On this day, when we celebrate our country’s declaration of freedom from British rule, may we be thankful for our own freedom as well as be willing to defend the freedom of others.
Freedom of speech. Freedom to disagree. Freedom of expression. Freedom to object. Freedom of thought. Freedom of the press. Freedom to love. Freedom from corporate rule. … Continue reading
Taking time to relax, to step away from day-to-day demands, is important. We all need white space in our lives. Time that is unscheduled. Time to think. Time to dream. Time to simply be.
While I work hard to create moments of quiet in my day-to-day life, as truly we all need to have downtime daily, it’s definitely a challenge to accomplish this while homeschooling two young, active boys.… Continue reading
Mindfulness means paying attention to what you are doing. It is a focus on what is going on in us and around us. By focusing on the uniqueness of each moment, we can be undistracted from and accepting of whatever lies before us.
With a mindful focus, any task can become a meditation. Tonight as I was chopping mushrooms for dinner, I focused exclusively on the task before me; it helped that my boys were outside working in the yard with my husband.… Continue reading
I believe that love can conquer fear, hatred, and heartache.
I look forward to a day when human kind can live in peace. Let us work together, love one another, and leave a legacy of kindness and compassion wherever we go.
“I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality.… Continue reading
In the midst of a book full of fun and silly poems, lies this message of truth. Who are we to say what is impossible for someone else? Or to let someone else say what is impossible for us?
“Listen to the MUSTN’TS, child,
Listen to the DON’TS
Listen to the SHOULDN’TS
The IMPOSSIBLES, the WON’TS
Listen to the NEVER HAVES
Then listen close to me –
Anything can happen, child,
ANYTHING can be.”… Continue reading
The trouble started on Saturday night. My 2-year-old suddenly decided he would not share. And it got loud.
Two weeks ago a dear friend gave each of my boys a container full of water balloons. My 7-year-old received green and orange balloons. My 2-year-old received red and blue balloons. Each of them was delighted.
The boys decided to share their balloons, using first one container and then the other, so that they wouldn’t accidentally get too many of the unused balloons wet (which can quickly result in a moldy mess). … Continue reading
We each have many opportunities to do good within our day-to-day lives. Each morning, we awaken to a fresh opportunity to sustain this practice. In this way, through the continued doing of good, we change our lives, we change the lives of those around us, and we change the world.
Even things as simple as saying a genuine thank you, meeting a person’s eye when you speak to them, or smiling at the people you walk past can touch the lives of others with kindness. … Continue reading
So often, my responses to situations seem to be on auto-pilot. I don’t really think about my response, I simply respond.
Part of my interest in mindfulness is an attraction to being fully present in each moment, and being able to decide within that moment what would be an appropriate way to respond. This is not to discount the wisdom that often comes from a gut response, it’s simply taking a moment to check in and be sure that whatever my particular reflexive response happens to be is how I truly want to respond in this given instance.… Continue reading
My boys and I have watched several different types of insects move through their life cycles. In past years, we’ve watched ants make amazing tunnels. We’ve observed as tiny caterpillars grew large, secreted a chrysalis, and emerged as butterflies (see HERE). We’ve seen ladybugs transform from larvae, to pupa, and then into the adult ladybugs we all recognize.
This week, we watched over a hundred praying mantis nymphs emerge from a single egg. … Continue reading
If we seek joy, we will certainly find it. We all have joy that lives in our hearts and lives, sometimes we simply need to make an effort to invite it into the open.
“Keep knocking, and the joy inside will eventually open a window and look out to see who’s there.”
Rumi (translated by Coleman Barks), The Essential Rumi
Where are you finding joy today?… Continue reading