Accepting what is

Acceptance — this is the theme that is emerging for me as the new year begins. There are certain things in my life that just need to be accepted, and not with a sense of defeat or disappointment. Not accepting some major aspects of my life does weigh down my spirit. I can feel it.…

Read More

The power of stopping and sitting still

I woke up this morning thinking about the gratitude workshop I am giving tomorrow. I have had a tremendously busy week at work and I was feeling overloaded. After I dropped my husband at the bus stop, I decided to go home and sit still for awhile, instead of rushing around running errands. I could…

Read More

Cultivating Gratitude

These days I am returning to the practice of gratitude in a more conscious way. I know I’ve written about this before, but gratitude is an inexhaustible source of inspiration and comfort. So, I picked up my copy of Gratefulness, the Heart of Prayer by Brother David Steindl-Rast, and began reading it again. The first…

Read More

Explaining Spiritual Direction

Several readers have inquired recently about the title of “spiritual director” after my name. My posts mostly reflect my own orientation to finding spirit, or the divine, in everyday life. And that’s mostly what I try to do. But spiritual direction is an actual discipline, although not confined to one religion or denomination; but rather…

Read More

The Power of Love

The Power of Love My sister died of breast cancer thirteen years ago, leaving a six-year old daughter at the time.  After several years, her father remarried and decided to return to his native country.  My niece ending up moving away and living abroad since she was nine years old. Over the years, I have…

Read More

Channeling Gentleness

This week, I spent time in a kindergarten classroom, helping the teacher get the students into the new routine. It’s amazing to be reminded of all the things children need to learn in kindergarten — waiting one’s turn, listening to directions, sharing the building blocks, and so much more. There was one little boy in…

Read More