Stop giving a fuck

There’s a reason you don’t fit in when you’re truly happy, when you’re growing, when you’re being yourself. Authenticity makes people self-conscious of the masks they’ve been hiding behind. Raw joy makes people suddenly realize how often they’ve settled and how bad that hurts. Growing irritates the fuck out of people who are stagnant, people who haven’t found the courage to change. Let it be. Being accepted, making people comfortable, fitting in...it’s all so ridiculously overrated.

What I’ve found is that when you finally get to the point where you’re really okay with your choices, how other people feel about them stops mattering so much. When you’re okay with walking alone, you attract the kind of people you need to be around.

When you break the ceiling and start growing, you’re life finally takes on real meaning and the joy that comes with that is full and complete. When you take off your own mask and start living out loud (offensive as it might be to the people around you), you are reborn. In a nut shell, when you stop giving a fuck...like really and truly stop caring so much about how people feel about your life and your choices, that’s when you stop letting life just happen to you and start actually living.

Brooke Hampton

One Good Thing

Do you get frustrated because you see all the things that need to change, but you can’t seem to change them fast enough? Yea, me too. You’re moving and growing and learning and with that comes a desire to upgrade. You wake up and get inspired and want to rewire your brain, and break all your family curses before noon...hah! 

First off: Good on you!! Being able to see the areas in your life that require an upgrade is such a gift. So many of us will go our whole lives completely blind to our own bullshit. If you see your shit, give yourself props. You see it and you want to change it? Dude, that’s half the battle won right there. Don’t make this a bad thing by spinning out over it. Write it all down! Make an ongoing ‘vibe up’ list so you can get it all out of your head. Then I want you to stop spinning out about tomorrow and focus on right now. 

What can you do today? Just today. Not tomorrow, not next year or freakin’ 5 years from now. Just now. What good thing can you implement in this moment. What can you do today that will bring you closer to your goals. That’s it. One good thing! Do that one thing and then let go and enjoy where you are.

Listen mama, there will always be something you want to change and that’s the beauty of you. That’s a gift, don’t let it become a curse. Breathe and try to enjoy how far you’ve come. You’re doing great! One good thing, just one thing and then dance and play and enjoy the beauty you’re creating right now on the way to where you’re going. 


-Brooke Hampton 
#notetoself 

Photo by Brandi Morgan Photography LLC

The Art of Motherhood.

When my kids were babies I was the perfect crunchy mom. My kids wore soft sole moccasins and matching hemp clothing. They ate seaweed and gluten free protein balls and called them ‘special treats’. They spent their days at home with me learning Waldorf nature poetry and playing barefoot out in the fresh air. We used beeswax crayons and made our own play doh. They were in a sweet little organic bubble and I liked it that way.

Then...they got old enough to have an opinion and everything went to shit..lol

They wanted to try new things, things I don’t understand or like. They wanted to play fast pitch softball, of all things, and wear gross synthetic athletic clothes.

I was legit wondering what I did wrong. What kid were they around that influenced them - oh, the lessons I’ve learned. It’s been hell moving through this. I was sooooo worried they were going to get corrupted by the system and turn into GMO zombies (the things hippie moms worry about lol) but what it really came down to is: I was losing control and I fucking hated it. They wanted to try things and I didn’t trust their judgement. It’s hard to transition from being a infant/toddler mom to being a teenager mom. It’s our job to protect them when they are young.

Yes, I was mom brewing wild harvested chaga when other people were putting DR. Pepper in their kids sippy cups (not making this up). I was the mom up all night changing out apple cider rags and cooked onion (real life ) instead of jumping of the Tylenol train. Call me a judgmental bitch if you want, but yea..I think it’s our job to give a fuck and get educated so we can provide the cleanest environment possible for our growing babies and I wore that badge proudly. Granted, I realize that is not always an option, but if it is, we damn sure ought to be choosing things that breath life into their bones! That’s our job as their guardians. Those first 7 years of life are so crazy important... I took that shit serious.

But there was a shift somewhere and I missed it. I took the hippie mom shit serious and I’m so glad I did but at some point, I lost focus of what was best for them, on a grander scheme. It finally hit home when my grandmother passed away a few years back. She used to make homemade food all the time and I wouldn’t complain about that ingredients and I wouldn’t let my kids eat it. Right before the funeral, one of my kids said “I wish you’d let me eat more of her food” - in that moment something in me broke. Fuck!! Where had I gotten so wrapped up in my need to be right that food made with love by their great grandmother wasn’t okay? The thing is, that food was made with love and GMOs or not, my kids should have eaten it. The end.

