Closing my office door to write something of my own
Those damn chocolate coconut almonds from Trader Joe’s that I can’t stop eating
My candy drawer at work
Taking a break from working to visit People.com, because when September 11th happened I had a job that I hated but I made good money so I subscribed to the magazine and that was the only news I kept up with for almost two years after the Twin Towers fell, but after two years I couldn’t stomach it anymore, but still sometimes when things get too real and I feel like I can’t handle it, I open up a browser tab and read
Taking off my bra as soon as I get home
Changing my underwear and bra and socks as many times as I want during the day
Changing my clothes as often as I want
Watching TV
Having subscriptions to three different on demand TV options so there’s always something to watch
That big TV we finally bought, and the computer we hooked up to it so we could watch those on demand things
Turning the heat up
Standing in the shower under the warm water even though I’m done, even though I’m already clean
Sleeping in
Being home alone
Talking naps
Buying my dogs really high quality food
Talking my dogs to the vet when they are probably fine but I know it will make me feel better, comforted
Going to physical therapy even though I probably don’t need to anymore just because I like my therapist so much
Going to my massage therapist because she touches me for a whole hour and a half, makes me feel better, and I don’t have to do the same for her
Demanding that my husband “tell me something good”
Always asking him “Why now, exactly? What made you say it right now?” every time he randomly tells me he loves me
Letting him clean up my dirty dishes
Leaving all of my shoes out
Staying up late to read even though I know it bugs him
Not answering the phone when she calls because I know she’ll be drunk and won’t even remember talking to me
Driving instead of walking
Taking myself out to breakfast or lunch
Eating whatever I want, when I want, as much as I want
Unfriending or blocking people on social media
A new car
New running shoes, three pairs in different colors
Staying in my pajamas all day
Not going to work, even though I was supposed to
Blogging at work
Doing a different pose than my yoga teacher told us to do
Skipping yoga
Closing my office door
If we want there to be peace in the world, then we have to take responsibility when our own hearts and minds harden and close. We have to be brave enough to soften what is rigid, to find the soft spot and stay with it. We have to have that kind of courage and take that kind of responsibility. That’s true spiritual warriorship. That’s the true practice of peace.
12. None of this matters when you’re dead, “Or why I don’t care that my decade worth of blog content has been lost.” I don’t think I’d be so cool about it if this happened to me.
17. Writing Down The Bones: 30 Years Later. One of my favorite writing teachers. And I am constantly amazed — this was her FIRST book. One of the most important writing books ever, in my humble opinion, and it was the first one she wrote.
23. Wisdom from Tulku Thondup, “Unless one is omniscient or at least enjoys some degree of clairvoyance, no one can judge others. One can see how others appear and how they are behaving, but not who they are or why they are behaving in a particular manner.” During this season of politics, I’ve had to remind myself of this again and again.
26. The life that’s left from Jamie Greenwood. This is such a good reminder. “The only thing I was ever promised at birth was life and THIS, this loss wrapped in pain wrapped in sweet remembrance wrapped in joy, is all part of the package.”
27. 5 Reasons to Meditate by Pema Chödrön. “Yes, it’s a strange thing to do — just sit there and do basically nothing. Yet the simple act of stopping, says Pema Chödrön, is the best way to cultivate our good qualities. Here are five ways it makes us better people.”
There really is no one on this entire planet who knows every single thing that you have lived through, that you have learned, that you have endured, that you have overcome, that you have feared, that you have loved, that you have grieved, that you have built, that you have dreamed up, that you have worked toward. This is why, incredible soul, it is so important to hold yourself to be as sacred as you truly are.
You are a whole lot of beautifulness, in little things and in big things. You are a whole lot of colorfulness woven together in a way that has never ever ever been woven. Don’t let others try to define you, sweet friend. Don’t let others minimize you or try to squeeze you tight into a box that makes them comfortable. You are you and you are too wild and sparkling to fit inside of ANY box. You are meant to shine your light. When you need to feel 100% understood, turn to the source of truth and light. And turn to that beautiful soul inside of you — she is so so so wise.
And remember that we can never know every single thing about others, either. We are all very complicated souls, and we would all be a lot happier if we gave everyone a little bit of grace and focus on the good things we DO know.
29. Women and Body Image with Isabel Foxen Duke, an interview. “On women and body image with the fabulous Isabel Foxen Duke as well as helpful tips and tactics to free yourself from body worries.”
30. How To Deal With Haters. Unfortunately in this age of social media, this is something we all face at one time or another, and this is really sound advice.
37. One of my new favorite songs, ATTLAS – Parallel Lines.
38. Magic Tricks from Jena Schwartz. So beautiful. Writers like Jena raise the bar for my writing in the best possible way.
39. The Hunger for Rest, an important reminder from the amazing Rachel Cole, because this, “If you find yourself eating as a way to avoid the rest you’re craving or as a way to silence your inner critic who bashes you for your laziness, consider embracing your unique needs for rest and see what happens.”
40. Our Everloving Quest to Control Our Lives from Zen Habits. This is such an important read. We should all probably just memorize it, recite it in the mirror every morning. We’d all be so much happier if we could “get” just this one thing.
41. Five Ways To Love Yourself Courageously on Life is Limitless. This is also so important. Caroline starts by saying, “I’ve been focused on personal growth quite intensely now for many years, I’ve read countless books, taken various courses, spent years in therapy, worked with a number of coaches and the number one thing that I learnt from it all is this: If you don’t love yourself deeply and completely, then you can’t ever be truly happy.”