Mothering in the Moment: Lessons on Mothering Learned from Mother Nature
by Jennifer Niedzielski
Mother Nature’s Life Lessons
As mothers, we have a profound teacher on the art of mothering available to us at all times. That teacher is Mother Nature. She has so much to teach us if we are ready and willing to listen. There is one lesson she has been waiting for me to learn for a very long time-- the Law of Least Effort. Now that I am a mother, it’s become essential that I learn it!
The Law of Least Effort is one of the Seven Spiritual Laws of Success by Deepak Chopra. “Do less and accomplish more,” is its mantra. Now, I've just got to say, this is so not intuitive to me. I am (err-- was) the type of person who believes that struggle, stress, and strain are essential for doing anything of importance well. Thus, I pursed mothering with the same rigor I did everything else in life; I was hard on myself, demanded perfection, worked tirelessly without breaks, and sought control of every situation.
But my theory wasn’t effective in mothering (nor in life, I’m finally able to see). The harder I pushed myself in my mothering, the harder it pushed right back. I was constantly overwhelmed and stressed. I was anxious. I fell prey to perfectionist thinking. I was angry, tired, and reactive-- all the time! That’s when I started to realize that stress, strain, and working really, really hard to be successful was actually counter-productive. Perhaps there was something to the idea of doing less to accomplish more. What did I have to lose in testing it out?
The Effortless Ease of Mother Nature
The Law of Least Effort reminds us that Mother Nature’s intelligence functions with effortless ease and grace. There is no resistance. “Grass doesn’t try to grow, it just grows…Flowers don’t try to bloom, they bloom…Birds don’t try to fly, they fly” (Chopra). In essence, the Law of Least Effort is all about just “being.” It’s all about letting go, accepting the present moment, and not thinking so darn much.
To really grasp this concept of doing less, consider how a flower grows. It doesn’t stress or strain in order to “accomplish” its true nature and beauty. It simply does exactly what it is destined to do without expending any more effort or energy than absolutely necessary. It doesn’t think, “I wonder if I’m doing this right. Am I growing fast enough? Am I as pretty as the other flowers around me? Perhaps I should try to be tulip and not a rose. I really got to get going here. I better hurry up!”
Silly example, I know. But when I consider how everything in nature displays this effortless ease and grace (sans thought), I begin to realize just how much our thinking is our primary problem. As I see it, struggle, strife, and stress all come into play as a result of our “extra” thoughts about the thing we are doing, not the doing of the thing itself. Yes, we are intelligent human beings blessed with the ability to think, but we are also infinitely intelligent human beings blessed with the ability to control our thinking so to access the sacred space of non-thinking whenever we wish.
Mindful Mothering
The principle of the Law of Least Effort and doing less to accomplish more might not initially seem realistic in mothering. More times than not, we feel we have to expend as much effort as possible to accomplish the countless things that must be done every single day. There is no denying that mothering is, at times, chaotic, challenging, and all-consuming.
But what would happen if we thought “less” in these moments? What would happen if we didn’t mentally judge these moments as stressful, bad, boring, or unacceptable? What would happen if we intentionally breathed in and out in the situations that stressed us out and focused our attention on our breath and not on our negative thoughts?
I know what happens. I’ve experienced it. I mother from a sacred place. Every time I surrender to all the mothering moments in my life by releasing my judgment of them (e.g., doing less thinking), I accomplish peace of mind. When I accomplish peace of mind, I tap into my infinite font of pure love. When I mother from this place, I respond to my children and all my mothering moments with effortless grace and ease-- just like Mother Nature intended.
Jennifer Niedzielski is a teacher, writer, mother of three young daughters, and the co-founder of Mindful Moms Network™. After teaching in the traditional classroom setting for over 12 years, she is transcending classroom walls to inspire and teach women how to reclaim their calm and take exquisite care of their mind, body, and inner-selves amidst the chaos of mothering. Through Mindful Moms, it is her intention to create a nurturing and supportive community for moms that encourages Inward Development through the Art of Mothering.
Wind rocks the pine tree while ravens lift and settle lift and settle on the branches saying and saying.
The size of them, the heft the sheen the meat of them as they lift and settle lift and settle saying, saying, saying.
The sky has that dark gleam of more rain to come it’s cold.
Wind in the pine tree branches: that sound and how the tree moves.
