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Cultivating a Relationship of Self-Trust

12/20/2020

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How well do you trust yourself?  Really trust yourself for things like listening to your inner guidance, being with yourself through all of your experiences, listening to your body, and having your own back? 

We live in a world that encourages us not to trust ourselves… not believing in ourselves, looking outward for answers, guidance, solutions. Buy this makeup, follow this diet, change your world.  Listen to this guru who knows what you need (and is all too happy to tell you so!).  Follow this trend…

Furthermore, most of us have a loud and ferocious inner critic who is all too happy to tell us all the things that are wrong with us – causing us to doubt ourselves or beat ourselves up when we think we’ve said the wrong thing, done the wrong thing, or are considering taking a big bold leap into something new.  “Who do you think you are?” is often a familiar refrain. 

Is it any wonder that many of us struggle in this area?  Trusting ourselves, believing in ourselves, being with ourselves through joy and pain is not something that has been taught or encouraged. 

I was inspired to explore this topic after discussing one of Susan Piver’s talks (which you can find here) with my Meditation Instructors Group.  One of the key takeaways for me was that turning toward our experience, leaning into our feelings, is a critical element to cultivating a trusting relationship with ourselves.  Feeling the reassurance that we have the capacity to be with ourselves, to make room for our feelings, to be with the unknown, not that we have all of the answers, but that we resourced enough to turn toward what is here, moment by moment.

Trusting ourselves comes into play when we find ourselves facing a familiar uncomfortable scenario – remembering things we have been through in the past and acknowledging past courage, strength, resilience.  We can also trust that we have grown and changed since the last time we’ve been confronted with a situation; we are not the same person, so we can respond differently this time. 

Building a loving relationship of gentleness, compassion, and kindness toward ourselves allows us to come home to ourselves in a way that feels safe because we can trust that we will be received in a way that is welcoming.  When we can learn to trust ourselves, when we find ourselves worthy of our trust, life changes. 

I invite you to play with this idea.  Try trusting your intuition, your gut, your wisdom and guidance, your ability to know what you need and to ask for help when you need it.  Play with the idea that you’ve got this (whatever “this” is) and at the very least you will walk with yourself through it, finding your way. 

Value your own opinion and ideas.  Respect your own experience.  Cherish your moments of delight.  Sit with your moments of sadness and fear, knowing you don’t have to push through or jump over anything – you get to be exactly where you are, moment by moment!  The more you meet yourself in this way, the stronger this practice will become.  The more deeply you will find yourself in a place of centered self-trust.

I’ve recorded this short talk and meditation for you to support your exploration. 

If you’d like to receive weekly meditations from me, email me and say “please add me to the meditation list!”  and you will receive one each Wed. AM. 

Please share your thoughts, reflections, and insights below!  

Wishing you peace, love, and trust!  

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Pressure, Pause... and, Begin Again!

8/3/2020

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So many pressures are bearing down on us these days – maybe you’ve noticed!?  I’m sure we each have our own flavor, our own personal pressures, and also the collective shared pressures from our country, world, society, and culture.  It is a lot.  I feel the weight of it… even though I have a great deal of flexibility in my schedule, a great deal of privilege in my life, and a lot of excellent practices to help support and sustain me. 

Some pressures come in even from things that feel "good" or inviting… the call of a beautiful summer day to get outdoors and do all the things, use all the toys, do the outdoor work, etc…  (you can read my poem, “The Pressure of a Beautiful, Perfect Summer Day” here for more about that).  

People asking “What do you have planned for the weekend?  What are you going to do?” It wasn’t until a friend texted and asked me “What aren’t you going to do this weekend?” that it hit me how conditioned we are to think that a “good weekend” is one that’s packed with activity, productivity, or a combination of both.  We are not programmed to let down, and many of us struggle to even know how to relax. 

