Sometimes Happiness Looks Like…
Dear Childhood Friends, Thank You and I Miss You
“Sweet is the memory of distant friends. Like the mellow rays of the departing sun, it falls tenderly, yet sadly, on the heart.” ~Washington Irving
Why is it that the older we seem to get the more and more we miss friendships from days long past?
You know the ones…
The friendships where you felt 100% happiness being in their presence.
Where you felt as if you could be your true self—goofy, silly, honest, and real.
Where you would get lost in conversations, imagination, and being fully present in the moment.
Where you went on adventures, told them your …
7 Awesome Things That Happened When I Started Surfing at 55
“It’s never too late for a new beginning in your life.” ~Joyce Meyer
I sat on the beach, watching the sandpipers skittering back and forth, pecking at the water’s edge. A dead horseshoe crab washed back and forth in the surf.
Finished at fifty-five, I thought. I’m as useless as that poor crab.
Several years ago I was laid off after thirty-three years at a Fortune 500 company. “Workforce rebalancing” was the term they used, but for me it simply meant a month’s severance pay and colleagues solemnly shaking my hand. Hand over your badge… there’s the door, …
How to Create a Healthy and Lasting Romantic Relationship
“You cannot create a conscious relationship with someone who isn’t committed to doing their work. But you can create a better relationship with yourself, and sometimes that looks like releasing yourself from the idea that you can change another person or convince them to grow. Choose yourself.” ~Sheleana Aiyana
What are the ingredients that make a loving, romantic relationship flow and sustain for many years? And what kind of love/relationship is best for long-term success?
These questions have been at the core of my pursuits personally and professionally for some years now, and let’s face it, these questions are at …
If You Think Contentment Will Make You Lazy and Unproductive
“To be content doesn’t mean you don’t desire more, it means you’re thankful for what you have and patient for what’s to come.” ~Tony Gaskins
There’s a thought I want to share with you that used to keep me up at night.
It’s a toxic idea that caused me stress and burnout and actually got in the way of my productivity and creativity (and more importantly, my happiness).
Nevertheless, I hung onto it, and eventually came to see that it wasn’t just me. It was actually prevalent in many developed societies.
The thought went something like this: If I accept …
How I Stopped Blaming My Ex for Our Painful Relationship
“To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you.” ~Lewis B. Smedes
When it came to my ex-girlfriend, I had difficulty letting go.
She was a girl I’d had a big crush on for a couple of years. Funnily enough, once my crush on her began to fade, she suddenly started taking a liking to me and made it known that she was into me through our mutual friends.
I had my doubts about our compatibility from the start. We hardly shared any common interests, and I found it hard to connect with …
How to Hear Your Intuition When Making a Big Decision
“Your brain can play tricks, your heart can be blind, but your gut is always right.” ~Rachel Wolchin
Have you ever wondered why it can feel so incredibly difficult to make a decision? The pros and cons lists, the endless stream of thoughts talking us into it and then against it, the anxiety about potential disappointment, doing it wrong, or regretting it can leave us paralyzed with self-doubt.
I can very much relate to this cycle. In the past, I had extreme difficulty making decisions. I would become completely obsessed with all aspects of the process, seeking to talk …
How to Rebuild Your Self-Worth After Your Breakup
“Self-love, self-respect, self-worth: There’s a reason they all start with ‘self.’ You can’t find them in anyone else.” ~Unknown
After my divorce, I felt like I was the most terrible person in the world.
I had zero self-worth, zero confidence, and zero belief in myself
If you’re going through a breakup or divorce now, your self-worth may suffer too. You might feel worthless. You might feel value-less. You might feel like a failure.
Think about it. The person who loved you, who wanted you, who fell in love with you is now rejecting you.
If you’ve been together for a …
Free Online Embodied Psychology Summit – Starts on the 22nd
Have you ever felt like you’ve rehashed your issues over and over, but you’re still far from healing? Maybe you’ve done talk therapy for years, and it’s helped to some degree, but it feels like you’ve been missing something you need to finally start feeling happy, free, and alive.
If this sounds familiar, I highly recommend the FREE ONLINE Embodied Psychology Summit, which starts in just a few days, on Wednesday the 22nd.
In this five-day event, you’ll hear from forty renowned teachers and therapists and learn to ignite the wisdom of your body to heal trauma, …
When You Feel Bad About Feeling Sad and Anxious
“You don’t have to be brave all of the time. You are not damaged or defeated. Have patience. Give yourself permission to grieve, to cry, and to heal. Allow a bit of compassion, you’re doing the best you can. We all are.” ~Unknown
Growing up, I received the message that everything had to look a certain way. It was only okay to feel positive emotions, and any expression of unruly emotions was totally unacceptable.
It wasn’t that anyone directly said this to me. I wasn’t given a written set of rules to follow. I wasn’t given any speeches or trainings …
How to Love a Lying, Cheating Heart
Brett’s name flits onto my screen with an incoming email.
“Call you right back,” I say, hanging up on a friend.
Last time I talked to Brett, the Obama family lived in the White House. Last time I thought of him? Last year, as Melania took her third crack at presidential Christmas décor, and I failed to muster enough spirit to fetch our pre-lit tree from the garage.
Brett’s message came in through the contact form on my website. He invited me to meet for coffee; full respect if I decline.
Four years ago, it was me who reached out …
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. 