Ugh.

That realization trickled over into so many other areas. The kid that was begging to play softball or the kid that desperately wanted to try out going to school. I needed to let go a little and let the kids start making their own choices. My 3 year old daughter needed me to step up and make healthy choices for her cause we all know a toddler left to their own devices will take corn syrup and TV over seaweed and nature any day.
My 3 year old daughter needed me to help her make good choices, my 15 year old daughter does not. She’s been given the knowledge I gathered and she is completely capable of taking from that what works for her and finding her own way.

So, my kids play sports in their made in China athletic wear and they’ll eat pizza in New York City.. cause it’s an essential life experience! And I’m okay with that! Why? Cause they’re so freakin happy! They also come home and drink their turmeric superfood drinks and take their shoes off in the rain to get grounded...cause they want to, cause it makes them feel good! Do I wish they still ate 100% pure, wore all organic clothes and spent all their time painting watercolors of nature? Yea, kinda. Hah! But that’s not the season we’re in. Maybe someday they’ll find their way back to 100 percent pure crunchyville and maybe they won’t. Either way, it’s going to be their choice!

Am I going to stop making them raw organic chocolate or treating illnesses with ginger root tea and essential oil? Never! lol but I’m also not going to go bat shit hippie crazy on them if they come home with store bought icing on their face from a friends birthday party or tell me they want to go to college for business.

This is one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned as a mom of teenagers. Parenting has seasons. Seasons where we are in full mama bear mode, instinctively pulled to overprotect and lead the way. And there are seasons when we are just here to love and support while they find their own way. The art of motherhood is knowing when the season is changing and having the courage to change with it.

Brooke Hampton,
‘the longest thing I’ve ever written’

photo by Brandi Morgan Photography LLC

Feeling Old As Fuck?

I was feeling old AF yesterday morning so I messaged some of my badass friends and asked what their top 3 longevity tips were. 

I’ve decided to share the answers with you cause they are so freakin’ good!

Michaela Beyer (@yourmoonmom)

1. Dance

2. Sex & intimacy

3. Frankincense

Gabrielle Brick (@gabriellebrick)

1. Superfood elixirs

2. Lots of greens

3. Sunlight and self-love

MONATOMIC (@monatomic) 

1. Micro-needling/derma-rolling

2. 30% Vitamin C serum topically

3. LOCAL (as close as possible. Not Imported) Extra Virgin Olive Oil internally

David Wolfe (@davidavocadowolfe)

1. Inversions (get upside down).

2. Charcoal daily!! In the morning!

3. Water Fasting occasionally (You know what that's done for me!!

Nadine Artemis (@livinglibations)

1. Wash with oil

2. Sunshine

3. Spring water

Carrie Anne Moss (website)

1. Great food

2. Kundalini yoga and meditation

3. Happy heart

Sitara Hewitt (@sitara_hewitt)

1. Mindset: staying curious and playful about life. Looking in the mirror with love & focusing upon beauty & uniqueness never ‘flaws.

2. Cacao. I have been drinking raw cacao 2-3 times daily in green tea w coconut milk for the last 10 years and I’ve definitely youthened.

3. Cutting out sugar & gluten (inflammation causing) and eating more fruits & veggies

4. Castor oil with frankincense on my skin!

Angela Coron (@anges_207)

1. embrace it ! because it’s inevitable. we all age and it’s absolutely beautiful. love the way your skin catches the sun . and your silvers glisten . love those laugh lines and your loose belly skin that grew your babies ...

2. take time for you ... example take that extra 5 minutes to dry brush after the shower before you oil . do that mask while you cook dinner . take care of your feet they are often forgotten . just take that tiny bit of extra YOU time .

3. swim naked and dance to your soul music ... sometimes it’s rob zombie other days it’s rising Appalachia

April Ree a.k.a Sweet Mama (@april_ree_sweetmama)

Strengthening the spine is key to longevity 

1. Acceptance/Surrender

2. Yoga/Meditation

3. Allowing, Tuning In,Holy Flow

Robin Mcmillan (@krystynarobinmc)

1. Keep it simple and natural: eat the best, most nutritious food ever. Avoid weird chemicals, synthetic ingredients, preservatives, sugar and rancid oils. The quality of the fats you eat is SO IMPORTANT. Fried foods are not a beauty or longevity food at all. Drink Spring Water from the Source. Keep your home clean and tidy. Avoid using chemical cleaners in your home. Create space in your life for enjoyment, self-study/self-cultivation/learning, nurturing your treasured relationships, quietude and self care. Minimize screen time and technology use; maximize quality time with your favorite people and being in nature. Regular soul strolls in the forest and daily doses of sunshine are incredibly simple, natural and potent forms of nutrition. Find your joy. Nothing beats fun! Find the bliss in all you do. It’s there!! Presence and an attitude of gratitude reveals the joy of the moment.