Then there’s the internal pressure we apply on ourselves… I should be doing something.  I’m lazy if I just sit here and read.  What’s wrong with me?  I know I need to…  I have so many things on my list… ______ needs this from me… 

Often when we do slow down and let ourselves pause or stop, even briefly, our body lets us know just how tired we are.  If we are listening with kindness, compassion, and care, we might just give it a nap or an early bedtime, without judgment. Or we might just give ourselves a sweet time-out. 
 

And then we can begin again… refreshed, renewed, with a brain that now has the ability to think creatively.  When we go through this cycle of pressure, pause, begin again, actually allowing ourselves each of those phases, we may be surprised.  We may notice that we feel clearer, stronger, and more energized as we face the things we need and want to do. 

It takes a lot of awareness and it requires courage to add in the pause in a world that values “busy” and “productive…”  I’m here to tell you, there are no gold medals for burning yourself out!  No extra stars for pushing through when it’s going to leave you depleted.  Abandoning yourself and your needs to do all the things or care for everyone else is not the way to go. 

PAUSE... 

Stop! Please. Listen to your sweet body, to your racing mind, your lonely heart, your frazzled spirit. What do they need and want? 

Pause.  Tune in.  Listen.  And, then honor what you hear by responding.  This is the part we sometimes skip – we hear what is desperately needed, but we tell that part of ourselves to just wait or to shut up.  Instead, I invite and encourage you to give yourself the same TLC you’d give your beloved child or your best friend.  Do what you need to tend to your body, comfort your own heart, calm your mind, soothe your soul.  Let your nervous system take a break before you ask it to get on to the next thing… 

Then, after you’ve given yourself this little break, even if it is only for 5 minutes, begin again, with fresh energy, fresh life, feeling a little recharged.  See if it makes a difference, and let us know by commenting below! 

If you’d like to play with this idea, I invite you to join me and my dear friend and colleague, Carol Moon, from Yoga & Wellness with Carol, for a Mini Retreat – Begin Anew! this Friday, August 7 from 9-11:30 AM ET.  It’s a great way to end your week, begin your weekend, and honor yourself with a little space for reflection, movement, and pause.  It’s a chance to slow down, go within, and pause… It’s a re-set in a sweet and nourishing way.  Join us.  We’d love to welcome you into circle.  If you want to hear a bit more about it, get a sense of us and what we’re creating, please watch this short video!  And, if you have questions, please reach out. 
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Until our paths cross, I’m sending you so much love and wishing you the peace of a pause to balance the pressures of being human.  
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The Pressure of a Beautiful, Perfect Summer Day

8/3/2020

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​These rare days
When the sun is shining,
The temperature is ideal,
And you know this is a cherished gem…
 
The pull… to do it all.
The conflict between the pull and the tired one
                who says, “I just want to rest,”
Let me savor this day,
                this moment.
Let me not rush to cram in all the things.
Let me allow the day to unfold,
                As it will. 
 
Allow me to savor a sweet nap, receiving sleep into my being,
Savor the melted butter seeping into the warm pumpkin bread,
The sweetness of melon,
The refresh of a cool glass of water.
 
Let me sit on the deck
Listening to the birds,
Watching the wispy clouds,
Feeling the urgency, but letting it stay out there.
Remembering what it was to be on vacation –
With only one week, before clean up and check out.
 
Let me savor the living in this sacred place. 
 
I get to be here, day in and day out.
I do not have to leave tomorrow to return anywhere.
I am home…
                and it is enough to simply honor my tiredeness this day.
 
Sun shining and lake calm do not have to demand
                that I come out and play.
I do not need to wait for the rain’s permission
                to lay low and take it easy.
 
It is a perfectly lovely delight
To merely BE on this day.
To breathe in the fresh air,
To enjoy the sight of boats and jet skis,
Hurrying about,
To allow others their experience of this day.
 
For me… I savor the silence, the stillness,
                the rest.
I let go of the hustle – with gladness.
I am relieved to drop the burden of ambition,
                or expectation,
                or “I don’t want to waste this day,”
                or “I must get this right.”
 
I feel the weight slip from my shoulders
As I simply allow and simply savor

This beautiful, perfect summer day.   

