Howdy, friend!
1. I hope Aries season is treating you well! Personally, I am feeling GOOD – mostly thanks to a few things I’ve been practicing lately:
- Looking at the sun and journaling before checking my phone
- No social media before 9 am
- Pilates classes on Youtube (I love Isa Welly’s videos)
- Birdwatching and using a thrifted book to ID them
- Getting outside every day (here’s how I do it)
- Listening to optimistic podcasts
- Calling my representatives to demand they protect the things I care about (I use 5 Calls)
- Reading library books
- Long neighborhood walks
- Dancing around my house to the band I’ve been hyperfixated on
- Acting with compassion
- Cleaning out my closets
The best part? Every single thing on this list is FREE! If you’re in need of a little mood boost, pick one (or more) to practice this week!
2. Since we last spoke, Dom and I have gone on a backpacking trip! We spent a night out in the Superstition Wilderness, and it was absolutely perfect. We even had a little bit of desert rain!
3. I’ve also been updating the blog on my website – if you’re ever looking for gear recs or Arizona hiking/travel ideas, here are a few posts you might like:
- Backpacking Gear (for people who like to be comfortable)
- How To Spend a Weekend in Sedona, Arizona
- My Beginner Mountain Biking Journey (+ All the Gear I Use)
- How To Host A Gear Swap
4. This week, I’m getting ready for what might be my last desert backpacking trip of the season, our backyard remodel (we break ground tomorrow!), and my 32nd birthday!
5. And speaking of birthdays… I love buying myself birthday gifts! Normally, I’m a super mindful shopper – I don’t struggle with impulse buying, and I always try to be a conscious consumer. But in April? I go full Taurus and treat myself to everything that’s been sitting on my wishlist since last year.
I wanted to share what I’ve gifted myself so far:
- Dieux Forever Eye Masks – Marketed as “the last eye masks you’ll ever buy.” I won’t lie, you could probably DIY these for a fraction of the cost… I fear I got “got” on this one, haha.
- Bumble and Bumble Curl Defining Hair Mousse – My holy grail hair product. One can lasted me a whole year!
- Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL2 Tent – An ultralight backpacking tent that’s been on my wishlist for years. My current tent broke (twice) and got a giant rip on my last trip, so it was time for an upgrade.
- Sunglasses – I’ve been wearing these round Madewell sunglasses since my 28th birthday! I’m ready for something funkier! Still browsing Poshmark – stay tuned.
6. I don’t know if it’s the weather, what I’ve been working on in therapy, or just the list I shared above, but I’ve been feeling very grounded and at peace. I genuinely believe that my mindset creates my reality – here are my current mantras:
“I’m so grateful.”
“How can it get any better than this?”
And the wild thing is… the Universe seems to be listening. It keeps showing me just how much better it can get!!
7. I mentioned “acting with compassion” on my feel-good list, and I wanted to talk about it more.
Acting with compassion is… hard. Honestly, it’s one of the hardest things I’ve ever practiced.
Here’s an example from work (as you know, I’m a full-time content creator):
Let’s say I get a mean comment. A few weeks ago, I’d immediately think:
“What a sad and pathetic loser—to say something so cruel to a stranger… and behind a private account, no less! F*ck them!”
It would trigger my ego, get me all worked up, and eventually leave me feeling angry, then sad, then questioning if everyone thinks those things about me.
But now, I pause and ask myself:
“What might this person be going through to act like that?”
“They must be hurting. Maybe they don’t have anyone they trust. Maybe they don’t know how to process their emotions.”
Responding with compassion doesn’t mean excusing the behavior – it means choosing to stay loving, grounded, and human. And it’s been a huge game-changer for me because it reminds me that we’re all connected.
When I respond with compassion instead of reacting from ego, I send a different kind of energy into the collective consciousness – one that says, “I see your humanity and I love you.. even if you’re hurting.” That shift, even when it’s small, feels powerful. And healing. For both of us!
8.
9. Well – I hope you enjoyed a peek at what’s happening inside my brain! I’m grateful it’s been a kinder place to be lately. I’m also so grateful to everyone who came to my third-annual Gear Swap last weekend! And to YOU for subscribing to this newsletter!
10. I absolutely love hearing from you, so please know you can always respond to this newsletter or send me a message on Instagram!
Oh, and if you’re wondering what to get me for my birthday, please call your state’s representatives and demand they protect our national forests from unregulated logging!
Sending love! Jacey
(and Kelso + Toasty 🐱)
Jacey Out West
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