Depression
The Healing Gift of Self-Compassion
The privilege of a lifetime is being who you are.
~~ Joseph Campbell
Greetings to all my precious people!!
My travels across the pond served as the good medicine needed for restoration. Ireland is known for its high standard of living, with a strong focus on work-life balance, a vibrant sense of community and a more relaxed culture compared to the fast-moving lifestyle of New York. People tend to prioritize spending time with family and friends, enjoying the “craic” (KRAK) which translates to good times, friendly conversations, and fun experiences. I witnessed this on a daily basis, with folks gathering along the green expanses just sitting around and talking! People were outdoors, enjoying the fresh air and early morning mist, when you could hear the birds chirping and watch the village square come alive with activity. Time was measured in togetherness and not hours. continue reading
Hope in the Time of Overwhelm
Keep some room in your heart for the unimaginable.
~~ Mary Oliver
Greetings to all my precious people!!
My mini summer sabbatical is underway and it seems I am not well practiced in the “being mode” versus “doing mode”. Despite having a daily practice of meditation and qigong, there is still evidence of ‘busy-ness’ that feels hardwired in my brain. It is a very humbling reckoning!! The escape to the shoreline of Connecticut offered me glimpses of emotions, dreams, and memories, all waiting to be seen, heard, and acknowledged ‘when there was time’. So I am grateful for the opportunity to choose to listen to the whispers of ‘if not now, when?’ and I encourage all of you to consider the same. While our habits and routines of daily life keep us on track and serve us, there is something magical about being away from obligations and responsibilities – even for a short time. continue reading
Courage is Heart-Centered
Courage starts with showing up and letting ourselves be seen.
~~ Brené Brown
Greetings to all my precious people!!
What an extraordinary cycle of sunny days and moderate temperatures this past week in the Sound Shore area! We are counting the days until the Summer solstice, which occurs on Thursday, June 20 at 4:50 pm EDT, marking the astronomical first day of Summer in the Northern Hemisphere. continue reading
Authentic Awareness is the Key
We cannot live in a world that is not our own,
in a world that is interpreted for us by others.
Part of the terror is to take back our own listening,
to use our own voice, to see our own light.
~~ Hildegard de Bingen
Greetings to all my precious people!!!
June has arrived with the promise of Summer not far behind. There is a flurry of activities as the school year winds down and the scent of sunscreen and peonies catches on the breeze. We are also amidst potent astrological conjunctions in this season of Gemini, and the message is clear: be aware of the insights and intentions to make the world a better place by choosing to work together. continue reading
Optimism is Essential
Choose to be optimistic. It feels better.
~~ Dalai Lama
Greetings to all my precious people!!
Late May and early June is my favorite time of year. The temperature is comfortable, all of Nature is in bloom, and the extended sunlight hours add to a feeling of uplift and optimism. The school year is winding down, and vacation plans are being put into action. There is a lightness of being, especially when the sun is shining brightly in the blue skies. But there is also trouble brewing on multiple levels and sometimes it is hard to ignore. Financial stress, political turmoil, family life uproars and health challenges abound for so many of us, and these facts cannot be easily remedied. This is when the little voice inside my head begins an incessant song of “the sky is falling, the sky is falling” and my neural pathways default to worry and anxiety. Maybe you can relate! continue reading