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An Invitation to Reflect as You Move Forward

6/13/2020

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In the past 3 months, our world and our lives have changed in epic and unprecedented ways.  There is no "going back" to anything.  We can only move forward into a new chapter.  As we do, we each have the opportunity right now to pause, to reflect, to choose who we want to become, to choose what role we want to play in the new story. 

We don't know what the future holds - ever - though it certainly feels more true right now than ever before.  This can feel super unsettling.  There is no road-map for us to follow as we step forward.  We crave certainty, and yet we find time and again that the only certainty is that things will change.  

So, now what?  I invite you to spend some time with these questions... reflecting, sitting with them, and maybe journaling about any that interest you.  Give yourself a few minutes of free writing - allow your pen to keep moving across the page without stopping so that you can tap beneath the surface and find your way to deeper insights.  How long you write on any question is up to you, but you might try starting with 3 minutes and see what emerges.

We will be best able to step into the world in a grounded way when we have taken the time to get centered in ourselves. Important wisdom will come from within and beyond  - a wisdom that can best be accessed in the quiet moments of a pause and reflect. 

Offer yourself this gift.  Take a moment to center yourself.  Take a few deep breaths. Close your eyes. Maybe put your hands on your heart and earnestly consider these questions:   


In the past 3 months...
1. What have you learned about yourself?

2. What have you learned about life and our world?

3. What has revealed itself as important to you?

4. What are you ready or willing to leave behind?  What does not serve you?  What no longer feels as important as it once did?  What old beliefs or stories are ready to be discarded?

5. What would you like to carry forward?  What has emerged during this time as something you don't want to forget about, take for granted, or stop doing?

6. What do you want to remember so that you don't go back to sleep, trying to "go back to normal?"  It's so easy to slip back into old patterns, habits, and ways of thinking.  Taking the time to reflect on this question and write out your answers will help keep you connected to any new insights you've had.  

7. What is essential to you?  What are your true priorities? What really matters?  A friend recently noted, "We only get so many heartbeats."  Let's let our moments and lives reflect our values, our desires, our priorities.

As we step into this next chapter:
8.Who do you want to become?  You might reflect on this in terms of "I want to become someone who..." paying particular attention to the qualities you'd like to cultivate, the values you'd like to embody and reflect in your words and actions.  

9. What is your vision for a better future for your kids, grandkids and their grandkids?  Paint a picture of the future life you imagine, thinking about humanity, our planet, how we interact with one another... whatever comes up for you as important.  

10. What commitments will you make right now to be part of a better tomorrow?  For yourself, for your family, your community, your country, other people, animals, and the planet.  

11. Knowing that you are no good to yourself, to anyone else, or to any cause that you care about unless you take good care of yourself, what promise will you make to yourself right now regarding your own self-care?  Think about your body, mind, heart, and spirit as you consider this.  Which area(s) most need your attention and TLC, and is there one area, that if tended to, supports each of the other 3 areas? 

Would you love some support?  Consider joining Soul Care: A Self-Care Sanctuary if you would appreciate a weekly refuge to connect with others who are dedicating this time to strengthen their own self-care practice.  It's hard to do this work alone!  Together is so much better!!  


The opportunity is here for us to let these devastating, unsettling experiences matter for the better.  Let them lead us into despair, but let them call us forward into possibility.  

We are at a turning point, individually and collectively, and together we can turn the tide for a better, more healthy, more just, more peaceful, and more sustainable tomorrow.  I truly believe this.  

This will not be a quick fix or an easy turnabout.  People will resist.  You will likely resist.  The struggle will be real.  AND, the struggle will be worth it.  Trying to go back to the old ways will show us that they no longer work for so many reasons.  

After you've done your inner work, find those who can teach you and support you.  Those who can help you reveal your blind spots. Those who help you to discover new perspective.  Those who can help you shed old beliefs and old stories. 


Then, let's go forward together.  Let's rise up from the destruction and build anew, imagine anew, and create anew.  

