Hello and welcome to The Kid’s User Guide to a Human Life! I am so glad you are here. This seven book series and online community have been many years in the making.
Eight years ago this coming May, my husband Allan and I had just gotten married, moved across the country and started new jobs all within a month! These changes were very positive, but we were still overwhelmed with the amount of change in such a short period of time. So at the end of our first month in our new home, we decided to get away and unwind on a weekend camping trip.
During a long hike on our trip, Allan started to share how he was feeling dizzy some days. He feared he was having some neurological troubles. We agreed to get it checked out by a doctor when we got home. But after further talk, it seemed to both of us that the dizziness was a symptom of anxiety and stress.
This led us to start talking about how much information we didn’t learn as kids that could have prepared us for this human life – like how to have a clear, connected attention to the moment, or what stress is and how it effects your body, or how to work with emotions, or how to communicate and listen effectively or how to really care for your body through nutrition, exercise, hydration, and sleep. I mean we had gym class where we threw balls at one another, but that was essentially it!
We started talking about how great a series of informative books would be for kids (and inner kids) on how to live this human life with health, joy and awareness. We imagined them illustrated with artful, inspiring images and an online component where like-minded kids, parents, teachers and counselors could come together and share what they knew about living a healthy human life. And so The Kid’s User Guide to a Human Life series was born!
I look forward to sharing with you what I have learned over the last twenty years. My studies have led me through an undergraduate degree in movement and expression, trainings in somatic therapy, certifications in yoga, studies in mindfulness meditation, and a Ph.D. in nutrition. I’m still learning each and every day how to be well, how to let go of the little things, how to stay connected to the mystery of each moment and how to work mindfully with my own emotions and relationships. It really is quite the adventure!
And most importantly, I look forward to getting to know YOU and learning how you find peace, joy and wellness. I’m grateful and honored that you’ve decided to join me on this adventure of living a mindful and present human life!
April 9, 2014 at 6:21 pm
This sounds awesome!!
April 25, 2014 at 1:46 am
I love love love this!! Such valuable life lessons for our children. Wishing you all the best with this!!
April 25, 2014 at 1:51 am
Thanks Val! Same to you!!
April 25, 2014 at 6:38 am
Nice reading about you
Thanks for visiting my blog. Be in touch. Browse through the category sections, I feel you may find something of your interest.
May 3, 2014 at 1:29 am
Will do…thank you!
April 26, 2014 at 7:31 pm
If my mother had had this maybe I wouldn’t be the stressed out workaholic that I am…but it’s never too late for change. Forget the kids, Im reading it for myself!!!
April 27, 2014 at 1:11 pm
That is one of my secret wishes for the blog and series 😉
April 30, 2014 at 6:17 pm
Wonderful idea for a blog, thank you – so glad I came across you.
May 3, 2014 at 1:29 am
Thank you MomBox…and you too!
May 12, 2014 at 6:50 pm
What’s the reading age for this book for a child?
May 12, 2014 at 6:52 pm
Hi Christian. 9-12 yr. olds.
June 24, 2014 at 12:06 pm
Val sent me your way through a Reblog of your Soak in the Silence article. I’m a Follower now. 🙂 I am envious of your site.
June 24, 2014 at 5:51 pm
Thank you Ronovan. So glad to meet you 🙂
August 5, 2015 at 6:11 pm
Hi Rebecca,
I just found your book at Chapters this weekend as I am preparing for my Kids Summer Camp …this year it is on Mindfulness and Heart Based Emotions…and I fell inlove with your book. I have been creating courses as a way of sharing this work with adults and kids for what sounds like a similar passion.I am so happy I stumbled upon your work and I am looking forward to book two. Thank you for creating such a wonderful way to help guide children to be great adventurers in their lives. Take care, Les
August 5, 2015 at 6:19 pm
Hello Les! So glad to hear you like the book. That means so much! Your camp sounds so wonderful and very needed – keep up the good work. Book Two will be out this fall – we’ll keep you updated.