Everywhere I look, there’s worthwhile work to be done.
Our oceans are filled with oil spills and plastic garbage. Our atmosphere is polluted and forests are disappearing at an alarming rate. Worldwide, we’re grappling with a pandemic. Adults are losing jobs and unable to care for their families. People of all ages are sick, lonely, dying, and afraid. Our country is divided on so many issues.
People everywhere are filled with rage, despair, insecurity, sadness, hunger, and fear.
Everywhere I look, I see opportunities for worthwhile work. Important activism. Creative solutions. Helping hands. Witnessing our world leads me to speculate: What to do? What to do? What skills are required? What is the focus of my worthwhile work?
Overwhelmed by the magnitude of the questions and the need, I choose to sit still.
Really still. I wondered about the work I already do. And the worthwhile work that may be calling to me across the noise of my busy life. “I thinked and thinked” as Winnie the Pooh would say. And then, I didn’t think any more. I guess you could say that I just “be-ed.” In this state of beingness, a thought emerged:
I realized how these qualities help Life flow more easily for myself and others. So, I pulled on my favorite jeans, stuffed Love and Kindness in my front pockets and headed out the door.
Actions guided by Love and Kindness worked with people of every age, ethnicity and gender, across all walks of life. They even worked on me. They worked in nature – pristine and damaged. They worked across the internet and within the inner net. These tools worked. Although sometimes, I forgot to stuff my pockets.
On those days, I walked under a cloud. Miserly in my misery until I ran across some kind, loving soul with pockets overflowing.
And I was helped to remember the power of love and kindness, applied flexibly and consistently throughout the day. Over time, I stuffed my pockets with Clarity and Wisdom, Fearlessness and Ingenuity, Humility and Grace, and the ability to Laugh and Cry with friends and strangers. Along the way, I forgot the original question. I just chose to be Love and Kindness or whatever quality was called forth from me in the moment.
It’s not an exact science, but it seems to work for me.
Until I forget to fill my pockets. That’s where you come in. Your love, kindness, courage, and ingenuity helps me a lot. Thanks for that. And keep it flowing.
Peace be with you and with all. No exceptions.
Learn the one essential skill that allows you to face any challenge with confidence, sturdiness, and inner calm.
More than a technique. It’s a game changer.
I walked out of the gym one morning into a cold, dreary New Jersey rain.
After my challenging workout, I gingerly lowered myself into the driver’s seat. Taking stock, I felt cold, damp, and hungry. My butt muscles hurt and I didn’t think my packed lunch was sufficient to fuel my entire work day.
I was driving home with my daughter when we noticed a large snapping turtle crossing the roadway. It was a tiny back street lined with a small pond.
I recently found myself thinking about activism. About the many ways we show up for what matters to us.
As I considered this, three memories arrived. Rapidly, as if they were part of my contemplation.
The first was a conversation I had with a woman in my town. She was giving me an update on her recent gathering with other mothers protesting against gun violence. I was interested as we had explored what mattered to her as she approached retirement. Protecting children in schools and on street corners mattered, so she joined with other moms who cared about the same.
Three months ago, I unexpectedly entered into a relationship with a horse.
I met Zor during a visit to Liberty Stables in Florida, where I had gone to spend time with a friend’s horses. I had no particular expectations. I have no background with horses, no training, and no experience in equine-assisted therapy. I simply met this magnificent Friesian, and something quietly familiar unfolded between us.
I fell in love.
Eight years ago, I traveled to Costa Rica for a week-long retreat centered around ayahuasca, breathwork, yoga, and deep inner exploration.
Like many people who are drawn to these experiences, I went seeking something. You might call it a Divine encounter. You might call it awakening. You might call it healing.
I wasn’t entirely sure what I was looking for. I only knew there seemed to be a place people spoke about. That place beyond ordinary life.
The women who arrive in my classes, retreats, and therapy sessions are sincerely looking for healing, expansion, clarity, or sometimes just a little room to breathe.
They are thoughtful women, deeply engaged with the people and work they love. Rarely do they arrive because they want another spiritual philosophy. Most are carrying something much more ordinary.
A life that has become full. Beautiful in many ways, but crowded.
