September's Sweetness (TBD 9.26)

Hi, Friends -

Dr. Rob here.

Welcome to September's sweetness.

Autumn in Vermont's Mad River Valley sweeps in slowly - the disappearance of the hermit thrush's haunting liminal calls by mid month, the hoppers' melodious grassy churring come evenings, the sumac ripening reddish orange, glowing in the crispness of each misty dawn managing to give way to sun - all remind us here that High Summer is passing Nature's beautiful baton on to Autumn, in all of its spectacular glory.

Good fortune found me here all August in our Vermont Shire soaking up summer, punctuated by 2 x two day inspiring adventures to Atlanta, Georgia and New York’s Catskill mountains.

Down in steamy "Hot'lanta," I spent an inspiring morning breathing with the whole team at Extra Special People ( ESP), a nonprofit organization devoted to "creating transformative experiences for people with disabilities and their families." ESP's theme for 2027 is to "Breathe," with an organizational call to "inhale Strength and exhale Excellence." As I flew back home to Burlington on a late night plane, I found myself wondering what might happen if every organization adopted ESP's commitment to the power of the Breath - what a wonderful world it would be.

August's end found me in New York's Catskill mountains at the annual HOOT! summer music festival, held at the legendary Ashokan Center, a Team Human musical HQ if ever there was one. The entire HOOT! team, shepherded by husband and wife Mammals band co-founders Ruthie Ungar and Mike Merenda, have curated for 14 years a spectacular weekend of live music, dancing, crafting, and artistic musical performances, creating an intimate and inspirational immersive experience where all feel welcome, including me, as the TBD cold plunge coach and main stage breath guide to help kick off the Sunday morning festivities. Don't miss the HOOT! - I've already added it to my calendar for summer 2027.

With all the existential chatter about "Artificial Intelligence" and all things Digital, both ESP and the HOOT! remind me of the power of Team Human to conspire together, with Nature, to author our own Stories in the flesh-and-blood spirit-filled company of one another.

Coming up this September?

I still have a few spots open for our online "12 BREATHS: A User's Guide" 4 week course beginning this Wednesday 9/2, and I am excited to be co-hosting our first-ever four day Vermont Vitality Retreat right here in the Mad River Valley with new neighbors and dear friends Vince and Leah Perlman of Welcoming Way.

Under the Hubbub of the Digital, Nature quietly speaks to us.

Through the Dark. 🌖

In the Light. ☀️

Up, from the Earth. 🦶

Down, from the Sky. ☁️

Inside, via the Water.💦

Outside, in Flow, each of us, 20,000 + breaths daily. with all other living and breathing creatures.

“As we Breathe, so we Become.”

Enjoy September's sweetness,

Rob

And before you go, here is an autumnal taste of "12 BREATHS: A Users Guide" - ->the 5 Tibetan rites (T5T).