Stitching Your Sanity Quilt

 

April 5, 2026 Regenerate Your World  Build the future you want to live in. I know these times aren't the easiest for all of us, but I am an optimist - I see the glass as refillable instead of half-full or half-empty. To brighten up your days, I publish the Regenerate Your World newsletter coming to your inbox on a bi-weekly basis. Let's Get Empowered!

Stitching Your Sanity Quilt A cozy room at a B&B in Vermont. I was taken by surprise by having a moose in the room! Even the mightiest among need a place to rest. What's holding you together these days? Greetings, Empowered Reader, During a recent stay at a charming B&B in Vermont, I was greeted by an unexpected roommate, a stuffed moose, perched right there on the quilt. I laughed out loud. And then I thought: of course, there's a moose on the quilt. Because lately, life keeps reminding me that the most delightful things are the ones we never planned for. That little moment is exactly what today's newsletter is about. Drawing from the wisdom of author, coach, and sociologist Martha Beck, we're exploring how to build what she calls a "sanity quilt", a patchwork made of small joys, beloved people, and the places that truly support you. Ready to start stitching? Let's dive in. Let’s talk about quilting. I myself am not a quilter; however, I have friends and family members who quilt, and I admire their handiwork.  If you think about it, life is a lot like a quilt. We each stitch together activities, work roles, relationships, and favorite spaces, often following tried-and-true patterns handed down to us: loyal employee, perfect parent, good citizen, or all of the above. For many, those patterns work well enough. For others, they might feel limited. But here’s a twist, in my observation, quilters have two ways to work. Some follow patterns, carefully matching and trimming the fabric so every piece fits the plan. Others make what’s known as a “crazy quilt” ( not my preferred terminology): gathering scraps that catch their eye, stitching them together by color or feel, creating something unique, beautiful because it reflects what delights them, not what’s prescribed. I learned about the approach from Martha Beck; she and I prefer to call it a “sanity quilt.” When you break out of patterns that don’t please you and start piecing together a life from activities, people, and places that bring you joy, that’s not “crazy,” that’s sanity. That’s how a life begins to feel tailored to your true self. Your Empower Possible Quilt: Make It Your Own Here’s a reflection exercise to try as you design your week: Start by jotting down five things you really, truly enjoy doing. List five people you love being around,  Write five places that make you feel alive List five items of clothing that bring you comfort or joy. On a new page, write all your upcoming plans and commitments for the next few days. Now, look for matches: Where do your favorite things show up in your schedule? Where could you add a patch, maybe a walk in a place you love, a quick call to a friend, or wearing that favorite scarf to a routine meeting? Every time you intentionally include one of your top fives, people, places, activities, or comforts, your week (and your life quilt) becomes warmer, more vibrant, and more resilient. Tips for Stitching in Joy Add small joys to your day, bit by bit, wear those fuzzy slippers in the morning or share a thoughtful text with someone you care about. Step outside for five minutes, curl up in your favorite chair with tea, or savor music, a page of an inspiring book, or a quick sketch. Build up your “life quilt” patch by patch. Keep each new “patch” for about four days before adding another. It quickly feels like a natural (and rewarding) part of your life, just like quilting a beautiful piece into your sanity quilt. Over time, your days and eventually your years can shift to better reflect your real passions and strengths. You don’t have to follow anyone else’s pattern. The quilt you create is uniquely yours. Reflection Questions Ask yourself: Which favorite people, places, activities, or comforts show up in your schedule and which are missing? What’s one small change you could try this week to bring more of your favorite fives into your routine? How could these joy-filled choices help you feel more authentic, grounded, or energized, especially during times of change? Your Affirmation “I honor my unique patchwork of connections, comforts, and joys. Every intentional choice helps me stitch a life that feels true and abundant.” Carry These Practices Forward As you complete our seven-day journey, meeting anxiety with kindness, sparking imagination, and designing daily moments of joy, remember that every breath, every creative act, and each chosen connection helps you return to peace and well-being. Treat these practices as patches in your own sanity quilt, weaving them into your daily life. What’s the biggest shift you’ve noticed in yourself, or the practice you most want to carry forward? Share your reflections with me via email, info@empowerpossible.com  A special thanks to Martha Beck, who was the inspiration for this newsletter. Take care, dear reader,  Julie Zaruba Fountaine  Founder, Empower Possible A "joy patch" moment — a trip to Cafe Aqui in Rochester, MN.  Was this newsletter forwarded to you? Click here to get your own subscription. Scan the QR Code to sign up to be notified when the next Mountain 10 workshop is offered.  What is Mountain 10?                                                                                                                                                         During this three-hour workshop, we will focus on accessing your inner wisdom to bring about the changes you deeply desire in your life. We will use the Mountain 10 process, a proven, new technology for deep reflection on human change. It is based on the conviction that every person has the most important answers about direction, purpose, and calling within them. This directed reflection process leads you through four terrains of exploration, stopping at points on the journey to consider key questions about awareness, letting go, vision and realization. The terrains of your journey will take you into deeper observation of your feelings, thoughts, and images. You will explore what you need to let go of as you truly seek what you really want. We will open a space for a new vision and consider the practical steps to actualize that vision. We will deepen our insights in small circles of trust. Journaling and guided reflection will be used throughout the journey. Summer Day By Mary Oliver As you carry these practices forward, I'll leave you with the question Mary Oliver poses at the end of her poem The Summer Day — a question worth sitting with as you design your week: "Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?" (Read the full poem at poets.org)

