“People say nothing is impossible, but I do nothing every day.” ~Winnie the Pooh I have been getting LOTS of messages lately about being still and doing nothing. E-mails, blog posts, Facebook updates, poetry, book titles I just "happen" to see, all pointing to one thing: DO MORE OF NOTHING. It's a familiar concept to me. In fact, I have taught many other people to "be still" more instead of "doing" all the time. I was inspired years ago to write a book on the importance of stillness, which I haven't written...
I was walking to my car the other day and passed by a mother with her child of 2-3 years. They were sitting at a table finishing up what appeared to be their lunch. When I was a few yards away, the child quietly asked the mother for something, to go somewhere. The mother's reply: "If you're good, then we'll do that." She not only said it once, but for some reason (perhaps at the child's insistence) repeated herself a couple more times. When I heard her words, I flinched. It was like sandpaper on my heart. At that very moment, the child let out a tortured sounding squeal and I thought, "Yeah, I feel that!" If only she knew what she was really communicating with her...
We live in a strange world at a curious time. There are shifts happening all around us. New paradigms and a new consciousness dawning. Yes, we all know that change is the only constant. Blah blah blah. But how do you navigate ALL the changes when they come at once? Or when a change seems so monumental you just don't know how you'll survive it? A large part of successfully managing big change in life is learning how to be OK with the "not knowing". Easier said than done, right? Tony Robbins says "The quality of your life is in direct proportion to the amount of uncertainty you can comfortably deal with." Here are my 5 Tips to help you ride the wave of change: 1) First of all,...
My cousin Cindy died last night. The cancer came in and polluted her body and it was more than she could survive. She is in peace now. She is my age. I find myself with a different perspective on death and dying than it seems most people have. There is a lot of talk about how it shouldn’t have happened and about how sad it is. I try and try to find the sadness and it doesn’t come. I had the same experience several years ago when my sister-in-law died and last year when my grandpa died. It creates a challenge for me when choosing how to communicate with family and friends. There are socially acceptable things that people say when someone passes. “I’m sorry.” “It’s so sad.” “Poor _______.” “They...
Yeah, the Beatles song is trailing through my head right now. But that's not what I want to talk about. When you are struggling as a parent, no matter WHAT the situation or circumstance, ask yourself "What is my highest intention with my children?" Then, get quiet (hopefully sitting still for a few minutes) and wait for the answer. My hunch is that it will have something to do with LOVING them. Always. I believe this is one of the greatest aspirations for any parent: TO LOVE MY CHILD NO MATTER WHAT. It's not so easy at times! This is just a reminder to ask what LOVE would do, when you feel yourself spinning out of control. Then, do that. Even if it contradicts what you did 2 minutes...
With the start of school, many parents know that it is the beginning of the kids bringing home sniffles, coughs and other “unwelcome boogers” (pun intended) to share with the whole family. Yes, it’s true that bugs and viruses love to follow the short people around, just waiting for the right time to invade! We make it easy for them when we aren’t taking good care of our bodies and our well being. This includes (especially) our children. How do we keep those pesky critters away from our home and our families? Well, ask yourself these questions: 1. Are my kids getting enough sleep? Depending on their age, children need anywhere between 8.5 hours (minimum for teens) and 14 hours (for toddlers) EVERY DAY. 2. Do my children drink...
This was a powerful experience I had a couple of months ago with my children. I wrote about it in my journal but haven't shared it. Till now ;) It is a beautiful example of how our kids can be our greatest teachers. Enjoy! I fell asleep in Matthew’s bed. After a short time, I thought he was shaking his leg and the bed was moving. I woke up and decided that he wasn’t going to sleep, so I got up and left his room. Just then, Mandie came out of her room and followed me downstairs and asked if I had felt the earthquake. I realized that Matthew WAS asleep and that the earthquake had awakened me. I have always been terrified of earthquakes, ever since I...
This is a POWERFUL message about parenting with true UNCONDITIONAL LOVE. I just had to share it with you. It's so worth the 23 minutes it takes to watch it. Grab a cup of tea and settle in for a treat. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9EVEmZ2c_es Please let me know your thoughts <3...
"It all works out in the end. If it isn't worked out, it isn't the end." ~Unknown This has come up for me several times lately and I wanted to share it. It has been my mantra for many days when I felt the heaviness of life upon me. I completely believe this to be true. I believe that we live in a friendly universe and that we are being supported and held in love at all times, even when, perhaps especially when, we feel overwhelmed and/or out of control. What does this mean to you? I'd love to hear your interpretation. Please share in the comment section below. And remember to KEEP BREATHING. With LOVE <3...