2. Meditate and pray daily: it’s a form of 'house cleaning’ and intention setting for your body-mind-spirit. Clean your ‘house’ and set intentions everyday. My recommended mediation is So darshan Chakra Kriya from the Kundalini Yoga lineage, which is regarded as the highest meditation in all yoga. Find what works for you. Three minutes of daily prayer and meditation is better than not doing it at all.

3. Daily Charcoal: there is incredible, plentiful research that shows the power of something as simple and available as charcoal; the summary of this research shows that detoxification is more important than nutrition. Take daily with plenty of water to keep environmental toxins at bay. Be sure to take after every meal you eat that you haven’t prepared yourself. Questionable ingredients, hygiene practices /sanitation and vibes can all be neutralized by charcoal..

Camille Rose (@camillerosefields)

1. Joy - Reducing stress and anxiety in our lives is a given, it just feels good and is naturally anti-inflammatory. Whenever we have stress, depression, anger, anxiety, we hold it in our body somewhere. Meditation, eating for your health, getting hydrated, spending more time outside, moving our bodies, snuggling people or furry friends, setting our life up to support healthy mindsets, removing toxic people from our circles, are just a few ways to invite more joy into our lives.

2. Orgasms - But real orgasms, people. Studies show 75% of women don’t orgasm by penetrative sex alone. We’re talking all levels of orgasmic sex here, where everyone gets to have a good time and all parties walk away deeply nourished and satisfied.

3. Sunshine - The sun doesn’t give us wrinkles like we’ve been told. Stress does!! Amongst other things. You know what reduces stress and acts as an anti-depressant? Sunshine. It also penetrated our bodies Vitamin D receptors and activates as this vital needed nutrient/hormone input bodies. Remember to receive the sunshine responsibly and avoid burns by getting into the shade.

My man 
Sex, sleep , smile ... repeat 
__________________

Love it all!!! Excuse me, I’m off to dance, have sex and a bunch of other epic shit that was recommended! ℋℯ𝓇ℯ'𝓈 𝓉ℴ  𝓃ℴ𝓉 𝒻ℯℯ𝓁𝒾𝓃ℊ ℴ𝓁𝒹 𝒶𝓈 𝒻𝓊𝒸𝓀 - Brooke Hampton

P.S - My favorite “feel good” tricks! Spring water! Mind hacking/ mediation. Flirting. Movement (yoga, gardening and the rebounder!). Turmeric! Good fats like avocado and fish oils. The best oils available on my skin (living libations oil and frankincense). Long baths (full of detoxing goodness like baking soda, apple cider vinegar, shungite stones, and vetiver). books that trigger my imagination and music that makes me want to dance. Writing it out instead of bottling things up. Getting upside down as often as possible. Oh, and Naked sunbathing....of course!

Let's talk boobs.

My sisters were here and we somehow got to talking about breast health. It happens lol I was telling Z that I massage Nadine’s (living libations) oil and frankincense on my boobs before bed cause it makes me feel like magic and also, I just intuitively feel like it’s a good move.

Anyhow, Z looked at Brittan and said “she’s so good at self care” - and suddenly I felt the need to defend myself. I just kept coming up with things to say to explain why I take care of myself, as if that was a bad thing. I workout regularly now and do daily meditations. I’m working on eating clean and just overall taking more time for myself. The list goes on and on actually lol I’m not playing around. Cause, well... it’s time. Anyhow, since she left I’ve been wondering why I felt the need to explain or justify my self-care routine. I took damn good care of myself before I had kids.

So, what happened? Mom guilt is fucking real- that’s what happened. I don’t even remember picking up the mom martyr badge. For real, I just looked up one day and I was waving it like some kind of twisted badge of honor, When did I start feeling guilty for taking time for myself? I don’t know but I know this: it’s not an easy badge to take off. Who benefits from the self-sacrificing woman? I don’t know but it’s not me and it’s not my family. I really don’t want my girls to grow up watching me destroy myself and then being bitter cause no-one came to save me.

So, here’s to choosing to take care of ourselves and not apologizing for it. Here’s to showing ourselves and our girls that you can love everyone around you and love yourself too. Brooke Hampton