Have you ever noticed how the word love is used so casually, and yet loving deeply, wisely, and well is anything but casual? For many of us, learning to love—truly love—takes a lifetime. It demands not only tenderness, but strength. Not just passion, but wisdom. And perhaps most surprisingly, it asks for practice. This is […]
Learning to Love Like an Adult: How Meditation Shows Us the Way Read More »
But we can all be heroic A Personal Journey—Yours and Ours Connie and I have “adopted” two children in Africa since 2005 through World Help. Over the years, we received letters and photos. We watched those children grow—and we grew too. We witnessed them graduate from kindergarten, and years later from high school, marveling at
Maybe We Can’t All Be Heroes Read More »
Dear friend, The sign over the nondescript door on Via Aurelio in Rome, Italy, simply said Ristorante Pietro. Walking in at just past 6:00, we could see that the building was ancient, with a domed ceiling inlaid with sandstone tiles and arches between the intimate eating spaces. The walls were lined with shelves holding wheels
A Sacred Meal: The Wisdom of Mindful Eating Read More »
Dear friend, Sometimes, all it takes is a glimmer. In the middle of a messy day, a tangled season, or even a lifelong struggle, there can be one soft moment—a breath, a smile, a tiny flicker of hope. And somehow, that’s enough. Enough to shift the current, enough to remember what’s possible. Tara Brach says
A Glimmer Is Enough: The Hope Inside Acceptance Read More »
Lately, I’ve been sitting with a very real and painful truth—the kind that makes the phrase “life’s ups and downs” feel a little too tidy. A dear friend of mine recently died by suicide. The shock, the sadness, the helplessness—it comes in waves. Some days it stings sharply; some days it hums in the background.
How Can I Better Cope with Life’s Ups and Downs? Read More »
Mindfulness is often described as paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment, and without judgment. It sounds simple—and in many ways, it is. But when you’re carrying the weight of trauma, turning your attention inward isn’t always peaceful. In fact, it can sometimes feel overwhelming, disorienting, or even unsafe.
How Mindfulness Helps Us Heal: The Case for Trauma-Informed Practice Read More »
You hear a lot these days about trauma-sensitive or trauma-informed mindfulness. And, frankly, I think the better phrase might be “Trauma-survivor-informed mindfulness.” I say that because when we practice mindfulness together with someone who has a history of trauma, it’s crucial to remember that we’re always working with individuals—unique beings with unique histories, coping mechanisms,
You hear a lot these days about trauma Read More »
Gatha meditation is a beautiful practice that involves reciting short verses or poems to bring mindfulness and presence to everyday activities. These verses help us stay grounded, cultivate gratitude, and connect with the present moment.
Here are some instructions for practicing Gatha meditation
Gatha Meditation: Cultivating Mindfulness in Everyday Moments Read More »
Meditation as a Tool for Emotional Awareness Meditation provides a structured way to explore and deconstruct emotions into their component parts. By practicing emotional awareness, we can better understand the relationship between thoughts and sensations and how they shape our experiences. Here are two specific practices that can help: 1. Body Scans The Body Scan
The Meditation Way of Working with Emotions: Unlocking Emotional Awareness Read More »
“What you resist, persists.” This phrase, often attributed to Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung, encapsulates a truth about the human mind: the more we fight against unpleasant thoughts, feelings, or experiences, the more power they seem to hold over us. On the other hand, “what you can be with will let you be” suggests that acceptance,
What You Resist, Persists Read More »
