Blog Posts

Tomorrow I’ll celebrate yet another trip around the sun with the gratitude for my many blessings that has become the hallmark of my new life. In previous years, I’ve also used the milestone as an opportunity to reflect on the previous year, with an emphasis on all of the improvements I’ve made or the things I’ve accomplished. And, because I was rebuilding this phoenix from the ashes, I believe that approach served to encourage me and validate my hard work. Then. This year I f

A week in which I doubled down on my resolution to resist despair. As the weeks wear on and the atrocities continue, I’m finding it increasingly difficult not to worry or lose hope. Not to wake up saying “it’s going to be a great day” but thinking “oh, fuck”. So I’m ramping up my efforts to accentuate the minor joys and tiny rays of light in my world. It feels pretty insignificant, but it’s the best I can do right now.   Ways I Found Joy This Week Spontaneously stopping at a

A week in which going with the flow led to impromptu adventures and so much contentment. Ways I Found Joy This Week Hosting girls’ movie night Refreshing my “fairy hair” Dispelling my anxiety and anger about current events with action by writing postcards for democracy Whiling away a Sunday afternoon at a leisurely brunch under the trees with old friends Walking Juno Beach and collecting shells on a windy, overcast day Making a spontaneous expedition to the Breakers and getti

A week in which staying in the moment transformed each ordinary day into a peaceful, satisfying tile in the mosaic of a happy life. Finally, slowly, I’m truly absorbing the knowledge that I don’t have to be producing, or doing, to be worthy. Also, a week in which the temperatures dropped precipitously again, providing plenty of opportunity for fresh air and outdoor exercise (as well as gratitude that I no longer live in a blizzard zone).   Ways I Found Joy This Week Having a

I’m sure it’s just frequency illusion (like when you decide you might like to buy a red car, and suddenly red cars are everywhere), but lately I seem to be haunted by this advice. If you want to fight the despair engendered by our inexorable descent into fascism and corruption… If you want to grow… If you want to save the planet… If you want to find peace… If you’re suffering from burnout… If you want to leave a legacy behind… …create more and consume less. Of course, the see

I’ve mentioned “filling the well” in earlier posts. It’s a concept I first picked up from reading Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way many...