Update: The winners have already been chosen for this giveaway. Subscribe to the Tiny Buddha List to learn about future contests!
Last week, I received an email from the marketing team at Shambhala Publications informing me about the upcoming “Smile-at-Fear” retreat, to be hosted by Pema Chödrön.
This three-day event, focused on wisdom from Pema’s teacher, Chögyam Trungpa will take place in Richmond, California from October 15–17.… Read More
“The saddest summary of life contains three descriptions: could have, might have, and should have.” ~Unknown
This is a phrase that had become a central theme in my life. One night, during one of my all too frequent bouts of insomnia, I sat at my computer and decided to write about my discontent, my middle aged angst.… Read More
We all get stuck: paralyzed about a decision, unsure what choice to make. Stuck in resentment or disappointment we can’t quite recover from. Stuck in a plan that’s not working as anticipated. Stuck in a destructive, repetitive dynamic with family members, coworkers, or friends.
When we’re stuck, things feel immovable, entrenched, even hopeless.… Read More
“A man is not old until regrets take the place of his dreams.” ~Proverb
Something beautiful just occurred to me.
I spend so much time stressing over my future adult achievements—a good career, a home for life, getting published, an adult relationship, possibly a kid and a large dog—that I don’t often revel in the things that 7-year old me would have been stoked about.… Read More
“If we are facing in the right direction, all we have to do is keep on walking.” ~Proverb
I couldn’t drive, drink, vote, or stay out after 9:00, and yet I had two jobs.
I started working just before I turned 12. My parents didn’t have a lot of money, so I knew early on I’d need to work if I wanted to do fun things, like go to music camp.… Read More
Happy day! As you can see, tinybuddha.com has a new design.
Earlier this week, I mentioned I was excited to launch this new site in conjunction with the one-year anniversary.
In that somewhat long post, I announced three book giveaways I planned to conduct in celebration. It’s not too late if you haven’t already entered to win.… Read More
“The greatest mistake you can make in life is to be continually fearing you will make one.” -Elbert Hubbard
This year has been a massive change for me. I had enough of the lameness that was freezing my previous life. Always experiencing the same days, meeting the same people and doing the same things.… Read More
It’s a pretty exciting week in Tiny Buddha world. Several months back, I decided to have Tiny Buddha redesigned.
Well, we decided. There is an amazing man named Joshua Denney who has done a lot of work on the site.
It’s through his passion, expertise, and hard work that we’ll have a completely new design at the end of this week.… Read More
“Don’t fear failure so much that you refuse to try new things. The saddest summary of life contains three descriptions: could have, might have, and should have.” ~Unknown
There are two basic human emotions that are the driving force behind each thought, each daily inspiration and that rare but pivotal new-chapter, life-changing decision. … Read More
A couple weeks ago, I was talking to a friend of mine. I was telling her how I always know when it’s time for me to move. She asked me, “How do you know? What makes you aware that you ‘know’ this?”
It was a reasonable question: What is the actual sign that indicates that you “know” to do anything?… Read More
“Let yourself be silently drawn by the stronger pull of what you really love.” ~Rumi
I have been working on Tiny Buddha for over two years, and yet I’ve rarely written about my experiences running it.
I haven’t told you anything about my own challenges, opportunities, and lessons and it occurred to me today that that might be valuable information.… Read More
“The future is completely open, and we are writing it moment to moment.” ~Pema Chodron
This past year has been one of tremendous self-discovery. One day, I suddenly realized after 9 years of a very straight finance paved path that I no longer wanted to be a corporate banker.
Instead, I wanted to wake up each morning with a bigger purpose—a brand of who I was, and what I stood for outside of this corporate lifestyle.… Read More
“Don’t wait for people to be friendly. Show them how.” ~Unknown
When I was a teenager—right around the time I knew everything—my mother used to tell me I only remembered the bad things.
When I told stories about my family, they didn’t revolve around family beach trips, barbecues, and vacations; the focused on my parents’ fights and all the ways they “ruined my life.”
The same applied to friends and milestones in my life.… Read More
“Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional.” ~Unknown
My daughter Nava suffered a medical crisis and was hospitalized for one year. She was in a drug-induced paralyzed coma on a ventilator for three months, teetering on the seesaw of life and death; however, much closer to the death side.
Miraculously surviving, she moved on to a rehab hospital for the next nine months where she had to relearn each and every body and motor function. … Read More
“After winter comes the summer. After night comes the dawn. And after every storm, there comes clear, open skies.” ~Samuel Rutherford
I was talking to someone this week about his feeling that things weren’t happening fast enough. That with all he was doing, intending and putting out there, that more should be happening—and faster.… Read More
“People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.” ~Chinese Proverb
When I was in junior college, I wasn’t the best student. I skipped classes, didn’t do my assignments, and barely studied for my tests. Needless to say, I flunked those exams.
After a few months, I realized I didn’t want to continue on like this.… Read More
“With realization of one’s own potential & self confidence in one’s ability, one can build a better world.” ~Dalai Lama
For the vast majority of my life I didn’t believe I could do most of the things I wanted to do.
I knew I wanted to be in a relationship, but I feared that if I got into one I’d do something to mess it up.… Read More
“He is able who thinks he is able.” ~Buddha
The world has given us many outstanding people.
Although we possess our own unique talents, we look to leaders and mentors as models of action and success. They represent unlocked potential, perseverance and shining lights for us to follow.
Since all paths are unique, we can’t follow exactly where others have been, but we can learn from their examples of confidence and dedication.… Read More
“Excellence can be obtained if you care more than others think is wise, risk more than others think is safe, dream more than others think is practical, expect more than others think is possible.” ~Unknown
A revelation came to me the other day during lunch with my co-worker.
As I wolfed down my germ-infused, salad-bar lunch, I thought about my father for no particular reason other than I probably miss him since moving out of my parents’ house two weeks ago.… Read More
“When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be.” ~Lao Tzu
Ever since my birthday in December, I’ve been changing things up. I think it’s good once in a while to take inventory and make new decisions.
You don’t always have to analyze why you decided to do something, or where you went wrong, or where it all started.… Read More
Though I run this site, it is not mine. It's ours. It's not about me. It's about us. Your stories and your wisdom are just as meaningful as mine. Click here to read more.
