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Breathing is Enough
Me too. Let’s just take a breath together. Letting Ourselves Off the Hook of Gratitude I’ve been writing a series of these about difficult times and grief. After last week I declared that to be the last of the series and I would move to more positive and feel good topics. But then “me too”…
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Breathing is Enough
Me too. Let’s just take a breath together. Letting Ourselves Off the Hook of Gratitude I’ve been writing a series of these about difficult times and grief. After last week I declared that to be the last of the series and I would move to more positive and feel good topics. But then “me too”…
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A Poem of Blessings for Times of Grief
These words. Like a soothing bubble bath for your soul. Beannacht, the Gaelic Word for Blessings by John O'Donohue On the day when The weight deadens On your shoulders And you stumble, May the clay dance To balance you. And when your eyes Freeze behind The gray window And the ghost of loss Gets in…
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I Thought It Was a Good Luck Spell
Ha! I am not a gratitude witch after all. I Said Thank You Because I Wanted More You’d think I have this gratitude thing figured out by now after six years of this daily practice. But that’s why this is called a practice. There is no point of arriving. It is all becoming. Becoming grateful.…
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So, you want to be a badass?
Oh my gosh. Why is this so scary? Tough = Vulnerable I love the quote this week. It is so very true that the most rebellious thing we can do in a disconnected and harsh world is to show our hearts. Show your heart to your friends. Show your heart to your family. Show your…
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If You Want To See Something Ugly
This Basquiat quote is just so damn true. Seeing It All Do you want to see the ugliness in the world? Do you want to see the beauty in the world? It isn't really a choice. We have the capacity for both. But we just have to remember that if we want to see…
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Don’t Cover Up Shit with Glitter
I found actual dog shit in my bed! Allow The Shit To Be Shit A couple weeks ago I was talking about Getting Real About Gratitude where I mentioned that things aren't always pretty but that we can still find beauty by looking at the ugliness with a grateful heart. Well that was put to…
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Getting Real about Gratitude
It’s not all daisies and sunsets. The Reality of Gratitude Before I started my gratitude practice I used to roll my eyes at people’s gratitude. I mean, come on. Don’t they live in the real world like the rest of us? Where’s the dog shit and the car wrecks and the death? Why is…
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Wise Wounds
That place that hurts. This Isn’t Your Last Wound There is a wound. Slashing through your heart. Or is it your body? Your soul? It screams out to you in pain fresh and bloody. Or the throb of an ancient hurt muted but etched in stone. It begs for your attention. It buckles your…
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The Wisdom of Feeling Good
Tiptoeing into feeling good. Me, At My Wisest What if the wisdom we seek has been here all along? What if feeling good is our work? What if finding beauty even amidst the struggle is what we are here for? When I am at my wisest I am noticing, aware, feeling it all. And I…
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And Then the Anger Came
Gratitude and anger. We rarely talk about these two together but … Is Anger the Opposite of Gratitude? If you’ve been following the last three issues you know I have been going through a difficult time. In full transparency I am grieving the loss of a beautiful partnership. This breakup has been challenging. But you…
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Is Your Gratitude Practice Building Your Resiliency?
And through my gratitude I now know my worth. What Do You Do When Things Get Hard? Do you try to numb the pain? Do you distract yourself? Do you ignore it? Do you practice gratitude? Do you fall back into some old negative patterns? Do you exercise? Do you feel sorry for yourself? Do…
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The Difference Between Hope and Faith
Yes, I know that I am right where I need to be today. {inhale, exhale} Her Words Reminded Me That It Was True for Me I have been grieving and in this difficult time I have been telling myself, “Everything is going to be OK.” and “It will all work out.” Those are nice and…
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Being Grateful Without the Desire to Possess It
Staying grateful through the holidays. A Beautiful Exchange That Inspired Me She complimented me on my earrings. And then she added “they are great on you.” She explained that in many cultures when you compliment something, and seem to be captivated by it, the custom is to give it to them. So she said…
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Honoring Our Loved Ones Who Have Passed Away
Gratitude that is specific and from the heart. What a beautiful way to honor them. On Becoming Beautiful The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity and…
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Earthing
Bare feet on the earth. We connect with nature. We breathe slower. We are grounded. This Week Let’s All Try This Carve out some alone time in your schedule. Walk outside. Remove your shoes. Stand on the earth. Feel the temperature underfoot. Feel the texture underfoot. Take five slow deep breaths. Notice.…
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Summer Rain Cleanse
The thunder is the loudest, the lightning is the brightest, the rain is the softest. When Life is Stormy Summer rains are showering our desert in blessings. Let the rain cleanse away your worries and your fears. Let the unknowns of life be as accepted as the thunder. Let your gratitude flow like soft…
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Three Slow Exhales with the Ocean
Each breath was slower than the one before until finally I sank into my true relaxed state. My jaw relaxed, my mind cleared, I felt fully immersed in the moment. What a gift. Three Long and Slow Exhales Sink deep into relaxation starting with three breaths. Exhaling long and slow is the key…
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Gratitude Sharing Amidst a Storm
We sat quietly, taking cover from the desert sun, as the meditation began a storm blew through. The Smell of Onions Unseen. A Healthy Body. The Colorful Mountains. A Safe Place. We gathered. We, who are all about gratitude, sat together. We took cover from the dry desert sun in the shade, cooled by…
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Mindful Full Moon Solstice
Mindfulness is not only a meditation technique. It is a deep noticing. It is new possibilities. It is being present. A Mindful Experience Today is a special day, both the summer solstice and a full moon on the same day. What a perfect day to talk about being present and noticing. Imagine if no one…