Those ravens: rearranging off and on saying, saying-- Suddenly they lift, tilt, veer: the light on those wings their heft, their sheen, their silence gone
The pine still moving as if breathing.
Photo Credit: Shiro Kasamatsu - Pine Tree in Rain, Kinokunizaka, in Tokyo
Janine Acevedo is filled with awe by the beauty in every day moments and can't help but write about them. She lives with her husband, daughter and dog in northern California. Being diagnosed with a chronic illness has made her slow down, and in doing do, she finds more and more at which to marvel.
Eagerly, I set out on this beautiful spring day, camera at the ready, to find inspiration for this month’s theme, Nature as Teacher and Healer. Submission deadline was approaching and I wondered why I had procrastinated. I love being out in nature! If there was any assignment to attend to with little to no effort, surely this was it. Why had I dragged my feet? But now, this was my time.
So, here I was alert, anticipating that there would be some delightful grist for the Buddha Chick Life mill. My senses were keenly aware. I was expectant of finding something beautiful. Something true. Something good – just waiting to speak to me down by the whispering stream.
Wending my way down the path, I was charmed by the scattering of violets, and vigorous May Flowers springing to life. Down the hill, in the shadowy grove, dappled sunlight competed with bright Buttercups for attention. Sitting on a mossy wind felled tree, I surveyed this woodland scene with a grateful heart.
But then, I was distracted by a disturbing sight - clusters of the highly invasive, non native, Garlic Mustard plant made me realize that all my efforts from a year ago to eradicate this species from my neck of the woods had been in vain. My reverie was interrupted and I set out to get rid of them once and for all.
After a furious half an hour or so of pulling and uprooting some more, I was no closer to weeding them out than I had been last year at this time. Heaving a discouraged sigh, I plunked back down feeling defeated – for now the allotted time to complete the assignment had expired. All I had to show for myself was a pile of uprooted weeds. Disgusted, I sat there staring at those useless plants. What a waste of time, I thought, until something else caught my eye. A pair of woodland snails on the underside of a discarded leaf, moving ever so slowly. Hmmm. Might this be what nature had to teach me today? Holding that thought, I trudged back up the hill. Tired and discouraged.
Reflecting on this later, I realized, yet again, that Transformation takes time. Old habits having taken root choke out so much of one’s true self. Invasive inclinations tend to crowd out what is true, good and beautiful.
This transformation work of uncovering and living into and out of one’s authentic self cannot be accomplished with a frenzied, frenetic one time effort. I know that I may have to revisit again and again, places that I had already worked on, for there is always another layer to examine. Baby steps taken with self compassion, loving kindness and mindfulness will, in safe community, lead each of us here to a place of still waters where we can live clear, calm and wise.
Photo Credit of "Didactic Snails" by Linda Lyzenga
Linda, aka UBC @ Buddha Chick Life, is passionate about wholeness and healing and finds her sweet spot in the role of Spiritual Director. Married with two adult daughters, who have flown the coup – far from Western Michigan where they grew up, she’s home alone with her husband of 37 years. Linda enjoys baking, knitting, reading, writing, hiking and camping. At any given time while pursuing some of the above activities you'll find her camera close at hand.
Because human beings are members of the animal kingdom, the out-of-doors is our natural home. Yet, in the spirit of progress, we have increasingly cut ourselves off from nature. Many of us feel more "apart from" than "a part of' nature. We live and work indoors, away from our natural environment. We are surrounded by artificial light, noise and structures.
In an article for New Woman magazine, Joan Arnold wrote:
"As our daily surroundings become more synthetic, we rush to work in cars or trains to spend our days in sealed climate-controlled boxes. With our senses numbed by a daily barrage of noises and images, few of us deem it crucial to watch the shape of a cloud or finger a leaf."
Because of this sort of daily regimen and exposure to unnatural surroundings, we often feel disconnected from nature—and ourselves. If we paid attention, however, we’d notice we feel more at home, in the natural world. We actually feel better when we are out-of-doors, breathing fresh air instead of processed air, and soaking in the sights and sounds of Mother Nature.
A study presented by Bernadette Cimprich, Ph.D. shows exposure to nature has a profound influence on our health, attitude, and general well-being. She found that "women recovering from breast cancer surgery fared better when they were closer to nature. In her study, patients were divided into two groups. Those involved in a nature activity three times per week for 90 days complained much less of mental fatigue or inability to cope. Compared with the control group, their cognitive acuity was measurably sharper, they were more likely to return to work full time and were more game for new endeavors, like losing weight or learning to play an instrument."
