If your day gets off to a rough start, remember: 1) We are all under construction—and if you’re like that building across from my daughter’s school, it can take a while. We are all just works in progress, growing brick by brick. 2) A bad morning can fuel a lovely afternoon jog or inspire a … Continue reading Friendly Reminders for When Your Day Gets off to a Rough Start
Tag: mindful living
Love Is in the Air
Cherish the relationship you have. And if you think you don’t have one, think again, cuz we are all in a relationship with ourselves. But if you are like me, self-love doesn't come easy. And living in a culture that cultivates being saved by another doesn't help! My journey in self-love had its beginnings in … Continue reading Love Is in the Air
Stumbling Through
I wake up everyday with this sort of amnesia. Thoughts running through my mind. To-do lists draped across my heart. I am bewildered, beset by concerns. It’s not as if I have conquered my previous 35 years of life’s challenges-—some minor, some more severe. That track record is nowhere to be found. And so, every … Continue reading Stumbling Through
Stretching Wrings Out Stress
Today was a very special morning! I got to do all my stretches! With having to get to work some mornings and having to wake up for my child on the others ones, I barely have enough time in the morning to stretch! I have an abbreviated version of course. But, It. Is. Not. The. … Continue reading Stretching Wrings Out Stress
Feelings Are Fleeting
One of the main lessons of mindfulness is that feelings, as well as thoughts, are fleeting. We must learn to ride their waves, instead of being engulfed by them. I found it interesting that on Saturday as my daughter and I did art together, I had the desire to paint my nails—letting one layer dry … Continue reading Feelings Are Fleeting
The Riches of Childhood
I often think back to my childhood and miss how nurturing it was, how safe I felt. In comparison to how daunting adulthood can be—when all the responsibilities lie on us. I miss the house, not only cuz it was safe and full of love, but because it was substantially bigger than what I can … Continue reading The Riches of Childhood
Squeezing the Life out of the Lemon
This afternoon I was making breaded chicken. Cooking more elaborate recipes is a new coping mechanism developed by pandemic-related stress. Yes, breaded chicken is fancy in my book. I also first made challah last spring, also related to being stuck indoors and needing a pandemic-friendly outlet, as well as a toddler-friendly activity for my daughter. … Continue reading Squeezing the Life out of the Lemon
On Parenthood
The experience of being a parent is so informed by our individual experiences. Our own childhood. Our expectations of what a family looks like. Endurance. One’s threshold for sleep deprivation. One’s greater vision. The list goes on and on. One thing I look back on is how much television I watched as a kid and … Continue reading On Parenthood
Setting Intention for Self-Compassion
My initial thoughts about having a new employee observe me today were, “I hope I don’t get too self-conscious and mess up.” I noticed the incessant thoughts projecting what it would be like to train a new employee again. I observed the tension I felt in my heart. The pressure. Pressure. Like I need more … Continue reading Setting Intention for Self-Compassion
Self-Love in the Siddur (Jewish Prayer Book)
Being raised as an Orthodox Jew, the Siddur (Jewish prayer book) played a prominent role in my education. As a young adult, I paid even closer attention to the words of the prayers and their historical context and significance. In later years I became less by the book, literally, and didn't recite them regularly. Instead, … Continue reading Self-Love in the Siddur (Jewish Prayer Book)
Mindful Nuggets 