Relatively Stable

This week on Stable Roots at Relatively Stable, I bring you a series of prose poems—a departure from my usual long-form essays and an exploration of art, awe, and rediscovering creativity.In this VoiceOver of my blog post, “Art Supplies,” I reflect on the ways we sketch our lives—through words, images, and impressions. These prose poems began as fragments collected in my notebook and transformed into a tapestry of connection: between trees and storms, vultures and planes, stars and constellations.I

Instinct vs. ReasonThe Intersection of Faith and Science, as Told to Me by a HorseKim takes us on a journey through the turbulence of 2024, sharing insights from her farm, her work with horses, and her own internal landscape. Against the backdrop of Hurricane Helene’s aftermath, shifting seasons, and the inexplicable cycles of nature, this episode delves into the intersection of faith and science, what it means to rediscover awe and art in our forgotten memories -- and why this is so important to

The Ghost of Christmas PresentFinding richness in the unseenYou can find the full text of this week's blog along with photos and more information at Stable Roots.CHRISTMAS PRESENTSIn this week’s blog, I’m sharing three views of the holidays and how the present, our presence, and the prescience of the unseen work together to weave a web of connection in the world.Want to help people rebuild their lives after the devastation of Hurricane Helene? Here are ways to help:Here are links to ways you can

Podcasts are, by their essence, containers of stories so these announcements are a fitting share for the theme of my writings this week:It was a week of deep conversations and connections, sitting down with cups of tea, and listening to wise women. It was an honor to share a table and a microphone with them all. Listen to their words and join the richness. You can also find these episodes on all your favorite podcast platforms:* The Confident Rider Podcast with Jane Pike: Christmas Conversation with

The risk of living an ungenerous life is far greater than the risk of being scammed.Tamar RenoWith an academic background in Native American Studies focusing on language revitalization, Tamar has taught at a tribal college, developed curriculum for universities and cultural centers, and collaborated on language immersion programs. She has also worked extensively in the nonprofit sector.She and her husband John live at Bear Creek Farm, on the aboriginal hunting grounds of the Cherokee, near Tryon,

It’s the season of giving, so there’s no better time to talk about generosity — our drives, our judgements, our stories, and everything in between. This week I will dive into what happens in our brains when we’re being generous. I will talk about why people still need help in Western North Carolina after Hurricane Helene even though millions of dollars in aid have flooded the region. And finally, I will give you a list of individuals and small farms that need your help today. Tomorrow’s needs will

You can now access me reading these weekly posts to you from the Relatively Stable podcast feed, available here and on all your favorite players: Apple, Spotify, and YouTube.Christopher and I arrived on the Big Island of Hawaii in the middle of the night after a day of flights and near-misses. When we finally secured a car and buckled in, we followed the volcanic mountain elevation down to the coast from the airport to the city to roads we couldn’t find by GPS. On the drive to the apartment that

Show Notes:Welcome to the first episode of Relatively Stable! In this inaugural episode, I sit down with Sarah Farris, my co-trainer at Bramblewood Stables and someone I’m privileged to work beside every day. While this podcast is often about horses, it’s really about so much more—life, resilience, and the connections that ground us.In this podcast, we delve into the journeys of those who have faced challenges, uncovered their passions, and discovered resilience along the way. Whether you're here