By reconnecting with nature, we can reap a multitude of benefits for body, mind and spirit. We can literally help ourselves bloom, and Spring provides us with the perfect opportunity to do just that.
Nature may also serve as our most prolific teacher—if we are able to stop, look, pay attention and listen—truly listen to what Mother Nature might be saying to us. From the time I was a small girl, I found myself listening to nature in this way. I always had a sense that if I could quiet the voices in my own mind I could hear magical whisperings of wisdom from the earth and sky. A quiet walk in a piney woods, sitting at the ocean’s edge, fingering the petals of a delicate flower in my grandmother’s garden ... each was a gateway to deeper knowing if I could attune myself to their revelations. “Patience,” says the earthworm. “Let go,” offers the wave. “Be yourself,” advises the Bleeding Heart.
Nature writers and mystics, from Rachel Carson to John Muir, invite us to reconnect with that which is timeless and supreme by immersing ourselves in natural beauty. Lao Tzu, the Taoist philosopher, compares the flow of a river to the soul’s progress. Henry David Thoreau said, “My profession is always to be alert, to find God in nature.” The Buddha taught, “If you wish to know the divine, feel the wind on your face and warm sun on your hand.”
Lucky for us, a number of our gifted contributors this month feel the same way. They invite us, through their unique words, to plug in to nature and reap the benefits— growth, healing, appreciation, illumination, Oneness.
In this issue of Buddha Chick Life, dedicated to the theme of “Nature as Teacher and Healer,” you’ll read about:
• Marghanita, a naturalist and author, and her new children’s book "Orange Moon, Grandmother Tree." • Linda Lyzenga's, "Nature's Gracious Gift to a Slow Learner" • Sheila Finkelstein's photo-journey, "Healing Light and Shadows" • Kaveri Patel's, "Chrysalis" • Lisa Erickson's, "Working with the Chakras and the Elements" • Jennifer Niedzielski, "Lessons on Mothering Learned from Mother Nature"
and numerous poetry offerings enable our spirits to soar with nature as inspiration.
May the words of Rachel Carson guide us to spend more time at the shore, in the mountains, in the woods, in the desert, this month:
"Those who dwell among the beauties and mysteries of the earth are never alone or weary of life ... Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts."
May it be so for you. May it be so for all beings.
"Make the most of every sense; glory in all of the pleasures and beauty which the world reveals to you ..."
~ Helen Keller
In every waking moment we are surrounded by beauty, in our homes and workplaces, neighborhoods and towns. From vast landscapes that uplift and inspire to a single wild rose that opens our heart. Beauty is everywhere—if we have the eyes to see it. And the awareness to log it in: "Ah, beauty, I see you. I'll stop and spend a few minutes with you."
As the pace of life continues to accelerate, how much are we truly aware of beauty? We seem to move through our days with such speed that we view our surroundings with blurred vision, or perceive the landscape of place as if it were a black and white photograph, missing its vibrancy and allure. And, yet, when we do slow down enough to take notice, to remark on a lovely grove of trees or a sunset, do we take it in fully? Savor it? Appreciate it? Allow ourselves to feel the remarkable relaxation response that naturally comes when we give ourselves over to beauty? I sense that we don't.
Instead, we do what Adair Lara confesses to in her book, Slowing Down In a Speeded Up World: "I don't spend a meditative moment really tasting the blackberry jam or gazing at the faces of my sleeping children or stepping out to the porch to feel the rain on my face.
"Or if I do, I do it quickly, checking it off the list: Gazed at sleeping children. Lifted face to rain. Note to self: Smell roses tomorrow."
If this sounds familiar (I know it did to me when I first read this many years ago), and you'd like to have a felt experience of beauty—tap into its power to touch your heart, bringing more ease and joy into your day—consider taking these five steps toward tapping into beauty.
Slow Down
Wherever you are, a parking lot or a park, walk more slowly. Gauge your pace and slow way down. The faster you go, the less you can really see.
Notice
Look up and around instead of down. Have you ever noticed how many of us walk with our eyes downcast? Look up at the sky. Scan the horizon. Zoom out, zoom in, just like a Google map, and see what's up close and what's further away. Pay attention on purpose and take note of what you see.
