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Caitlin

@soilandspirit

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📍new england mom
💀 death companion + (end of) life long learner 🪦
🛒 managing editor + podcast host @startupcpg

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ever wondered where my interest in deathcare stemmed from and how it’s continued to weave itself into my life? yeah, same. so, I broke it down.

new post up on my substack - 🔗 in bio

ft. @marjorieralexander / @asustainablemind; @katrinaspade / @recomposelife; @cosmicsister / @ms.zoe.helene; @ologies / @alieward; @imperi / @schoolofamericanthanatology; @4csfuneralservice ; @startupcpg; @lingerdenver

#deathcare #deathanddying #grief #griefandloss #funeraldirector #deathwork #naturalproducts #cpg by @soilandspirit

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a year ago

Getting my experience with breastfeeding, formula feeding and grief out of my head and onto a screen.

New on the substack: soilandspirit dot substack dot you know where 🔗

@bobbie, this may or may not be a love letter to you??? taken in Boston, Massachusetts by @soilandspirit

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2 years ago

“Urns are ugly in a truly insulting way.”

This comment was left on a recent LinkedIn post and it inspired me to make an attempt at flipping the script.

Here’s a roundup of my favorite modern urns and ash-containing mementos.

soilandspirit . substack . com

Photo courtesy of nadiagonegai.nl

#cremation #urns #deathwork #deathcare #moderndeath #endoflife #urn #art taken in Boston, Massachusetts by @soilandspirit

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2 years ago

8.4.2024 was my first day sober from alcohol.

I chose sobriety at 34, after going back and forth in my mind for weeks. The finality of it all ate at me. In the process of getting sober, I realized I had my first drink at 17 - which meant I spent half of my life drinking.

In college, most pictures of me were with a drink in hand.
Now, I can’t picture what my life would be like if I started drinking again. Started waking up hungover again. Started having hangxiety again. Started missing out on entire days each week because of all of the above.

It might sound silly, but I’m not sure I’d know not drinking was an option for me if I didn’t see it was possible from other people first. If other people weren’t public about their decision. If other people weren’t proud of what they accomplished in getting sober.

If they didn’t try to build a life after and without alcohol.

Last week, I got to host a @startupcpg founder social at @carlradke’s @softbarcafe in Brooklyn - a non-alcoholic bar and cafe.

We packed the house.

In January, my pre-ordered copy of Cake Eater (Carl’s book) landed in my audible account and I flew through it on my plane ride to Winter FancyFaire in SD.

In June, I was roaming the halls at Summer Fancy Food, catching up with founder friends - and I saw Carl! Some email exchanges later - we made this happen with the help of our teams.

Nearly 150 people gathered together. Not a drop of alcohol in sight. Everyone with a smile on their face. No one was an outsider. Everyone was exactly who they are.

Thanks, Carl - for showing us all what’s possible.

PS - I brought one of my best friends with me to Brooklyn. She’s seen me through it all, and never questioned me. She always showed up. Always supported me. And I’ll always do the best I can to do the same for her. taken in Soft Bar + Cafe by @soilandspirit

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2 days ago

Tomorrow is Indigenous People’s Day.

May we never forget what native people have given us - knowledge, insights, stories, food, community - the list is absolutely endless.

These are two stunning, informative reads that I’ve loved to have on my bookshelf, and I hope you’ll consider them for yours.

Tomorrow, I’ll read about the Three Sisters (corn, beans, and squash) with my daughter, and we’ll eat some together as a celebration and reflection.

Grateful we can have this day together to remember the *true* foundation of where many of us call home.

Iwígara: The Kinship of Plants and People, American Indian Ethnobotanical Traditions and Science by Enrique Salmón (@iwigara)

Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer (@robinwallkimmerer) by @soilandspirit

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4 days ago

Day 85 of proving to myself that I can lose weight without a GLP-1.

This is what it feels like to show up even when I don’t want to.

Spoiler: it feels better to show up for myself than not showing up for myself, even in my luteal phase.

#lutealphase #mentalhealth #exercise #weightlossjourney #postpartumfitnessjourney by @soilandspirit

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11 days ago

And that’s on travel! I always wait until it’s my turn to deplane in case anyone else has this same fear - I don’t want to be taking my luggage out of the overhead bin over your head! #flying #planes #travel #flight #ettiquette by @soilandspirit

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13 days ago

DAY 75?!

That feels surreal to type.

Day 75 of proving to myself that I don’t need a GLP-1 to lose weight after being recommended one by doctors / dieticians / nutritionists.

I believe I have it within myself to get stronger physically and mentally and drop this weight - 70lbs that I gained since the pandemic and after having a baby!

This has been a ride. And I’m not getting off!

#glp1 #weightloss #postpartumfitnessjourney #naturalweightlossjourney #athomeworkout by @soilandspirit

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20 days ago

I got featured in the @nypost yesterday - here’s why I think my story got picked up.

