On the eve of the new year, he stood on his balcony, leaning over just enough to feel it arrive. The promise and forgiveness of the night embraced him. He pictured the aches and worries of the last 12 months scatter in the winter wind and fly away. Only their lessons remained. He listened to the…
Love You
Whatever you’re experiencing right now, we’re right there with you.
There are so many beautiful reasons to love yourself. Here’s one to start with… Whatever you’re experiencing right now, whatever thoughts, feelings, or habits, we’re right there with you. You’re never alone in your experiences, and nothing can separate you from our shared human experience. This is the philosophy I share on Day 8 of…
For looking deeper in painful times and smiling at yourself with compassion.
And I smiled. It was the most amazing thing. – from There, I Might Find Peace I once was caught in the blackest night. A starless sky hung over me. Not even the moon could light the way. The cavernous great beyond swooped in to swallow me. Shadows danced upon shadows. They tapped my wrist,…
This is our story of love and fortitude. (I can’t believe I get to live it.)
I remember how warm his hand felt wrapped around mine. How safe it made me feel as we crossed the Dublin streets. I remember the way we laughed until we cried as the piano solo began. Front row, center, we tried to hold it in but only laughed harder. I remember the joy and innocence…
I know pain’s inevitable, but still…where’s the love?
What does it mean to love your life? Like, actively love it. I’m talking about love, the verb. As in to hold dear, to cherish, to thrive in. (You know, loving.) Speaking for myself, it’s easy to look for the feeling of love without the doing of love. I find myself thinking, I’m waiting…where’s my passion? My excitement? Why aren’t I loving this? …
Let it all drop 
Once, I was a falcon, or at least I tried to be. Fast and focused, I was quick to act, quick to think, never a moment wasted. I wanted to fly the farthest and be the most ruthless. I carried with me always a sense of urgency, as if to say, “Look how much I…
For the serenity, love, and grace in you.
Serenity, Love, and Grace are my oldest friends. Before I knew their names or understood the magnitude of their tender power, I felt the peace and strength their presence gave. These dear, old friends taught me the art of looking and listening inward. In watchful stillness, they stand sentinel over me today, waving me back…
Love what you love, small as it may be (and shine that love on the world)
It’s the little things that can sink me, but it’s the little things that save me, too. Little, fleeting things, details and outcomes and misunderstandings can make me feel so small, almost as much as the big things do. When I look at what I’ve torn or chipped, stained, spilled, or burned underneath, it’s easy to see the worst in…
This is what I trust above all else
Love yourself, come what may. When it comes to suffering and healing, this is the path I trust above all else. It’s the foundation of my writing, the first step in my clinical work, and the lesson I keep learning myself. If it were that easy, I’d leave it at that. Love yourself, come what…
Do you have your back? New book + questions for you!
It’s July! I’m back from my June break, refueled, enthused, and bursting with things to share. I have to admit, though, I put off writing this because I felt like I needed something more profound to tell you than “I had a nice break, rested, and wrote a lot.” As if it’s not enough to…