What do you stand for?  How strongly are you willing to stand upon that as you act, speak, and create?  What possibility are you willing to consider, even if it seems unlikely or impossible, admitting to yourself that you do not know how things will turn out? 

I'm with you!  Let's get started... one step at a time...committing to be in this for the long haul.  

Feeling unsettled in these tumultuous times? 
Join me for Light on the Hill's 2-part series: Uncertainty and Trust which begins this Tuesday, June 16th.  I will be one of the panelists in the June 23rd conversation.  


I'd love to hear any reflections you'd like to share below in the comment section.  




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What Do You Love?

5/8/2020

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PictureImage by congerdesign from Pixabay 
Now wait… before you read on,… pause.   Take a breath.  Maybe close your eyes and put your hands on your heart.  Get curious.  With an open mind and an open heart, ask, with genuine interest… what do I love? Then see what rises up.  Be willing to be surprised.  What DO you love??
 
Recently I posed this question to a group of women who may not often think about this, particularly in the context I asked it.  Also, I asked it in the middle of a global pandemic at a time when many of us are feeling weary, worried, unsettled, and uncertain.  I asked moms of kids who struggle with substance use disorder –what do you love about your son or daughter?  What are their best qualities? 

Lots of women replied, naming so many beautiful qualities their kids embody, acknowledging that it’s been awhile since they’ve reflected on these aspects of kids who are often associated with pain and struggle.  Which was exactly my point in asking the question.  Not to pretend that the horrendous experiences aren’t there, but to remember that beneath this disease, there is still a loving, caring, kind, humorous, creative, generous being. 

If there is a person in your life with whom you have a challenging or complicated relationship, you might take a moment to consider what qualities you love in this person.  

Why am I asking you now at a time when there’s so much we don’t like, so much we are worried, scared, or discombobulated about?? 

I find it really helpful to remember that the whole messy mix can be true at the same time.  It’s not all or nothing, black or white, good or bad.  Rarely does life present itself in a neat package despite our mind’s desire to simplify it that way. 

We look at what we love, not to erase or to pretend that the painful, uncomfortable, less desirable things aren’t also here.  We do this to see that there’s room for it all.  That it can ALL be here, at the same time, in the same reality, in the same heart.  We don’t have to choose what we hate or what we love, what we’re for or what we’re against, what we want to lean into or what we want to eradicate forever.  We can be with it all.  You can love the sunshine and warmth, remembering that beach in your happy place, even as you cringe at the snow that is here when it shouldn’t be! 

It’s a simple practice to wonder and to notice from time to time.  And, so, I ask you, even in your sadness, despair, worry, or fear, to consider, remember or discover the part of you that loves.

Right now… consider, what do you love? 

About yourself? What are your best qualities? (let's start here... and, if you go no further, that will be more than enough!) 

About the situation you find yourself in? 

About life?

About the person or people who challenge you deeply? 

What do you love to do? Eat? Experience? 

Who do you adore, and what is it about them that you love?

What do you love to be? Do? Have? 

Feel into it with all of your senses – what images, thoughts, scents, feelings emerge?  What brings a smile to your face or lights you up inside? 

What brings a sweet “aaahhhh….?”

For me, a few things that come to mind right now that I love are sunsets; lakes and oceans; “The Grinch;” Snoopy; the smell of a bonfire or fresh-baked bread; sunshine and warm, fresh air; laughter; deep honest connections;  the smell of a horse farm and feeling my body sway with a horse; and helping other people light up! 

Now, let's be honest... it might be way easier to know what we don’t like, what we wish were different, even what we hate…  And if that’s where your mind goes, then start there.  When we’re deep in the muck, it can be hard to see out.  Then, take a moment and look at the flip side.  The opposite of what you hate is likely what you love or what you’re longing for. 

Let it all be here.  There is no need to jump over the uncomfortable, the painful, the sad or scary to get to the happy, peaceful, joyful feelings.  We have the capacity to hold it all in these hearts of ours. 

