One Thing a Day: Boundaries, Balance, and Black Joy with Dr. Hillary Van Dyke

Hillary Van Dyke wears many hats—professor, filmmaker, nonprofit leader, and podcast host—but her story is ultimately one of intentional living. In this episode, we talk about the power of place-based education, the emotional weight of overcommitment, and how she's learning to reclaim time, joy, and energy as she enters her 40s.

 

We also discuss:

• Setting boundaries around guilt and obligation
• Travel as both joy and exhaustion
• The beauty of saying “maybe later” instead of “yes” too soon
• How relationship, rest, and career goals are reshaping her calendar
• The deep lessons found in cemeteries, memorials, and history

Hillary reminds us that we don’t have to earn rest—and that sometimes, sitting on the couch really is the revolution.

 

Keywords

Balance, Rest, Boundaries, Travel, Education, Cemeteries, Self-care, Personal Growth, Community, Documentary

 

📂 Section Markers

01:01 Section 1: Exploring and Learning

14:35 Section 2: Navigating Overcommitment

29:14 Section 3: Reassessing Priorities and Aligning Values

 

📌Episode Chapters/Timestamps

00:00 Introduction and Personal Check-In

02:10 Travel Experiences and Their Impact

04:15 Balancing Work and Personal Life

07:51 Exploring Professional Roles and Projects

12:23 The Importance of Place-Based Education

16:39 Strategies for Managing a Busy Schedule

20:49 Navigating Overcommitment and Decision Making

23:23 The Impact of Travel on Personal Well-being

27:49 Aligning Commitments with Personal Values

28:47 Reassessing Priorities and Energy Management

32:03 Finding Joy and Overcoming Guilt in Rest

 

💬 Quotes to hold on to:

• "Is this actually adding any value to my situation to be a part of this, or am I doing this out of guilt? Or am I doing this because I want to do it? "
• "The version of me who says yes is never the same version who has to show up."
• "One thing a day. Zero is even better."
• "Guilt often drives us to overcommit."

 

🔗 Important Links

• Resting Places, Learning Spaces, https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/resting-places-learning-spaces-podcast/id1798217066Website, https://hillaryvandyke.com
• Green Book of Tampa Bay, https://www.greenbooktb.com/
• IG: @professorvandyke

Let’s Stay Connected

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📸 Instagram: @workisthirdlife