“Meditation…we see what comes up, acknowledge that with kindness, and let go.”
Pema Chodron, American Buddhist Nun
The Places That Scare You
love
Good Form
This is an etching my daughter gave to me for Christmas. It’s created by painstakingly scratching the black off the etching paper with extremely sharp tools. Pushing too hard or going too fast can ruin the effect.
It reminds me that beauty and harmony can often result from taking away, and not adding:
- Remove the resentment, disappointment and anger from your part of relationships.
- Remove clutter in your living space.
But do this with great care.
New Year 2018
Before you resolve to start an endeavor (or stop a bad habit), you may want to take time to reflect, first.
“Pain + Reflection = Progress (Ray Dalio)”
What worked for you this year? What didn’t? What did you do fantastically well? What could you have improved? What pains did you endure and what did they teach you?
Goals and resolutions are like seeds. Under proper care, they will germinate.
What if…
the riches we all strove for were the inner lights we could possess? What if we all wanted to be rich this way and helped each other attain this wealth?
The great news is that we have the option – the freedom – to choose what wealth is for ourselves. Possessing ambition is fine, but without inner peace, it means nothing.
Rich – adj., abounding in natural resources (Dictionary.com)
The idea for this blog was inspired by Light Watkin’s post on true wealth.
In Stillness
This is my response to this article in the Washington Post.
When the voices in your head and the frenzy on social media get to you, go out in nature.
What Gifts do You Bring?
Do you bring…
- full attention and presence?
- judgment and shame?
- happiness and enthusiasm?
- fear and anxiety?
- unconditional love and freedom?
Your spirit permeates your life and your loved ones. What you reap, you will sow.
Oh Deer!
Went for a run again last night with William. It was much colder than it has been, but we didn’t back down. We also ran during sunset and not in the dark. It was beautiful and I was (am!) grateful for this connection with my husband and nature.
As we approach the new year, I’m reflecting on this past year. It was pretty awesome. One thing I’d like to have more of is outdoor time as a family: more hiking and less technology. (Technology is great, don’t get me wrong, but using it most of one’s waking hours is not necessary).
3 Ways to Happy
“Happiness is a choice.”
-Shawn Anchor
Three ways to become a happier person:
- Practice gratitude on a daily basis. Write about three things/people you are grateful for every day – and don’t repeat journal entries.
- Accept what is – don’t fight it, don’t worry about what might happen. View reality as beautiful.
- “The final habit is the most powerful that we’ve seen so far. For two minutes each day, start work by writing a two-minute positive e-mail or text praising or thanking one person you know. And do it for a different person each day.” (Shawn Anchor, Washington Post)
Anchor strongly believes that you must take responsibility for your well-being and contentment in life. Of course, clinical depression is a real thing. You may need medication, but the medication should be a stepping stone to getting yourself in a state where you can actively work to be happy.
It’s All Good
I am grateful for people – nice and mean
Fortunes – good and bad, I love
I appreciate the pleasures, they’re pleasing
But pain brings growth and is never ceasing
So accept it all!
What Shall You Seek?
You’ve seen plants bend dramatically toward the sun. Be like flowers. Work hard to nurture yourself. Nature proves it is exactly what you ought to do.
Kismet 