When we can touch in with what we love, we soften, if only for a moment.  Something inside of us stirs.   We awaken maybe a long-forgotten spark.  We connect with something deep and true. 

From this place, maybe we allow ourselves to dream or desire.  Or maybe we allow ourselves to simply accept someone else as they are, even with the parts we don’t like or wish weren’t there.  Maybe for a minute we are able to see the essential goodness in another person. Maybe we energize ourselves enough to take that next step. 

What do you love? 
​

Feel into it.  Awaken your heart.  And, then please share in the comments and let’s sprinkle some love around today! 

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The Invitation and Gift of This Day

4/19/2020

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​I have been given this life and this day… let me not waste it on worry, fear, or dismay.  Let me greet it as the gift it is and use it wisely – not feeding panic, anger, or judgment.  Let me walk gently upon this earth, among these people, bringing love, kindness, and compassion.  Let me take all of our well-being as a serious concern and act accordingly.  Let me take care of myself, my family, and our home in a way that honors us and all beings.  Let me be prepared – but not unreasonably so. 
​Let me take care of our needs without taking more than I need, leaving others with none.

The time for injustice, inequity, and inequality is over.  The time to love and care for one another, for all beings, for the earth is here.  Now.  How will I respond to this moment?  How will we, as a people, respond to this moment in time?  How will we stay awake and not return to the mind-numb reality we have been in for far too long? 

We can no longer be reckless with our lives, believing we exist as separate from others.  No.  We have been shown the depth and vastness of our coexistence and interdependence.  There is a gift in that if we only remember.  If only we respond wisely.

Now is not a time for folly or fight.  Now is the time for us to come together, to rise together, to be better than we were before… not by possessing more or earning more or even doing more, but by caring more, by respecting one another more, by loving more.  By choosing to look. To see.  To respond to the devastation, we have caused to our earth, to our people, to all beings.  We have to be brave enough to look and to see.  And, then from there, choose and act. 
​
We must not forget when this time seems to be over.  We must allow ourselves to be changed in the best possible way by the devastation and destruction of today so that it has not been for naught.  There is a gift in this day, and there is an invitation.  How will we respond? 

What thoughts or insights does this bring up for you?  Please share in the comments. 


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3 Reasons to Retreat

9/26/2019

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(originally posted 6/10/18)

​There was a day when I didn't know about retreats and how powerful they are and what a critical piece of my well-being they would become  I imagine there are others out there who also wonder... who haven't yet discovered the magic of retreat.  So, I'd like to share with you just a few great reasons to give yourself the gift of retreat, for however long you may take or in whatever form!  What are some of the benefits and why would anyone make the investment of time and energy to retreat for a bit? 

1. Get out of routine - there's great value in simply breaking the pattern of everyday life - of taking yourself out of your usual habits and routines.  By changing things up, we tap into wonder and curiosity about life.  We begin to open to new ideas, insights, and creativity. We open our eyes to new perspectives. We see new possibility that we hadn't considered before.  We lighten up, let go, and even have fun!!  When you break away from the daily routine, there is nothing to fix or figure out.  Your mind can truly rest.  Aaahhhh...  to me, that alone is worth the price of admission!  

2. Slow down - We live in a world where go, go, go, is the norm.  Demands are coming fast and furious and we find ourselves pulled in so many directions with no relief in sight.  Our pace is unsustainable and our to-do list never-ending.  But, we don't know how to stop sometimes.  This pace is taking a toll on our health and well-being.  When we slow down, we calm our mind and soothe the nervous system. Then we notice the beauty of nature, our own body, people in our world.  We have to step off the hamster wheel to be with these sweeter things.  

3. Quiet the outer noise -  Oh my goodness!  There is so much coming at us all the time - news, ads, social media, political banter... it's an endless onslaught of noise, opinions, and provocations.  You've noticed that, right?  Just taking a media break for a brief period of time is super healing and restorative.  Imagine room to breathe without your phone constantly pinging in your ear.  Step away and feel the sigh of relief and the sense of peace.  In this space we begin to listen to our hearts and souls and hear our own inner guidance.  

