How I Survived My Fear of Scuba Diving
Sweaty palms and racing hearts...what happens for you when you’re afraid?
Every time I start to think about writing about this, my heartbeat races and I get that sick, nervous, weak sensation throughout my body. I’ve begun several times and had to stop. I’m even feeling it again right now.
I’m going to do my best to get some of it out anyway.
Somewhere along the way in my life, I developed claustrophobia. I’m not even sure when it happened. One day, it was just. There. So naturally, there’s no way in the world I’d ever want to go...
What to Say When You Don't Know What to Say
How to Raise the Love Vibration
A few years ago, Olivia and I created a game of "Spread the Love."
We look for people who may be having a tough day/moment, catch their eye, smile and say, "I love the way your ____ highlights your _____." or something like that. From their response, it seems like it can shift their whole day.
Here's an example: Recently, I saw an elder woman with the most gorgeous blue eyes that were extra vibrant because of the reflection from the perfectly matched blue jacket she wore. I made...
How to Be More Generous Without Getting Depleted
Why Not to Give Farmed Animals as Gifts
Serving up kindness along with your gratitude...
| Your outpouring of love, comfort, and words that you found meaning in the very personal Love Letter I sent a couple weeks ago soothes my soul. Thank you. I'm sad that many of you share a similar pain. It's been a rough week here in California. My attention is extra close to home as Paradise is just 90 miles away. We've heard from friends and their families who have lost everything, many of whom barely escaped. There's no way to really know what that's like from... |
Remembering
Two months ago, my brilliant, big-hearted minister, Reverend Kevin Tarsa invited me to perform a dance to this song, "Sanctuary," by Carrie Newcomer, with an umbrella. He told me it would be part of our Unitarian Universalist October theme of Sanctuary. I hesitated. I couldn't exactly imagine how I'd do a dance with an umbrella. Not to mention that even though I teach Nia, my dancing is for me and not a performance art anymore (the last time I did that was decades ago when I was 15)....
When was the last time you had a peak experience?
I thought I'd be terrified and nervous.
Instead, as I donned the headset and stepped into the magic that pulled me like a wave, I surfed ecstatically in my body, mind, emotions, and spirit.
With ~50 students, including 38 of my fellow trainees, I got to occupy the esteemed spot of my teachers, right up front and center, as I taught in the bright studio I've long held in deep reverence.
Immersed in my own self-care in one of my favorite cities, I spent 6.5 days...
I can't keep quiet. For anyone. Not anymore.
I'm curious. When were you first silenced? Do you remember how old you were? Were you told to settle down, shut up, or act like a lady? Were you labeled as stubborn, difficult, rigid, or inflexible? Did anyone ever tell you to smile because you're so much prettier when you smile?
If you said no to all of that, my guess is that you may be one in ten million. More likely, you said yes to more than one.
Back in March of this year, I first heard a song that is now my anthem. Although my story...