I’m being real with you. I’m not sugarcoating what I share. I’m not trying to be someone who I’m not. I’m curating my content or perfectly polishing it. I’m trusting that I am enough. That I can be myself and it will resonate - even with one person - I’m happy with that.

I’m a podcast host for the number one CPG podcast in the world (hey @startupcpg) - every Friday, a new episode drops with a new founder building their food, beverage, health, wellness, beauty, or pet product. Guess what? I don’t want to talk to a founder for 30 minutes who can’t be real with me. I don’t want a script. I don’t want a rehearsal. I don’t even send questions in advance! Because I want to have a real conversation with the person in front of me.

This is the content I like to “consume”. Real, honest, transparent, authentic. That’s what hits. That’s what resonates.

If you’re putting yourself out there - I give you all the props. It’s not easy to be vulnerable. It’s not easy to put yourself out there.

If you are, I hope you get your hit soon too.

ICYMI here’s the TL;DR - I’ve been documenting my weight loss journey without a GLP-1 after gaining 70 lbs between the pandemic, having a baby and today. My story got picked up by a reporter at the @nypost after she saw one of my videos from my series and here we are - my first media hit!

#weightloss #healthandwellness #glp1 #cpg #foodandbeverage by @soilandspirit

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a month ago

Yesteryear and The God of the Woods - I’m let down! 5 stars to the authors for putting their art into the world, 2 stars for keeping my on the edge of my seat and finishing the stories, but they weren’t for me!

I know I’m in the minority because people are raving about/ have raved about these books - I’M SORRY!

I think they were overhyped 😔

If you feel the same, I want to know what you’re reading, what’s on your TBR, and/or what’s your favorite book?!

#tbr #bookish #books #nowreading #audiobooks by @soilandspirit

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a month ago

That’s a wrap!

Today I hosted my Kid’s Closet Refresh event that I’ve been planning for ~6 months.

Entry was free. Every item was free. We had clothing, shoes, and accessories for newborn-5T and some “big kid” sizes too.

All this took was collecting, sorting, cleaning, and volunteering time to work out logistics, secure a space, and execute to make it happen.

Oh, and storing what my husband describes as “truckloads” of clothing in our home 🤣 - all gathered from family, friends, and community members and stored in bins and bags leading up to the event.

I created what I wished I had when I was pregnant. What I wish to see fostered in my own community.

We have so much stuff as a collective. Clothing is wasteful. And it’s expensive - especially when our kids are continuously outgrowing what they wear what seems like daily! We can give it second, third, fourth, infinite lives if we just find the people who can put it to good use, and remove barriers to access.

Thanks to everyone who showed up or contributed. I estimate about 200 people showed up, and about half of the items were claimed.

The remaining clothing (pictured) is en route to South Shore Foster Closet - a non-profit charity in Massachusetts that provides free clothing, shoes, diapers, and essential items to local foster, adopted, pre-adoptive, and kinship children.

I met my husband volunteering for Habitat for Humanity in college almost 15 years ago. I’ve recently felt such an itch to make more time to volunteer. This is one way I’m making this a reality.

Shoutout to Adnan for shipping out some @pulpitobites for the kids to enjoy! He knows his audience 😉!

And to Maureen from @mauworks for donating handmade booties, hats, headbands and more!

And to Melissa from @unrefinedfoodsco for sending wheat discovery kits that are being shared with my community!

❤️

If you want to do something like this in your own community, my inbox is open if you have questions about how to start!

#secondhand #secondhandkidsclothes #kidsclothes #babyclothes #fastfashion by @soilandspirit

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2 months ago

I can officially start hospice volunteering!

After attending an info session on hospice volunteering earlier this year, I felt a real pull to begin volunteering my time - and now, it’s becoming a reality.

I just completed the Volunteer Training Program via Hospice & Palliative Care Federation of Massachusetts (HPCFM) / Hospice & Home Care Webinar Network.

This program covered:

🤍 Hospice History, Philosophy, Service & Goals
🤍 Dying, Death, Grief & Bereavement
🤍 Family Systems, Dynamics & Rights
🤍 Communication & Active Listening
🤍 Boundaries, HIPAA, Documentation, Self-Care
🤍 Volunteering in the Facility Setting
🤍 Universal Precautions & Hand Washing for Hospice Volunteers
🤍 Volunteering with People Who Have Alzheimer’s Disease & Dementia
+ more!

While my daughter has been napping during our family vacation, I’ve been taking advantage of the time to finish this training that I’ve wholeheartedly wanted to immerse myself in.

I’m looking forward to supporting patients on hospice and helping them have an end of life experience that feels most authentic and fulfilling to them.

I really appreciate everyone who has supported me on what I like to call an end of life-long learning journey - thank you! ❤️

If you’re thinking about becoming a hospice volunteer - take this as your sign to make the next steps!

#endoflife #hospice #hospicecare #hospicevolunteer #deathcompanion by @soilandspirit

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2 months ago