We don't need more intensity - the world brings plenty of that.  We don't need more things to do - we have more activities than we can keep up with already.  Retreat is designed to be restorative and nourishing.  

Why do you retreat? Please join the conversation in the comments and let us know!  Together we grow and learn!  


Does retreat sound good to you? If you like this sound of this and would love to join a circle of like-minded women who are ready for a little of this retreat sweetness, join us for an upcoming retreat!  

At my retreats, everything is an invitation.  You are free to rest as needed. Explore the land as you commune with nature or give your body some movement among the trees and hills if that's your thing.  Lean into time with yourself.  And, rest into a world of no expectation. 

I hold our retreat space as safe and sacred - in this space you need only show up for yourself.  You are free to participate in the way that's comfortable for you and you are free to share and listen knowing that this is a zone where there is no advising, no figuring out what anyone else "should" do, and no worry that anyone is going to tell you what you should do.  This is a place and space to deepen your connection with yourself and to learn to honor yourself more deeply than ever before.  

Questions?  Let me know!  Know someone who would love this?  Please share this with them!  And, if you're ready to jump on board, you can register here! 

"A women's retreat springs from and is about stepping out of your ordinary existence to listen and attune to your truest, most authentic self...  It is setting apart time to tend the hearth of your inner life, feed your muse, reclaim your dreams."  ~ Jennifer Louden, The Women's Retreat Book

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Do You Feel Free?

7/1/2019

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I woke one morning last week clearly hearing this question in a woman’s voice in my head: “Barb, do you feel free?”  It has stayed with me since then.  It’s hung around because I’m not sure how to answer it.  In many ways, yes, I absolutely feel very free.  And then there are the ways I don’t… the ways I hold myself back and the reasons I do.  The things I let stop me.  The beliefs behind those decisions.  The people I care about and what I think they need from me.  Responsibilities, obligations, and commitments.  Financial realities.  Rules and laws. 

What does “free” even mean?  Apparently that’s a great question since Merriam-Webster has 15 definitions, many with their own sub-definitions…  Take a look and see which ones you are curious about.

The one thing that helps me to feel free is to remember that I am always at choice -- as long as I am willing to accept the consequences of my choice.  I don’t get to choose how other people behave, but I am not powerless about how I respond.  I get to decide what my role will be, what words I will say and what actions I will take.

I don’t get to choose my feelings – they come in without warning quite naturally. But I do get to choose what I do with those emotions.  How I respond, how much weight I give them, how long I stay with them.

I do have choice, even though I may not realize it in the moment. 
Freedom to choose is paramount.
. 
I think I’ll spare you further musings while I continue to ponder this question that is landing deep in my being and invite you to join me. 

Do you feel free?  What does “free” mean to you and how do you know if you are or aren’t?  Where do you feel free?  Where do you feel trapped or powerless?  How might you bring in some more freedom to your days?  Why is free important?  What would life be like if you were free? 

Here’s one of my favorite songs to accompany you as you explore. 


Please, please share in the comments below.  This feels like a rich conversation! I look forward to hearing your insights and thoughts. 

Thanks for playing!  

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Yes or No?

6/8/2019

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It’s not always easy to know where to direct our attention or spend our precious energy and time.  We live in an abundant world of possibilities… which is great!  Until it’s not…  

I, for one, can easily overwhelm and over-commit myself to too many groups (easy to do these days given the easy access to so many online groups as well as in-person ones), too many programs (anyone else a victim to the bright, shiny object syndrome??), too many practices (I love to learn and I love things that enhance my life…what can I say?)… And then I find I have too many “things” for too few hours!

And so when I woke up finding myself feeling overwhelmed, weighed down, and uncertain where to even begin I noticed the familiar tendency to freeze and just not do anything at all… or to distract myself in brilliantly disguised ways, doing things that need to be done, but maybe not right now. Or by doing things that don’t need to get done at all!  That social media rabbit hole is a favorite place for me to go at times like this. How about you?  Where do you go when you don’t know where to begin?  

