And the sometimes not so positive consequences “When we have the courage to let go of the dream we have now – the dream and drive and trance to accumulate more – then we have the space to envision and create the new dream, a dream that sees us engaged in respecting, preserving, honoring what we have.” – The Soul of Money Lynne Twist I am baffled that within 3 years EVERYTHING has gone back to the way it was in 2019. It’s like 2020 and 2021 never happened. Am I the only one that has whiplash? Am I the…
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This is a random post from my archives. Written in 2016 but still relevant today. Scarily relevant actually. With some updated tweaks of course. In the midst of the decorating, cooking, cleaning and prepping for the holidays, in true marketing fashion, it’s also the time to figure out… “What amazing things (Lose weight! Get organized! Get your finances in order! Pay off debt!) What are YOU going to do in the new year?!” OR “Who do you want to BE this year?” (That wonderful “don’t think you have to DO anything” just decide to work on yourself and be someone…
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(and why how we think and talk about it all matters) Today is Thanksgiving day in the United States and I’m still ambivalent and frustrated…So today’s post comes from my pent up frustration and anger at the stories we tell ourselves that don’t serve us or the people around us. If the words “I am” are so important…(and they are) Why are we putting them before jobs, before roles, before hobbies, before things we prefer, when all of that can disappear in a heartbeat? We know that “I am” is so much bigger, so much larger and encompasses so much…
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I had the opportunity to volunteer at a local bookshop last week for a talk on Thanksgiving. (The speaker actually wrote a book (some books) about it.) I have always had a difficult time with Thanksgiving as a holiday. Even before we started to collectively acknowledge that the “traditional” narrative is false and opened Pandora’s box… As a child it rang false to me. There was no flexibility whatsoever with this holiday. This is the meal, these are the people, this is how we do it. Suggestions, disagreements or mentions left the air around me full of tension and anxiety.…
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I am asking myself this question about my cozy mission. All of a sudden, out of nowhere, I got ALL the feelings. Trying to be cozy has definitely soothed my system. Though, I think sometimes I think I can ease and soothe my way out of any and ALL emotions. Well, that’s not honest. Honest Truth: Holidays are a disastrous free-fall for me, physically, emotionally and spiritually. I have a strong desire to turn toward the warmth and light at home, imagining simple holidays that I can, if not enjoy, then at least be present and somewhat comfortable. I have…
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Every year the holidays come around and every year, I just want to opt out. Not because of trauma or bad memories – those are there – they just aren’t the reason. It’s all just TOO much. Even a hermit such as myself who tries very hard to distance herself from the news, the ads and the pressure, I just want to throw up my hands and give up. I want to consciously opt out. I know of many people who just mention it like they are brushing their teeth or getting gas in their car. I want to know…
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One step at a time. Small steps will get you there. You may have heard phrases like this before. And what does it mean in light of last week where we are focused on: Knowing what you can handle so you can keep pressing on doing what you can, where you are with what you have? It means baby steps. It means things you can do – preferably in 5 minutes or less that are the action steps of doing what you can with what you have. I am a fan of super small – actually, to me, five minutes…
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Many people know and live a “multiple lives” reality. This is above and beyond “Don’t mention politics or hot button issues” in certain situations. Or by just not saying anything because it doesn’t matter and/or to keep the peace. It’s not just refraining from sharing certain parts of yourself. It’s knowing you truly have to put on different pieces for every part of your being to “be presentable” and “go out into the world.” It’s like putting on a spandex costume three sizes too small. Yet, millions do this every day – to support themselves, their families, in avoidance of…
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“Do what you can, with what you’ve got, where you are.” Although this quote is widely attributed to Theodore Roosevelt, he credits it, in his Autobiography, Chapter IX, to Squire Bill Widener of Widener’s Valley, Virginia. I rephrase this a bit to myself all the time. (It’s what I do. And what we should do – make things work for YOU.) I rearrange the phrasing Do what you can, where you are with what you’ve got! We ignore the middle parts of the sentences. Not because we want to or even realize it, but because our brain actually doesn’t care…
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There are choices we make in life. And there are choices we get to make again and again. I was (and continue) to struggle with putting myself “out there.” In person, online, on social media, etc. I came across something I wrote last Spring, which gets to the heart of the matter Why am I afraid to be seen? Why am I afraid of exposing who I really am? I have nothing to fear, nothing to hide.The things that have happened to me, the things that have caused me pain and suffering (and exponential growth) are not my responsibility or…