Expand
Turn your senses up to "high," as if you are using a dial. Amp up your vision to notice all of the colors and hues around you. Do the same with your sense of hearing. Listen, really, listen to the sounds—or lack of them. Traffic, human voices, birds, silence. Stop moving if you can. Stand very still and simply allow the sounds and sights to fill you.
Feel
Notice how your body feels when your senses are attuned. How does your mind responding? Does each relax, let go of tension? The act of being fully present in any situation, simply observing what is happening around us while using our senses, is an act of "mindfulness," or what stress reduction researcher, Jon Kabat-Zinn calls "present centered awareness." When we respond to our daily activities in this way, we are no longer resisting what we are experiencing. We are fully engaged—our body/mind united in pure awareness—and we stop struggling. This practice alone can create a powerful relaxation response. Being present with mindful attention can be very good for what ails us!
Choose
Engage this process again and again, incorporate it as a life practice, and you'll soon discover yourself craving beauty. You will be on the lookout for it, eyesight trained to scan your surroundings to search out things of beauty. Why? Because your body/mind has made the connection that it feels good to connect with beauty and, naturally, it wants more of that.
In my own life, especially when I am a passenger in a car, I am forever on the lookout for a thing of beauty to touch my heart: cloud patterns in the sky, birds in flight, grass and greenery and flowers' first bloom. We can learn to "choose beauty" in this way and focus our attention on having it more visible throughout our day.
Though the truth of the matter is beauty is always here. It doesn't go anywhere. It is we that wander and drift away, getting lost once again in the rush and blur of the day; shades of gray instead of vibrant blues and greens dominating our vision. But we can remember—and reorient ourselves back to this very moment—with attention and practice. We can learn to lean into beauty and invite it in.
As the first sprigs of spring emerge from winter's sleep, may you be delighted by their presence, newly aware of the gifts of beauty that are here ... waiting to be embraced and appreciated.
Picture it if you will…a beautiful, sunny, unseasonably warm, spring day. Any runner’s dream. Perfect conditions for a long, relaxing run.
So there I was, jogging along a great pace, feeling the sun on my face, listening to my favorite songs, letting the stress that accompanies mothering three toddlers melt away, when out of the blue, my iPod died.
Yep. Totally dead. The moment the music stopped, literally so did my feet. As I stood alongside the road frantically pressing buttons, I couldn't stop thinking,“I can’t run without my music! What am I going to do? How will I find the motivation to finish this run without music?!”
Now, it probably helps to know that I never run without music. Never. Ever. The continual stream of music coming through my ear buds is like a constant stream of distraction from my physical discomfort and the negative thoughts that tell me I can’t go another mile.
On my run that day, I learned it keeps me distracted from so much more.
There I stood, less than halfway home, music-less, aim-less, defeated on the side of a busy street. I had no choice in that moment but to change my thinking. Seriously, all the stressing and self-defeating talk wasn’t going to magically recharge my iPod. So, I made the only choice that I could-- stop obsessing, accept the moment for exactly what it was, and just start running.
As I reluctantly stepped up my pace from a walk to a slow jog, something happened. Something magical. I heard something. I heard….birds. I heard the sound of my feet hitting the pavement in a rhythmic cadence. I heard my breath. Almost instantaneously, I was connected to myself in a new way. Even more, I wasn’t just connected to myself, I was connected to nature. I was connected to my surroundings. And to my surprise, this connection energized me more than any music ever had.
LESSONS in CONNECTEDNESS Learned on the Run
The moment that I became unified with myself and my surroundings, running transformed from a monotonous activity into a meditative one. I noticed when I focused on my breath and the rhythm of my step, my mind became still. While in this state, I couldn’t help but focus on the beauty all around me. I saw the flowers blooming, and I heard kids playing and laughing. Most surprising of all, I found beauty in myself. In this meditative zone, I thought about how incredible it was to have such strong legs, how amazing it was to have a beating heart (rapidly beating, that is!), and how appreciative I was that my body allowed me to do whatever I put my mind to. Disconnecting from the noise on my iPod allowed me to connect to gratitude.
What I learned that day was that the continual stream of music in my ears actually served the purpose I intended. It distracted me. But it distracted me from more than I realized. It disconnected me from my source and from my natural surroundings-- two places that always serve to inspire me and help me feel unified to something larger than myself.
