and the fit is perfect.
I re-visted this vegan Caesar recipe this month, and forgot how absolutely delicious it is. Roasted chickpeas FTW every time.
The Spiritual:
I was recently introduced to the spiritual technique of trataka - a meditation technique where you gaze for long periods at a candle flame.
To practice: Sit comfortably with a straight spine in a quiet, dimly lit space, placing a candle at eye level about 2–3 feet in front of you. Soften your gaze and fix your eyes on the tip of the flame, focusing without blinking for as long as comfortable, but without straining. When your eyes begin to water or feel fatigued, gently close them and bring the image of the flame into your mind’s eye, focusing on it at the space between your eyebrows (aka: your third eye). Hold the visualization as long as it remains clear, then either rest or repeat the process for 2–3 rounds. When finished, rub your palms together to generate warmth and gently cup them over your eyes before resting in stillness for a few breaths to complete the practice.
The Vocational:
I’ve recently been working on updating my LinkedIn and making more connections in fields that actually feel relevant to me. I have a few coaching clients who are polishing their resumes and applying for jobs in this market drought, and—even though the cobbler always has holes in her shoes—I decided it was time to take some aligned action myself.
So far, I have mixed feelings. The goal is to find more coaching clients and connect with people in industries where this kind of support is actually needed. But instead, it feels… dare I say, salesy? Platform-y. Less about true connection, and more about optics. What are your opinions on LinkedIn?
Honestly, Substack still feels like the only social platform that offers a sense of community I actually want to engage with—and that feels sustainable and aligned with my core values. THANK YOU for each and every one of you that reads my work, and engages with me.
The Relational:
I recently asked myself the question, “Is it okay to ask friends, past clients, and current clients for referrals?”
Even just asking that question privately, in the quiet of my own brain, stirred up my anxious, vulnerable, and imposter parts. They chimed in with things like, “If someone hasn’t naturally referred you, maybe it’s because you didn’t make an impression… or they didn’t value the work you did together.”
Or, “Yikes. Asking for a referral feels cringey. Do you really want to put yourself out there like that? If you were actually meant to do this, wouldn’t clients just come to you without needing to ask?”
After getting over myself (mostly), I advised myself that “you cannot hear a YES unless you ask”. It’s exactly what I’d tell anyone else in the same situation.
So here’s a little unsolicited advice:
Feeling fear, uncertainty, and doubt is completely normal when making a big career leap. Visibility can feel really exposing.
It is absolutely okay (and actually really smart), to ask clients for referrals, or to ask someone at a company to pass along your resume. In fact, it’s one of the most natural and effective ways to network—especially in this economy.
The Authentic Self:
I heard this quote the other day, and it felt relevant to me at this juncture of my life.
"The universe whispers until it screams”.
Have you ever felt like the universe was trying to tell you something politely… until it had to get a little more aggressive to get your attention? Yep, me too.
I had one of those moments listening to this podcast—a perfectly timed message I’d been hearing over and over again, but this time, it landed differently. It actually penetrated.
Until next time,
KBW
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