Naming the Act: What I Learned about Forgiveness from Teaching Middle School

A year ago yesterday I was in the midst of Laura Sprinkle’s #shesgotgutschallenge.   [I know this because my Timehop told me so.  Have I told you lately how much I love technology?  Though it’s been bringing me plenty of wrinkly-foreheaded suffering and bumbling-brained confusion, it also brings me plenty of awesome heart-filling reminders of […]

Going from I’ve Got To to I Get To: A Study in Living the Life You Want

Have you ever felt like your life is running you instead of the other way around? Totally overwhelmed by all the obligations and things that just must get done? Does the thought of a more joy-filled life sound like a lovely fairy tale that could never possibly represent reality? I get it.  I really do. […]

Letting Yourself Know: The Opposite of Working Hard

You know when you’re driving somewhere you’ve been before, and you know your turn is approaching but you can’t quite remember which one it is?   Even though you’re familiar with the path, you worry that you’ll miss what it is you’re looking for. And so you drive.  You’re focusing hard on every approaching side […]

Fresh Air and What You Do With it

At last! You, my dear, are ready.   Pull back those blinds and loosen the latches.   Your time has arrived.   Breathe it in. You know you want to. What are you waiting for?   Be greedy, Woman. Unrelenting. Do not stop until you are full.   Be so bold as to take a […]

LETTING THE OTHER SHOW DROP: VULNERABILITY, GRATITUDE, AND JOY

:: letting the other shoe drop: vulnerability, gratitude, and joy :: The other day I was watching a video of an interview between Brené Brown and Oprah Winfrey, courtesy of my friend Kendra Tanner of the True You Project.   In it, Oprah and Brené talk about the perhaps surprising component of terror – yes […]

Love Never Fails

The other night I was quickly walking through a well-known discount department store to its stationary section, because a while back I had found a journal there that I’ve come to adore and I wanted to see if they had any more.   I had visions of buying like 5, already beginning to conceive of […]

Receiving and Gift-Giving

Now that the holiday has come and gone, the gifts are put away and the packaging discarded, recycled, repurposed, or set aside to reuse, I think I’ve got just enough distance from it all to articulate some brewing thoughts on the whole gift thing. I feel like so many of us have issues around gifting […]

Breathe and Believe

Hello You Lovely Thriving Blooms! I just wanted to pop in and send you some holiday sparkle and glow and remind you during this busy time of year that you, my dear, are love and light, beauty, joy, and peace. I also wanted to share with you the following mantra that may prove useful in […]

AFTER GIVING THANKS

:: after giving thanks :: Today I’m thankful for sunshine streaming through my windows, online banking, and the delicious Thanksgiving leftovers my mom sent home with me that I’m about to eat for lunch. I’m grateful that my wireless internet service provider had staff on last night, and even though all I had to do […]