Relaxation

“New beginnings are often disguised as painful endings.” ~Lao Tzu Sailing on a beautiful day in calm seas can feel like a spiritual experience and can convince your senses that life should always be like this. My family life was smooth sailing for many years. My husband and I were committed to our family and

“Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.” ~Aristotle Over the past few years, I began to feel a shift in my career. Despite spending years earning certifications and degrees and building skills, my work no longer felt meaningful. As I contemplated a change, a persistent thought echoed in my mind: “Why can’t you just

“To stay with that shakiness—to stay with a broken heart, with a rumbling stomach, with the feeling of hopelessness—that is the path of true awakening. Sticking with that uncertainty, getting the knack of relaxing in the midst of chaos, learning not to panic—that is the spiritual path.” ~Pema Chödrön Sixteen years ago, when everything familiar

“Uncertainty is the only certainty there is, and knowing how to live with insecurity is the only security.” ~John Allen Paulos Uncertainty has always been a fact of life, but I think we can all agree that its looming presence seems to be more potent than ever. As if the uncertainties of personal matters—finding love,

“This being human is a guest house. Every morning a new arrival.” ~Rumi When people start out with mindfulness, they want to feel better. They want all the worried, angry, or regretful thoughts to pipe down a little and stop making them feel so bad. That’s great, as far as it goes, and mindfulness can

“The ego is not master in its own house.” ~Sigmund Freud What does that mean? If the ego is not in charge, who is? Before diving deeper, let me tell you this story. That Little Voice Again My jaw tightened, and I couldn’t sit still. Anyone could see that the conversation was heading south. As

“Humbleness, forgiveness, clarity, and love are the dynamics of freedom. They are the foundations of authentic power.” ~Gary Zukav Last July, my mother was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer and began chemotherapy. She asked if I could stay and help her through the treatments. Our relationship had always been strained—she was judgmental of my nomadic

“We all have two lives. The second one starts when we realize that we only have one.” ~Confucius According to Gettysburg College, the average person will spend 90,000 hours working in their lifetime. For many of us, it seems that the answer to Mary Oliver’s famous question, “What is it you plan to do with

“If you do not have needs, you once did.” ~ Marshall Rosenberg When I was born, my mother did not want me. In the northern part of India, there is still a very strong preference for having a male child. A female child is often seen as a burden because of the social and economic

“You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.” ~Buddha I have, as I believe many of us do, grappled with the thorny issues of self-esteem for much of my life. But it was only when I became terribly unwell with an autoimmune disease six years ago that I

“You never arrived in my arms, but you will never leave my heart.” ~Zoe Clark-Coates If you have experienced a miscarriage, I am so sorry for your loss. I know the pain of pregnancy loss all too well, as I recently experienced a miscarriage at ten weeks pregnant. It was a complete shock. I had

“Have a little faith in your ability to handle whatever’s coming down the road. Believe that you have the strength and resourcefulness required to tackle whatever challenges come your way.” ~Lori Deschene My life is unpredictable. These days, it feels like I wake up not knowing what obstacles I’m going to be facing or how

“New beginnings are often disguised as painful endings.” ~Lao Tzu Life has a way of pushing us into the unknown, often through experiences that initially seem devastating. These moments of profound loss and confusion, however, can lead to transformative new beginnings. My journey is a testament to this truth, and I want to share some

“Maybe it’s time for the fighter to be fought for, the holder to be held, and the lover to be loved.” ~Unknown Growing up, I had no reference whatsoever for what a healthy relationship looked like. My parents had me as a result of an affair. I was estranged from my father for a decade

“Setbacks are simply reminders.” ~Alison Schuh Hawsey The nightly wine was back. This time with a vengeance. It began in late October, when I was happily organizing the bathroom of my new home. The phone rang, and everything changed. My beloved friend/soulmate/ex-boyfriend/twin flame was in the hospital. Three days later, he passed over the veil.

“Family is supposed to be our safe haven. Very often, it’s the place where we find the deepest heartache.” ~Iyanla Vanzant My brother called me at work on a random Tuesday to say that my mother had suddenly died. Powerful emotions of shock and relief ran through my body, like someone rang a gong right