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Tess Clarkson | Writer

@thetessclarkson

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Writer. End-of-Life Doula. Life Optimizer. ✍🏻 Words: @washingtonpost @huffpost @aarp @thegirlfriendletter @chickensoupsoul
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Has a stranger ever changed your life❓

After my mom died of cancer, I began serving the dying through a hospice in NYC. Two nights before Christmas several years ago, I sat with one man who I will never forget.

Many thanks to @kimmidawn for listening to this story and to @estelleserasmus for helping me bring it to all of you. May Matthew inspire you too and remind you to embrace each day. 🎁

🔗 Read my essay in @washingtonpost via the link in my bio. Essay by Tess Clarkson in The Washington Post

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Thrilled to share my latest essay in @huffpost 🖋

Thanksgiving for me was cancelled as a child and then transformed in adulthood. 🦃 I’m feeling such gratitude today for all the people, especially my husband, who helped me along my path and showed me what a holiday can mean and be. Each day is indeed a gift. 🎁

Thankful too to @estelleserasmus for her guidance and push to delve deeper into my memories and feelings. 🔏

🔗 Read my story via the link in my bio.

Wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving and a Happy Every Day! 🥰 HuffPost Thanksgiving essay Tess Clarkson

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Before Dad passed last year, my brother and I got to see our father at the hospital. While sitting with Dad, I asked him for help with my writing. (After all, Mom certainly had helped find me Steve!)

This was the first story I got published after Dad crossed over to the other side. 🖋♥️

🔗 Read my essay in @huffpost via the link in my bio. HuffPost Personal Essay

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What inspires you?✨

The first time I saw an astrologer many years ago, she asked, “Were you mute as a child?”

I sat stunned. I barely spoke when I was small.

When I think back to when I was a painfully shy girl unable to speak, too afraid to open my mouth, too afraid to be seen and heard, I can feel the loneliness that used to reside within me. I’m inspired each day knowing how it feels to be isolated, to escape within, to avoid in order to self-preserve. I’m inspired each day to write, share and connect through our stories, and our search for peace, love and happiness. 🔏

What’s one thing that inspires you today? ✨

Tag an awesome friend who inspires you! Black and white photo of crystals

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Grateful for my wonderful yoga students. 🧘🏻‍♀️ Thank You, Bonnie!

Practice yoga and meditate with me live, online @vivayalive in December on Wednesdays at 8:45am CT and Fridays at 12pm CT.

🔗 Find information through the link in my bio.

Go to @vivayalive and see how you can grab my class for FREE for 14 days and get a holiday special too.

✨🧘🏻‍♀️🧘🏽‍♂️🧘🏽‍♀️🧘🏼🧘🏾‍♀️🧘🏼‍♀️🧘🏿🧘🏽✨ Review of yoga class with Tess

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What’s your favorite winter indulgence? ☃️

After years of struggles with food and cycles of restricting and overindulging, I have learned I can’t banish from my diet. I strive for an 80/20 split for eating clean and enjoying treats. During the winter, I love hot chocolate! ❄️☕️♥️

Here’s a photo of my law school roomie and I indulging in some hot chocolate deliciousness in a cute chocolate shop we discovered on a holiday trip. 📸 Friends with hot chocolate

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📚 What are you reading over the holidays?

I need a holiday season escape! 🎄🎅🏻🎊 I have this pile of books (including one book from my stepson’s last English course that I somehow never read in school!) to finish reading. I’d love some book recommendations.

📖 What memoirs or novels should I check out?

🖋 Who’s your favorite author? Open book to page about kindness

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Where’s your favorite holiday spot? 🎄

We are getting into the holiday spirit here! 🎅🏻 Couple in front of a Christmas tree

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Welcoming the new season on this winter solstice! ❄️ What’s your favorite season?

I love winter time for reading by the fireplace, taking brisk walks and eating tasty soups. ❄️ I love using the darkest day of the year as a time to turn inward, especially as we prepare for extra holiday festivities.

Enjoy the winter solstice, and join me online tomorrow morning for yoga and meditation. 🧘🏻‍♀️ I teach at 8:45am CT on Wednesday live online at VIVAYA Live and have a special 4pm CT class on Thursday. 🔗 Find information through the link in my bio.

Go to @vivayalive and see how you can grab my class for FREE for 14 days and get a holiday special too. 🎄

📸 Photos from Iceland when I traveled with friends from NYC to Reykjavik for a weekend. It was one of the coldest weekends I have ever experienced, one of the most fun too.

❄️ Where’s the coldest place you’ve visited? Woman posing with fake bear in Iceland

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Fall back. 🍁 Spring forward. ⏰ The extra hour of darkness last night made me sit and ponder. The change in temps makes me go inward and choose to do more inner work too. There’s always more seeing, releasing, healing…

♦️What does turning back time stir for you?

♦️What emoji best expresses how you feel right now? Choose to Heal mantra

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