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: personal growth
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
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
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 versus Mind Full
Sometimes I laugh at how the word "mindful" actually sounds like your mind is full. Well it is. Just not in the way I've been used to. A full mind to me is when thoughts are darting back and forth in my mind. Many thoughts, moving very, very fast. I can't even identify all of … Continue reading Mindful versus Mind Full
Self-Talk Secret Sauce
Positive self-talk goes a long way. But the first step is recognizing we have self-talk in the first place. Then listening to it. Brace yourself, cuz if you’re like me when I first started observing my self-talk, it’s gonna sting! Man, did I know how to put myself down! And so often throughout the day! … Continue reading Self-Talk Secret Sauce
Phone Down, Hand on My Heart
How many times do I reach for my phone to distract me from an uncomfortable emotion? A lot! That’s why I’m taking yet another mindfulness course to remind me to take a breath, put my hand on my heart, and feel the sensations of the emotion in my body. Instead of being overwhelmed by the … Continue reading Phone Down, Hand on My Heart
Mindful Nuggets 