Why I Started Design, Dinks & Downward Dogs

Bath time!

Some days I wake up ready for everything; yoga, pickleball, sound baths, even reorganizing a drawer just to feel accomplished.

And other days… nothing. Not sad. Not overwhelmed. Just flat.

When I stepped away from full‑time work, I didn’t exactly retire. I threw myself into a whole new curriculum; yoga, energy courses, sound bath practice, buying bowls and chimes, and playing pickleball three to four times a week. I kept trying new things, hoping one would point me in the “right” direction.

But instead, everything felt a little scattered.
Like I had the pieces, but no big picture to guide me.

On the low‑energy days, I’d slip back into old beliefs: that productivity equals worth, that if I wasn’t doing something, I must be falling behind.

Here’s what I’m learning: unproductive days aren’t failures.
They’re part of the rhythm of this stage of life. A chance to slow down, reflect and be deliberate.

And strangely, writing has become the thing that is giving me clarity.

When I sit down to write, even a few sentences, something shifts.
My brain softens, and my motivation returns.
It’s like a journal, but one that might help others too.

And the bonus? I’m learning a whole new world of technology tools just to get my message out.

Writing reminds me:

• I am building something

• I am creating something

• I am learning something

• I am showing up, even when I feel directionless

That’s why I started Design, Dinks & Downward Dogs; a space to give shape to the messy parts, to share the honest parts, and to remind myself (and anyone reading) that we’re all still learning, still shifting, still designing a life that feels meaningful at 60, 65, and beyond.

If you’ve ever wondered, “Why can’t I get going?” or “What am I supposed to be doing now?” you’re not alone.
We’re figuring it out together, one small moment, one small movement at a time.