It was on that run, that day, that I had a transformational “aha” moment. I realized that the continual stream of music blaring in my ears from my iPod was just like the continual stream of incessant thinking that runs through my mind on a daily basis. They both serve to disconnect and distract me from being truly unified and connected to my source. And when I am continually distracted from connecting to this source, in effect, I become more disconnected to my children, my husband, my friends, my life, and, most importantly, myself.
Who would have known that a dead iPod could be such a transformational teacher? But it was. Just as I can choose to disconnect from the distraction of my iPod, I can choose to disconnect from the distraction in my mind. And when I do, a deeper connection awaits.
Jennifer Niedzielski is a teacher, writer, mother of three young daughters, and the co-founder of Mindful Moms Network™. After teaching in the traditional classroom setting for over 12 years, she is transcending classroom walls to inspire and teach women how to reclaim their calm and take exquisite care of their mind, body, and inner-selves amidst the chaos of mothering. Through Mindful Moms, it is her intention to create a nurturing and supportive community for moms that encourages Inward Development through the Art of Mothering.
To find out more about how to be a mindful mama, please visit Mindful Moms Network™ Facebook page:
The warm weather has hit the Midwest early this year. My children are already helping me enjoy the outdoors for the majority of our days. We seem to be go, go, go at full speed ahead. They are so excited to enjoy the suns warmth on their skin and feel the cool earth beneath their feet that they are ignoring lunch time, relaxation, and simply getting swept up in the sunshine. Sometimes we just need a gentle reminder to slow down and observe in gratitude at our surroundings. Here’s just a little ditty to share with your littles as you try to enhance the potential of their day with a bit of relaxation and a few deep breaths.
Busy Little Bees
Busy buzzing bees Stop and tell me what you feel and see. Is there a breeze? Do you notice the love in the trees? Take it all in with ease, if you please.
Laughing, singing, jumping, running, skipping and dancing All of this is fine, fun, fabulous and fancy. Remember to slow down you busy little buzzing bee. Long enough to enjoy the refreshing breeze and the glorious trees! Wiggle your toes and feel the green grass tickling you beneath your feet. It will lead you to feel perfect and free. It will lead you to love the air you breathe. So tell me you beautiful little buzzing bee, what is it that you feel and see?
Danielle, in her own words: I am a young woman seeking out ways to help and heal my life. I am releasing my fears and worries to enlighten and lift my being in order to better myself, my children and the world around me. I am learning to be responsible for my energy and my contribution. I live in tiny town in the middle of Illinois on 2 beautiful sandy lakes surrounded by family. I have 14 beautiful healthy nieces and nephews and 2 amazingly bright children that help me to live life on the silly side. Children are so pure and free to be. They inspire me to let loose and live optimistically. Danielle writes the column "Buddha Babies."
It is the small things. The ordinary things people walk past without a second glance, that seem to draw me near. Maybe it is the light, the shadow, the shape, the color or perhaps a great deal of time spent alone, in-doors, physically unwell. No, this affair began long ago, as a small child gaze transfixed upon dust motes sparkling in the wake cast by sunlight through windows. “Daydreamer”, they called me. I was not dreaming, I was fully present, just not to what the grown-ups were talking about. I was and still am w i d e, w i d e awake to this simple truth. I AM IN LOVE WITH LIFE.
… And I see it in freckled amber leaves and broken twigs resting on rain-pocked snow.
Laura is a mother, wife, visual artist, writer, singer-songwriter and experiential educator combining art, yoga, meditation and Jewish spirituality. She is also a Creativity Coach, SoulCollage® facilitator and Spiritual Director. Throughout the past 11 years of child rearing, teaching, facilitating and eventually coaching and spiritual direction, she has also been ill with a wide variety of symptoms receiving several different diagnoses. On September 3, 2009 after an emergency room visit, she was finally diagnosed with RRMS (relapsing remitting ms). While no longer able to work outside her home, she continues to be engaged in the world through blogging regularly and offering individual services via the Internet and phone conferencing. As challenging as living with a chronic, disabling disease is she feels that in many ways, MS has expanded her heart, mind, soul and appreciation for all the things her body IS able to do. “It seems that as the neural connections in my central nervous system decrease, my compassion toward my own lived experience and toward all beings increases. For this I am deeply grateful.” Laura's columns focus on "Healing with Gratitude."
Midlife brings with it great gifts. One of the sublime treasures of these middle years is memories, remembrances of times past that seem to waft in when I least expect it. Of late, memories abound of special times I’ve spent with my parents and siblings, and with my own children when they were very young. Many are based around holidays.
