Greetings!
“'Thank you' is the best prayer that anyone could say. I say that one a lot. Thank you expresses extreme gratitude, humility, understanding."
~Alice Walker
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If you've been following me for a long time, you know that Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. The spirit of this holiday really resonates with me because its focus is on family friends, and love, and fosters a sense of interconnectedness. Its focus is not necessarily on material gift-giving, but more on giving of the heart. It's about gratitude and appreciation for all the wonder in our lives, which includes our loved ones.
In all my recently published articles, listed below, I've made some mention of gratitude, whether it was for my family, doctors, and/or ongoing good health. For example in my article in Psychology Today, I mention the importance of gratitude and positive thinking when navigating times of adversity, such as illness. Studies have shown that those who are grateful tend to be happier. I recently read about the importance of smiling at people when you meet them. This can be challenging with mask-wearing, but consider it when your mask is off.
Also, please take a peek at the Big Enough for Words, a captivating anthology by California poets. There are some terrific poems inside. And don't forget to read mine, " Being a Monk in Big Sur For a Month." This poem was inspired by my love for Big Sur. It's my happy place and I am grateful to have visited it a few times, and hope to visit it many more times!
Sending love and gratitude to my wonderful family, friends, family and readers. You are all special!
Have a blessed month of November!
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- Write a a letter of gratitude.
- Make a list of 10 things you're grateful for.
- Write about what makes Thanskgiving special for you.
- Write an ode about a person, place or thing you are grateful for.
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It was an honor to be a part of this virtual summit, "Transforming Global Consciousness." My section was entitled, "Writing an Inspirational Memoir." My interview with Christian de la Huerta is posted above. Click the arrow to listen! Enjoy! |
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Click the article to read:
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Pipher's name might sound familiar to you, as the author of Surviving Ophelia and Reviving Ophelia, two '90s books about the parental and societal pressures of raising teenagers. At the time, I was raising teens and the book deeply resonated with me. When I saw that she'd written this new book about aging women, I couldn't resist reading it. She and I seem to always be on the same path and mindset.
Women Rowing North is a guide to wisdom, authenticity, and bliss for aging women. As a psychotherapist, Pipher shares many stories and anecdotes to illustrate how we all got to where we are. In actuality, this book is a meditation on all our life stages, focusing on the wisdom of elders.
In my own writing, I often write about perspective and this is what she says about that subject: "Time is a great teacher of perspective. If we allow ourselves to be present and if we work to understand our experiences, the tincture of time can heal us. Our capacity to make mistakes is endless and suffering in its many forms is always with us. Yet over the course of our lives, we learn that humans are wired to absorb adverse shocks." (p.232). I don't know anyone who could have said it better.
I could not put this book down. Buy yourself a copy and a copy for a woman you love. Highly recommended!
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Big Enough for Words is a wonderful online anthology by Central California poets, written in response to images in the Edson Smith Photograph collection. Many of the poems also include readings by the poets.
My poem, "How to Be a Monk in Big Sur," is in this collection.
Enjoy!
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You’re receiving this newsletter because somewhere on this life's journey, our paths have crossed. |
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