“When the Indian saint Ramakrishna was asked why there is evil in the world, he answered, “To thicken the plot.” These very plot thickeners, often the most difficult and insistent ones, can lead us to open our bodies, hearts, and minds.” ~ from A Path with Heart by Jack Kornfield We are all veterans. We all have some […]
emotional hygiene
A Daily Practice
“Fish live in streams Birds nest in trees Human beings dwell In warm hearts.” ~Japanese folk Zen saying Keeping my heart open is the plan for the day. It is the plan for everyday. It is a mantra, a philosophy, a way of life. Keeping my heart open allows all my periodic fears to be […]
No Need for Struggle
“Don’t keep pushing against closed doors. Look around for the open ones.” ~ sanyana roman Every now and then I get caught up in wanting a thing that may not be mine. I feel owed it. Or I need it. Or I just would like to have it because I briefly enjoyed it…so it must be […]
Receiving Love
Oh I can give Love all day long. It is automatic and very fulfilling. Every morning I enjoy making sure the needs of my dog are graciously and completely met. I feel real happiness making sure my sister has all she needs to be relaxed and feel like a winner. And when I am able to […]
non-judgmental awareness
“The present moment is filled with joy and happiness. If you are attentive, you will see it.” ~thich nhat hahn Ahhhhhh – to be in non-judgmental awareness is a lovely vacation of sorts. It is a getaway from the push and pull of things. When I am here all that crosses my “virtual desk of life” […]
Perfectly Imperfect!!
Yes – it feels good to see how life is unfolding warts and all; to generate appreciation for a stubbed toe or a missed class. There are six pots in my second story window box and one is not getting water due to an out-of-joint drip line. So a little dry brown sprig of dead Asparagus […]
Happiness is a Choice
“Happiness can be cultivated” says Shawn Achor, author of Before Happiness. He calls it Happiness Hygiene and says it is as essential to living as brushing our teeth and eating right. Here are 5 Two Minute Happiness Drills which Achor’s research has proven to actually have the power to make us happier people. His work […]
Self Love
Soulfully attending to body, mind and spirit manifests all manner of actual good things into being. Here is another list to tack up on the mirror or place by the bed to remind us of this! The Top Ten Reasons Why I Exercise By Jessica Ortner 1) Movement in your body means movement in your life. […]
Manifesting: the process revealed
“We need not always be effective, but only transparent and vulnerable. Then we are instruments, no matter what we do.” ~ richard rohr I have been gandering at this transition from grieving to gratitud-ing I am making. This is what I have come up with so far. With no anecdote here that will ground this […]
Rinse and Repeat
“The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift…” ~ Albert Einstein Knowing this I ask again — what does it feel like to receive unconditional love? Now without labeling, without using words or employing images – or memory even – can […]
