Category Archives: Blogtoberfest

Book Writing Saturday

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The truth is that sometimes there’s a need to yield, to soften, to surrender, to get out of the way of something bigger and faster than you, to give up even. Today feels like that kind of day.

This morning, we went on a mini hike with Dexter at Lory State Park. It’s been three weeks since he’s been there. That last hike was a real one: at least eight miles, most of it spent running. But then things shifted for him just enough that we decided that kind of exercise might be too much for him now, and the times since when Eric has gone with Sam, Dexter has waited at home with me. I was feeling so bad about it that I asked Eric to go this morning, so we could all be there together one more time, even if we couldn’t go that far. We still went about six miles, but we stayed down in the flat land, rather than hiking up in the rocks. We saw the sunrise and lots of deer, and I took a lot of pictures. It felt good to be there, together.

I have to admit though that this letting go is wearing me down. I am tired, depleted, and raw. My intention to work on this book, to keep going is every bit as intense as before, I just don’t have the energy right now to do anything more than to live it. Today I chose to spend what I have, energy and time, with my little family, to take comfort in that, and then to allow myself to rest.

Gratitude Friday

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This post is a mashup of The Little Bliss List and Joy Jam, and as such is meant to celebrate: the little things that brought me hope and happiness this week, the sweet stuff of life, those small gifts that brought me joy this week. By sharing them, I not only make public my gratitude, but maybe also help you notice your own good stuff and send some positive energy out into the world.

1. A new washing machine. Something weird about me that you might not know: I love doing laundry. It’s comfort, therapy, so peaceful and simple, the warmth and the clean smell and the hum and spin, beeps and clicks of the machines, the “setting things right” and renewing of order that happens taking the clothes from dirty to clean, wet to dry. It was unsettling for me when our old machine broke and it took a week for the new one to arrive and be installed, (and believe me, I get that this is a first world problem, and as such, I’m grateful to be lucky enough to have such “problems”).

2. Clean sheets, (see list item #1).

3. Dalai Lama chant, gifted to me by the kind and generous Sherry Richert Belul, at the request of my equally awesome reader and friend Tina. It’s a little over an hour long, and I have been listening to it constantly. It has been such a comfort, helping me to feel centered amidst a swirl of uncertainty.

4. The Open Heart Project and Susan Piver, as well as all the practitioners committed to meditation. When I am struggling with my practice, when I’ve dropped it altogether, I know that when I come back, this resource, this support will be there waiting for me. And I know that even when I am not practicing, they are, and many of them are dedicating the merit of that activity, their kindness rippling out to meet me where I’m at.

5. Cultivating Courage ecourse with Andrea Scher. This class and the beautiful humans in it, all of us working so hard to be brave and Andrea making the space for us, has been an inspiration.

Bonus Joy: Another week with Dexter.