In my twenties, I spent a lot of time in Mexico City. While I absolutely loved the capital, diesel fumes and all, there were times I simply had to get away. An easy, relatively cheap (and at that time, safe) weekend get-away was to take a bus down to Acapulco. Leaving late from the … Continue reading Ocean Lessons: Waves of Stress and Resiliency
Life can be lonely. It wasn’t always so. In fact, as recently as a couple of generations ago people were raising barns and bairns together. The community gathered to work, eat and play. Families lived nearby, and neighbors were often as extended family. Our culture has taken our “independent spirit” and morphed it into the … Continue reading The Need for Community
Happy New Year to all! It is the time of year for reflection and maybe a resolution or two. Recently a colleague shared with me what he and his wife use as an annual welcome to the New Year. I love it, so want to share it with you. Here are the questions based on … Continue reading Four Directions Reflection
Amidst the crinkled wrapping paper, icy winter streets and Russian teacake crumbs, I have been wondering how best to end this year. I am grateful for the many remarkable people who have entered my life, (many of you readers) and the lovely experiences that have graced my path. There have been moments of sadness and … Continue reading Honoring the past year, ringing in the new
Over the last several years, I have spent time in locations with little cell service or WiFi, where life becomes temporarily void of TV commercials, social media ads, and the constant display of the mountain of “things” advertisers would like to convince me I need. So when I return to the ordinary, there is always … Continue reading Winter Solstice: the long and short of it
When was the last time something unexpected occurred and stopped you in your tracks? For me, it was Wednesday. I was driving home from an outstate meeting. The day was sunny; the sky cobalt blue and beautiful. As the country road curved, it also began an uphill climb. Because of the bend in the road, … Continue reading Disruptive Invitation (2 min read)
Over many conversations of late I have heard of individual practices of gratitude, and how it has shapes the practitioner’s life. There are as many practices as there are those who practice. Gratitude lowers our stress because it changes our focus. What we focus on makes a difference in our daily experience of life. Acknowledging … Continue reading The Life-Changing Practice of Gratitude
Hey darlin’, By the time you receive this note, you will already know that Sophie has died. It may be days or even weeks until I share this with you - depending on how you are doing. I want you to be able to grieve without these added notes piled on top. On the other … Continue reading Letters: warm sunshine, gentle tears
She sat at the end of the table and looked blankly out onto the freshly fallen snow, “I guess that is just the jaded part of me.” We had been reflecting on the wonderful and hopeful things we had heard from the morning speaker. Marla had seemed interested, even intrigued by the topic and then … Continue reading Jaded
In Resiliency Retreats, we explore awareness around our stress. How do we know we are stressed? What happens in our bodies? Our emotions? How to we know that others are stressed? One way stress is noticed is in communications and relationships. One retreat led us into a conversation where we noticed stress levels revealing themselves … Continue reading Mindful Email
Andrea Tatley 