Thanksgiving now and then…

On this episode of Grace Notes and Messy Chords, the host announces the eight-week Habit Lab starting December 5 and shares a personal experiment: eating meals at the dining table instead of the couch. She invites listeners to join her and reflects on how small habit shifts can create presence, better digestion, and deeper connection.

The episode emphasizes curiosity over perfection, playful community check-ins, and simple, sustainable habit choices — with an open invitation to join the Habit Lab and try a gentle, meaningful change this season.

After a hysterectomy, Emily shares how her surgeon’s warmth, humor, and a surprise Taylor Swift playlist turned a scary day into a comforting, human experience.

From hand-holding and pre-op conversations to a gifted lavender candle, the episode celebrates small acts of empathy that make healing feel whole.

On a cool morning in Florida, a quiet moment with sandhill cranes led to a reflection on connection, music, and legacy.

In an Inner Chords workshop we explored legacy musicians like the Beatles and the power of three-word mantras—Let it be, You are enough—to ground, comfort, and guide us through change.

After an abrupt goodbye and the heaviness of losing her support role at Weight Watchers, Emily finds comfort and grounding in small, nourishing rituals—most notably cooking her mother’s apricot chicken. Through memories, music, walks, and community, she reflects on how gentle actions can help us move forward.

She also shares gratitude for her coaching collective, Birch and Stone, and invites listeners to join her in leaning into the simple things that remind us we’re still here, growing and becoming.