I had a fortunate childhood. It was a happy one, with carefree days and joyous holiday gatherings. Thanksgiving and Christmas were two of the most cherished. Today I realize this is probably so because they were simple—not garish or overstated—sourced in love and the presence of family. Both my mother and her mother, “in charge” of such days, were practical people, rooted in a farm heritage, so our holiday celebrations reflected their upbringing and values.
What do I remember most? The smell of fresh greenery decorating mantels and banisters. Christmas cards taped in a colorful row on thick oak molding around doorways. Green or red candles burning in sconces. Extra leaves in the dining room table to make room for more. Linen tablecloths, fine china and “good silver” lovingly polished. The sounds of family arriving one by one, announcing “Merry Christmas!” as they walked in the door, arms laden with fragrant casseroles and warm pies. Hugs and kisses and “My how you’ve grown!” I realize today it is the sounds, sights and smells of the holidays which fill my memory bank, inviting me to recreate similar gatherings with my own family.
Like my mother and grandmother, I prefer the simple things, including holiday experiences which are modest, yet meaningful. Each year however, as the holidays approach, I notice how my mind is drawn toward the media hype which urges me to create the “perfect” holiday for my family or guests. I notice how that makes me feel at first—excited and energetic—planning for new gift projects, novel decorating ideas and, of course, shopping for the ideal gift for everyone. I also notice that within minutes of such thinking I begin to feel mentally and emotionally exhausted.
I’m grateful for that feeling now because when it comes, I realize it is there to remind me that I don’t have to buy into any of it. I have the choice to back away and remain loyal to myself and my true desires for a more authentic, “natural” holiday. I don’t HAVE to do anything —only what I really want—and especially not to impress others or fulfill their expectations. I do not need to fall prey to the “shoulds” which haunt so many of us. Contrary to what you may have thought or been taught, such loyalty is not self-serving. It is self-affirming.
So, how can you create a holiday that validates and affirms YOU and your well-being? The formula is simple really. It’s one we learned as children when we had to cross the street. It kept us safe and all in one piece. It works over and over again in many areas of our lives, even holidays, if we just apply it: STOP, LOOK AND LISTEN.
STOP: Before you launch into holiday preparations, slow down and take a deep breath. Notice where your energy is flowing. Notice your thoughts and feelings and give them space to be felt.
LOOK: Step back from yourself and your chosen action. Look within and ask yourself, ‘Why am I engaging in this activity? Am I doing this for myself because I enjoy it? Or am I doing so out of necessity or obligation? Does this provide meaning or is it rote tradition? And, most importantly, am I experiencing pleasure or pain as a result of my choice?’
LISTEN: Pay attention to the answers that come. Be honest with yourself about what you’re feeling and know that it’s OK to feel this way. Know that it’s alright to make new choices for yourself based on these feelings. Ask yourself, ‘What do I REALLY want right now?’
CHOOSE is the final and most important step in creating self-affirming holidays. As children, once we’d stopped, looked and listened at the curb, we needed to assess whether it was a good time to cross the street or not. Ask yourself one last similar question. "What choice can I make in this moment to do the kindest thing for myself?"
The answer which arises will make or break your holiday experience. If you give in to those nasty “shoulds,” don’t be surprised if your resentment level rises along with your blood pressure, your holiday rapidly spiraling out of control. If you heed the voice of your truest self any “shoulds” or expectations can be released, along with any feelings of pressure you’re experiencing. Only then are you truly free to enjoy your life, especially the holidays, in a whole new way.
I invite you to reclaim yourself and your holidays to reflect the values of simpler times. To let go of any complexities that may have been created and relax into the beauty of the moment. To me, this would be the perfect holiday scenario. Just imagine, if the most arduous task required of us was to gather with those we love in front of a crackling fire, all the “shoulds” and expectations we’ve carried for so long smoldering like ash in the grate as we raise our glasses and toast to peace and well-being.
Beginning June 1, join us for "Writing for the Health of It," our new online course. 5 minutes a day, for 30 days, to write yourself into a happier, healthier you!
Receive a daily dose of compassion, mindfulness, and loving-kindness sent directly to your Inbox or by Twitter. Subscribe today!
Join us for an upcoming online course, retreat, or special event that will help you live with inner calm, clarity and wisdom.
RSS Feed
