Sympathy, Empathy, and Not Making it Worse
It’s tough. Witnessing someone we care about going through something painful can bring even the strongest of us to our knees. We struggle with what to say, what to do, how to act, how to help. It’s no accident that the language of condolence has been distilled down to an easy-to-remember script:…
Summer Reading
It’s been a lovely summer, hasn’t it? In case you think I’ve sent out this email six months too late, in New Jersey it’s been hard to remember that it’s still February. Basking in the warm weather, I’ve been thinking about long days, the sounds of the ocean, and a good, juicy book. In honor…
Enough
I went radio silent last week. No newsletter, no blog post, no social media. I had been so bombarded with the entire internet screaming about black Friday, Cyber Monday and the nonstop election drama, I just couldn’t stomach being there. Or adding even one more thing into the mix. (Even the anti-consumerism folks wanted…
Polite Conversation
It’s nearly Thanksgiving, which happens to be my favorite holiday. My best friend and I have been excitedly planning the menu for weeks. I always enjoy a surprise, non-traditional dish, but I’m not disclosing until dinner. (The suspense is killing you, I know.) Thankfully, I’ll be in a completely conflict-free zone. The only possibility…
Quitting and Beginning
I was about to quit. Perhaps you know, earlier this year I fell into a period of darkness. It was a crisis of faith that pushed me to question not only my chosen calling, but also the entire set of beliefs around which I formed the life I currently live. The rushing stream…
Everything’s Fine. Or Is It?
Want to listen, instead of read? Here you go… Dearest One, Have you ever found yourself saying, through gritted teeth, “Everything’s fine.” Me too. Even when everything is absolutely.not.fine. Mine comes from a feeling that the person who is asking is not really asking, or that anything other than fine isn’t acceptable. As women, we…
Alone Together
Dearest one, I came to terms with my tendency towards being solitary many, many years ago (after a brief but frenzied period of forced extroversion). I embrace this aspect of my personality in the same way I do my brown eyes, or my round bottom (which has surprisingly become super trendy. Who knew?). It is…
Conditions of Creativity
Hello dearest one, It’s a double header this week. Firstly, and EXCITEDLY, one of my articles was published on elephant journal. It’s one of my faves and I was delighted they liked it too. I’ve included a snippet, as well as the link to read the whole thing, below. Secondly, I share a piece about…
The Art of Art
Dearest Friend, I gave myself the luxurious gift of two writer’s retreats in the past few weeks, and it was as wonderful as my highest expectations. The piece below was inspired by a rich conversation about the obstacles to writing, although the principles apply to any creative pursuit. I hope you find it useful, and…
Why Crappy Stuff Happens
One might imagine that while climbing the enlightenment ladder things get easier – life circumstances shift, bringing rainbow unicorns to our doorsteps to carry us off into the sunset. Gosh, how I wish that were true. But it directly conflicts with the whole point of this wild ride we call life. Here’s how it rolls…