Believing in our beauty
The other evening, I was walking out of a lovely meditation in the softness of candlelight, when I noticed a woman's reflection in the mirror. In an instant I was moved by her and I said to myself, "Oh my goodness. That woman is beautiful!" I looked again. That woman...
Spontaneous Kindness
Unbeknownst to me, yesterday, Brian took the kiddos on a "special mommy's day mission" to make something for me. While they were downtown, a man was handing out roses to people. Maybe it was part of our town's "first Saturday" celebration. Maybe he was just handing...
Tips for Everyday Mindfulness #15: Compassion closer to home
“Stay where you are. Find your own Calcutta. Find the sick, the suffering, and the lonely right there where you are — in your own homes and in your own families, in your workplaces and in your schools. You can find Calcutta all over the world, if you have the eyes to...
How about a little kindness?
I just learned how to embed videos into this blog! Here is a video that folks in my workshops and yoga class have seen. Kindness! It comes around! Whatever we give comes back to us...without us even asking for it! Enjoy! Offer a bit of kindness today -- to yourself,...
How about a little tenderness?
One of my teachers shared this video. Oh my goodness. Please, view it right now. Then come back and read this post. http://www.elephantjournal.com/2012/04/skip-your-morning-meditation-watch-this-instead [youtube...
An Epidemic of Loneliness: Get off your computer and into your life
"The biggest disease today is not leprosy or tuberculosis but rather the feeling of not belonging." - Mother Theresa We all need each other. We are born as vulnerable human beings in need of the care, love, and attention of someone. We would die without such care. We...
Tips for Parenting with Compassion #7: Connect with your child with one word
I recently found this video by Dr. Dan Siegel talking to a group of people about the power of just one word. If you are a parent, you should know him. His work in neuroscience and parenting will change the way you look at parenting...and your child. Here's his...
Tips for Everyday Mindfulness #14: Peace Garden
Your Peace Garden Decide today what seeds you will water. The seeds of peace, compassion, connection, delight, and kindness? Or the seeds of hostility, judgment, bitterness, separateness, and anger? Whatever seed we water – moment to moment, day after day, grows. Keep...
Tips for Everyday Mindfulness #13: The “So do I” practice
Tom Goddard and Rezvan Ameli teach Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). They also lead mindfulness coaching groups and post-MBSR groups to support your practice. Here is one of their latest "mindfulness nuggets". If you'd...
Tips for Everyday Mindfulness #12: The Sacred Pause
"Rest in the pause between breaths. Pause in the rest between thoughts. Bask in the space between words. Stop in the stillness of a calm lake and listen." - Julie Rappaport The Sacred Pause. Pausing for a moment in our day, perhaps several times in a day, to "arrive"...