Compassion & Self-Compassion

How “AND” Is More Inclusive Than “BUT”

October 17, 2014

  Whether I am writing to you in this blog or I am in conversation with someone, finding the words to describe how I feel and what I want to convey is one of my main goals. My intention is to use language in ways that heal and promote loving connections. To be truthful, I sometimes […]

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Benefits of Doing One Thing You Love

October 10, 2014

  While photographing in the garden early this evening, I suddenly thought, “I am doing something I love!”           About fifteen months ago, I discovered I have a lot of fun taking pictures with my smartphone camera – especially of nature shots. I had a lovely adventure with an online photo course in the summer of […]

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How to Calm Stress: My New Discovery

October 3, 2014

A surprising revelation happened while I was writing on the screened porch this week. I was enjoying pleasant seventy-something degree temperatures, when I heard crows conversing emphatically, as crows often do.         The crows had been caw-cawing in the background. When I noticed the sounds, it seemed I was transported back to childhood. In my crow […]

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Grief Can Happen (Even) When Someone Not So Close Dies

September 25, 2014

  At times there can be a reaction of sudden and deep sadness to learning of the death of someone you never met or knew long ago or met briefly.   This can occur, also, when a well liked public figure dies, such as an entertainer or a beloved leader. A few of many public figures I and multitudes of […]

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Why Is It So Tough to Love Ourselves? 2 Exercises for You

September 5, 2014

When I sat down to write today, what popped into my mind was the question, “Why is it so tough to love ourselves?” I realize it isn’t always difficult for each of us to feel self love. Certainly, many have worked diligently on this lesson and may have widely surpassed my own strides. As well, the intensity […]

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Personal Stories to Ease Your Grief

August 22, 2014

Each experience of grieving is unique. There is no one-size-fits-all version of how we are affected by grief nor of what steps to take to heal as best we can from losing someone through death. Pondering these thoughts a couple years ago led me to issue an invitation for writers to share their personal stories […]

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Help for Depression + Actions in Memory of Robin Williams

August 16, 2014

Obviously, there are many discussions and writings and reminiscences in recent days about Robin Williams. Most of us never met him, yet we are profoundly saddened by his death, by a world where he is no longer physically present. We feel loss, maybe even lost. The generous and talented man who brought light to our lives through […]

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Nature Inspires Creativity and Relaxation

July 31, 2014

Today I am sharing a handful of the many photos I have been taking with my  camera phone. As I consider the list of activities that help me relax, nature shows up in a lot of them. Meditating outdoors. Taking a walk. Napping on the screened porch.  Being by a body of water, whether it’s an ocean, a pond, […]

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Self-Compassion: Combining Compassion & Relaxation

July 24, 2014

You are invited to experience a simple relaxation exercise combining compassion, gratitude, and body awareness. I call it a Body Gratitude Relaxation. Whether much of your current stress stems from everyday life or if there are extra circumstances weighing heavily, such as loss or illness or a difficult family situation, I feel it is important […]

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What Feeds Your Soul?

July 3, 2014

Quite a few years ago, I noticed a discomfort in myself when I asked a new acquaintance, “What do you do?” This was the typical dance people did with one another when meeting someone new at social gatherings. I pondered my feelings about it. What was it about this question that bothered me? A few answers […]

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