Kind Words from a Coaching Client A special thanks to one of my coaching clients for sharing a few kind words about her coaching experience. In The Media Where can you find EMPOWER Possible? Besides posting on my own social media I also collaborate with other entrepreneurs.  Thank you to Jessica Osborn for hosting me on your podcast in April. Below is the episode description.  Feeling the burden of non-stop hustle? We've all been there—caught in the to-dos, trying to keep the burnout at bay while chasing success the way we've been told you have to - working longer and harder than anyone else. Well, what if you DON'T have to do it that way?For every story of hard work and grind ... there's another story of reaching success by working LESS! Why do we seem to tune into the ones that tell you success is the result of sleeping very little and spending all your time chasing goals? Even if you take a moment to think about this - it makes no sense at all! You already know you're much more productive when you're energized and highly focused. That means your brains need sleep, rest and space. Short bursts of work where you can focus on the important things. So... it's time to talk boundaries, joy, and finding your stride in the rush of work-life challenges. By pressing play on this episode you'll discover: - Why we often find ourselves struggling to utter the simple word "no," and how it impacts our path to joyful success - What signs scream "it's time to move on" from your job and craft the role that truly aligns with you? - The absolute value of self-awareness in writing your own story of personal and professional triumph. - How can setting boundaries revolutionize the way you work, live, and maintain a sense of self? Click HERE to check out the podcast Interested in catching up on our previous podcast episodes? We invite you to explore our library of past recordings, where we delve into a diverse range of topics related to happiness and well-being. https://empowerpossible.com/podcasts/

Connect with me on social media! Copyright © EMPOWER Possible  Northfield, United States EMPOWER Possible is dedicated to empowering individuals, organizations, and communities to organize and act together to regenerate our world through Self, Social, and Systems transformation.  info@empowerpossible.com \ Website \ Mission You are receiving this email because you expressed an interest in my work—thank you! You can change your email preferences or unsubscribe at any time.  Disclaimer: This newsletter contains content that has been modified and inspired by ChatGPT, an AI language model developed by OpenAI. While we use ChatGPT to enhance our content, it should not be considered professional advice. For specific concerns or decisions, please consult with a qualified professional or trusted source. The newsletter authors are not responsible for any actions taken based on the information provided by or inspired by ChatGPT.