In the past two weeks I’ve been to two workshops, and I’ve loved them both! They both involve practices that I would like to bring into my everyday life. And I’m just not sure where they are going to fit in.  Something needs to give to open up space in my hours. I can feel the confinement of so many things bearing down on me. The things I want to do. The things I need to do. The things that are calling me. The things that are drawing me in.  And the pressures of the places I think I should show up…  

I started to sit down at my desk and just start something, and very quickly realized that I had no idea where to begin. That’s when it hit me that today my morning routine had gotten disrupted and I hadn’t yet meditated.  This makes all the difference in the world for me, so I took myself to my seat and sat.

When you think you don't have time...  
The irony is that the moments when I don’t think I have time, is exactly when I need to make the time for the practices that support and sustain me.  Meditation is one for me.  Taking the time to sit with myself, to be with my breath, quiets my mind and calms my nervous system, taking me out of the reactive mode to a clearer place of discernment. From there I really can begin taking on one thing at a time with a much clearer head.  I can be more discerning.  I can begin.  
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What works for you when you get overwhelmed?  How do you decide what is a "yes, this is something I will do" rather than "no!" (at least not now).  Please comment so that we can all take in some new ideas.  Thanks!  Here’s to wise discernment and a little less overwhelm!  

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This Too Shall Pass...

3/19/2019

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What’s your reaction when you hear this message? 

I’ve had very different responses, depending on my own state
of mind and what the current “this” is that I know will pass. 


These words can bring comfort when I’m facing something difficult.  But, they can also feel patronizing or dismissive if I’m deep
into nastiness and can’t even imagine seeing my way out! 
Honestly, sometimes I just don’t want to hear it because I want
to wallow for a bit. Wallowing isn't necessarily bad. 


The same message can also bring a sense of sadness when I’m
into something that I really am loving and I don’t want to ever
end. Who wants to have that dream vacation come to an end or
know that one day their time with the love of their life will come
to end? 
(Check out “
If We Were Vampires” by Jason Isbell if you want to have a good cry over this reality).

Nothing lasts forever. 

But, in reality, these words speak the truth.  Good news, bad news… nothing lasts forever!  Even
if we want it to.  We live in a temporary state of health and aliveness, and every now and then we
get those big reminders.  Someone dies.  Someone gets diagnosed.  There’s a tragic
mass shooting.  A house burns down.  You get the idea…
And for a minute we recommit to the urgency of living our life full out! 


And, then we forget and drift back into our old habits and ways, perhaps mindlessly going
through our days.  Hours and days drift by and we don’t even know where they've gone or
what we've done. 


Where there is breath there is possibility.

Where there is breath there is possibility.  Where there is possibility there is hope. Where there
is hope there is life.  How will you live yours?


What petty things can you let go of? Where can you find some surrender and acceptance? 
What priorities deserve your attention? 


If you were to embrace the idea that “this too shall pass” what would change for you? 
Please share in the comments and let’s all step into this life, accepting this very real human truth
just a little bit more.  


If you'd like to give yourself the gift of retreat to slow down in a space that fosters this type of
inner reflecgtion, please join me for one of my
upcoming retreats.  Our next opportunity is
this Saturday, March 23rd at the Mercy Spirituality Center in Rochester, NY - come and give
yourself
A Time to Pause!  

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    About me...

    I am a writer, coach, and teacher, and I love capturing life's many moments through writing, whether that be journalling, blogging, poetry, or essay.  I have always found the written word as a natural way for me to express what lies within.  

    This is the space where we get real.  I will write about my life experiences and things that I find my clients encounter in their daily lives.   

    What's real for you? What would you like me to write about?  Feel free to share with me topics you would like to see discussed and please join in the dialogue through the comment section. Your engagement makes the blog a much richer place to hang out!

    Thank you for joining me on this journey!!    

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Barb Klein
Inspired Possibility
585-705-8740
barb@inspiredpossibility.com