(I would add “right now,” but maybe it’s always loud? I feel like I have no perspective.)
Maybe you feel it too, the sense that everything is competing for your attention at once.
I’ve been thinking about this a lot, partly because I just sent my new book out into that noise, and partly because I’m just trying to keep my head on straight like everybody else. Trying to remember what’s important.
One thing that’s really helping me cut through all the noise lately is connection, and I love that Substack feels like a place where we can genuinely connect.
With connection in mind, I’m trying something new with today’s post.
Most of you know me as a children’s book (and now grown-up book) author, mindfulness expert, and recording artist. I am (and love being) all those things, but I’m also a mom of three and a business owner and a person just muddling through some days.
I wanted to share a bit about what’s happening for me between the beats 🎶 and the books 📚…
What I’ve been up to (behind-the-scenes on the book launch, a teacher training in NYC, and traveling with my band)
What’s keeping me centered right now (it’s small, it’s life-giving, and it still feels really hard to do)
Something I’m sitting with (because even when you’re an expert, you never really have it all figured out, and that’s okay)
What’s coming up (new kids’ books, anyone?)
And a quick recommendation (tea lovers 🫖 this one’s for you!)
If you like today’s format, I’d love to hear from you in the comments! Question for you at the end…
After quite a while of living in a cave (not really, but you know what I mean) writing, editing, and doing all the behind-the-scenes work of making a book happen, I’ve been doing more live events recently, and I love them so much.
Last week, I led a Calm Your Classroom teacher training in New York City. The dedication and care of early childhood teachers will never not amaze me. These open-hearted educators kept saying, their strong feelings apparent on their faces, how hard it is to keep concepts like “free play” and “unstructured time” alive in a world (and a city) that’s go-go-go, and where parents are often focused on the next step, the right primary school, the best of everything for their kids. Their days are so structured that even the littlest ones are booked solid with activities and lessons.
One seasoned teacher said sadly,
“They don’t know how to play.”
(Basically, why I wrote The Joyful Child.)
So it was a bit heartbreaking in that way, but also hugely inspiring, because here’s a room full of people spending hours with me learning how to bring mindful practices grounded in movement and music into these children’s lives. (And it was fun, because I always make teacher professional development fun.)
Tomorrow I head out on a road trip to upstate NY with my band to visit two schools and perform Rockin’ Yoga assemblies for hundreds of children and staff. These are an absolute blast. Getting a massive group of students and teachers in a gym singing, dancing, clapping, and breathing? The best.
And, of course, my new book is out in the world. After a few years of writing, rewriting, and pouring everything I know about kids and joy and self-awareness and connection into those pages, it’s on shelves and finding its readers. Cutting through the aforementioned noise is no joke, but I’m hearing beautiful things from actual families using it, and I know it’s helping them.
My morning walk. Specifically: going on my morning walk before I do anything else.
For me, WAY easier said than done.
Here’s what happens just about every morning: I think, I’ll just check email quick and see if there’s anything urgent, then I’ll go. Or, I’ll just throw in this load of laundry to get it started, or…(fill in the blank with any of the million things involved in managing a household and running a business.) And then I look up, and it’s two hours later; I’ve been sitting in my workout clothes at my laptop, and I feel like a deflated balloon, and the walk feels like a chore.
But on the days I go first, it’s become clear that my whole day goes better. My energy is steadier, and my brain works mostly like it’s supposed to.
It sounds so simple. It actually is so simple. And yet I have to work at it every day.
Some tricks I use:
Lay out every single item of clothing the night before, in the most obvious spot imaginable.
Check the weather.
Know where my AirPods are.
Put a sticky note on my laptop that says “NOPE.”
Have a plan for a quick bite before heading out (half a banana with peanut butter or some such). Walking hungry means I’ll turn around pretty quickly.
I spend a lot of time talking to teachers and parents about small, consistent, mindful habits.
Still practicing over here.
If you are a human person with a pulse, you probably wrestle to some extent with screen time, either for yourself, for your kids, or both.
I believe strongly—and spend a lot of time and energy talking about—the importance of getting kids outside, of free play, of the importance of neurological downtime and full presence.
And yet: I am very online. Not because I necessarily want to be, but because 64k parents and teachers follow me on Instagram, and that’s where I can reach a lot of people. If I could go sit in living rooms and talk with parents one-on-one, I would do that every day. But I can’t.
So basically, I show up on a screen to talk about putting down screens. Yes, I hear it.
Also, there are great parts of being online. I get to connect with tons of incredible people from all over the world and share my songs and my books and my ideas. (And how else would I learn what order to apply my skincare or how to blend silken tofu into my spaghetti sauce?)
I haven’t figured this one out.
I think the point here is to keep paying attention. (Um, wait, that’s the definition of mindfulness.) To notice the push/pull, and to make conscious choices about where my time and energy go.
Intention beats autopilot.
Launch events, and lots of podcast interviews for the new book (I unexpectedly love these. Meeting the coolest people). Writing new music, singing in the Lehigh University chorale, planning some big in person events for later this year and next spring. And of course wondering what the Instagram algorithm will do this week.
I’m working on not one, but TWO new children’s books! Yahoo!
And building this community. I have to be honest: I resisted setting up shop here on Substack. But now that I’m here, I truly feel like it’s the place online where I can be the most me.
I’m genuinely excited about what’s ahead. Thank you so much for reading. I’m really glad you’re here!
QUESTION FOR YOU: What’s your version of the morning walk—the thing keeping you centered right now? Is there something that changes your whole day when you do it first? I’d love to know! Share it in the comments so we can all get some fresh ideas. 🫶🏻
Are you a tea person? Ooh, I have a great rec: Mystic Mint from the brand Rishi. It’s peppermint tea all dressed up, with cardamom, licorice root, basil and clove leaf oils. For me it needs no sweetener, it just makes the loveliest cup for an afternoon break or evening wind down. (I get no kickbacks, I just really like it.) So good.
Kira
PS - The Joyful Child is available now, and it’s packed with kid-friendly practices for mindful self-awareness, plus simple, truly doable strategies to keep your cool when things go off the rails. Get your copy right here.
PPS - Want to bring me to your school for PD or a Rockin’ Yoga assembly? Let’s talk! Reach out at info@kirawilley.com.
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