Practicing mindful self-care involves being present in the moment with mindfulness. Living mindfully and intentionally begins with the breath, with being present in each moment. But it also involves making choices about our lives that are congruent with who we are and what matters most to us. In order to realize our true nature, and […]
The wonder of birds never ceases to amaze me. About a month ago, I walked out of my friends’ front door to find their cat devouring a baby bird. The cat had placed another baby bird in front of the door. I instantly scooped it up and held it. It was still warm, and it’s […]
Vulnerability and connection are at the foundation of cultivating authentic relationships. I spent the day with a family of old friends. Today, two of them broke an unspoken agreement to maintain their parents’ expectations for perfection, and they spoke the truth. They spoke about the pain of years of denial about a family member’s homosexuality, […]
What does it mean to live your full creative potential? Maybe it means deciding what you want to do in this world and taking the next steps. I’ve decided to join the folks nablogpomo, National Blog Posting Month, for June and post every day. June’s topic is “Jump.” I just registered today and decided to […]
When we practice clear seeing and become willing to see the truth of our lives, we may feel disappointed if what we see is not similar to what we desire. The important thing is that we are willing to see our lives as they are with nonjudgment, kindness, curiosity, and self-compassion. We can apply our […]
Healing in nature, healing ourselves and the natural world is an interdependent practice of healing. In the natural world, we encounter the ecology of place. We discoverthat creatures are linked to one another and to their surroundings. We discover a communion of subjects amongst the birds, trees, flowers, animals, bodies of water, and ourselves that […]
Originally published at Wilmington Faith and Values on March 8, 2012. I developed a practice of mindful writing when began an in depth exploration of various writing practices years ago following a family tragedy. I had studied a number of writing practices, but I hadn’t found one in which I could find an ease, a […]
Seeing clearly can help us to have insights and open our hearts with greater compassion to whatever arises in our lives. I’ve come full circle back to the collage work. I tried to force something to be a photograph, but its deepest longing is to be collage. Last weekend’s yoga workshop in Asheville brought some […]
This article was first published in Religion News Wilmington on January 23, 2012 with the title “Mindfulness as a Spiritual and Secular Practice Increases Wellbeing.” Mindfulness for wellbeing is awareness of the present moment without judgment. It involves slowing down and focusing the attention on the body, feelings, and mind. It is an invitation to be […]
The power of intention is that it helps us to remain focused on what matters most. Yesterday there was something I needed to get done that I really didn’t want to do. I paused for a moment to become aware of my thoughts. “I’m tired,” I heard. “And it’s raining.” It’s raining? I smiled at […]