Blog Posts

This week has proved a sort of tipping point for me; I’ve almost been stunned into silence by the sheer lunacy of “celebrating” our country as it continues to plumb new depths of ignorance and cruelty. I’ve tried really hard over the past eighteen months to stay positive and strive to improve my little corner of the world, to keep my grief and outrage to myself, but the cognitive dissonance is overwhelming me lately. I feel a bit like a toy soldier who has wound all the way d

Almost twelve years ago, the implosion of my marriage and an ensuing series of unfortunate events laid the foundation for a sea change in every aspect of my life. Over time, the learning, healing, and growing I was fortunate enough to experience rendered my life unrecognizable from the one I’d previously been living. While I did make some important additions, the bulk of the changes I made were a matter of subtraction: dropping my attempts to control; no longer seeking approv

I’ve written before about filling the well, or injecting novelty into your life in order to stimulate curiosity and growth. One of my favorite ways to do that is through travel, and this week a short road trip reminded me of the importance of breaking out of my routine. Shaking things up a bit also provided me with the opportunity to switch up some habits of thought and reactions. There were minor glitches along the way that would have once set me on a downward mental spiral;

Last week I talked about how a short session of quieting transformed my mood and my day. It also led to a veritable avalanche of decluttering and quieting this week, which has resulted in such pleasure that it feels like it might be illegal. There’s the removal of bags of items for donation or disposal, creating space and calm and saving some poor soul from the task at a later date. There’s the peace gained from focusing on a task while simultaneously giving myself the illusi

It was a tough couple of days: an eye infection that just would not quit; a heart wrenching conversation with someone I love; my estranged son’s birthday; an outing I’d been looking forward to canceled; a call to return to the dermatologist’s office “just to be safe”. I noticed myself preparing to shut down, to dish out some ice cream (or pour a glass of wine), get on the couch, and start the endless tape of old stories. Remembering that movement precedes motivation, I decide

Last week, I resolved to be more present and to work toward radical acceptance. Which means I’m noticing and naming things. This week’s big takeaway should come as no surprise: I’m much happier when my consumption of social media is minimal. I’d recently noticed that the time I spent online had inadvertently crept upward and set a vague intention to decrease it. And I did for the most part. Yet this week, when other things and people kept me too busy to spend much time overlo

This week was unremarkable on its face. Just me doing the things I usually do, beginning to wonder if I was stagnating. With a little reflection, though, I realized that in my everyday rounds this week, the Universe provided me with a number of sweet reminders of some of the important lessons that have so enhanced my life. I was reminded of the importance of speaking my truth even in cases where I’m afraid it will cause conflict or discomfort. I was reminded that twinges of e

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

A week in which I got intentional about metaphorically and literally shedding all that no longer serves me as the Year of the Snake drew to a close. Leaving me poised to gallop into the Year of the Fire Horse, which began Tuesday. It may just be the power of suggestion, but I’m feeling hopeful about leaving behind what felt like the suspended animation of the last few months and charging ahead into a juicier life. Stay tuned. Ways I Found Joy This Week Stopping for lunch at

A week in which I once again became a veterinary technician. The promised update on last week’s vomiting extravaganza is a good news/bad news one: my ten-pound titan has completely recovered from cholangitis (the nasty liver/gallbladder/bile duct infection that necessitated hospitalization and a temporary feeding tube) and now has pancreatitis. Which may or may not be (probably is) due to my exuberance, despite my inexperience, as a canine chef (a perfect example of the Dunn

As the holidays approach this year, I realize that my dread of the season has significantly lessened (perhaps a silver lining of estrangement ) but my habit of reviewing the blessings in my life (you can read about that here and here ) is entrenched. This year, in addition to the evergreen items on my gratitude list (my gorgeous sanctuary, my continued solvency, my progress in healing and thriving), there’s plenty to add to the list: Complete recovery from last year’s back