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Be kind to yourself
“I dreamed I called you on the telephone to say: Be kinder to yourself.” ~Adrienne Rich, poet and essayist In her hit song, “Harshest Critic,” Allison Ponthier asks: “Why is ‘being good to myself’ for someone else?” and “Who’s the harshest critic in the room?” I think we all know the answer. Most of us are incredibly hard on ourselves. On one hand, constructive self-criticism can be helpful at times. We can learn from our mistakes or oversights when we’re willing to admit them and repair the damages. We can grow and bloom from the soil of what went wrong. But if we get stuck in the traps of perfectionism…
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Talking it over, making it clear
“Don’t make assumptions. Find the courage to ask questions and express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness, and drama. With just this one agreement, you can completely transform your life.” ~Don Miguel Ruiz, The Four Agreements So many misunderstandings are rooted in lousy communication. Sometimes other people neglect to express themselves clearly, or they give us the silent treatment, leaving us confused or hurt. And if we don’t ask for clarity, we resort to making assumptions. Sometimes the wrong assumptions. Good communication is a two-way street. Today’s quote says it all, reminding us to speak with courage and clarity. ~CL
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“Make music of what you can”
When I was a kid, I’d sit under the crab apple tree in my backyard and scribble stories in a notebook. In college I majored in English and journalism, but it took a few more years to find the courage I needed to begin a real writing career. The zig-zag path that led me here was marked with detours. After graduation, I worked at other jobs where I learned a few valuable lessons — including what I didn’t want to do for the rest of my life. “Against Hesitation” is the wake-up call I needed more than 35 years ago — but Charles Rafferty hadn’t written it yet. What dreams would…
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Three’s a charm
“Three grand essentials to happiness in this life are: Something to do, something to love, and something to hope.” ~Joseph Addison, English poet and essayist There’s something magical about “The Rule of Three” — a time-honored literary device. Just for starters, there are three blind mice, three musketeers, three little pigs, three spirits of Christmas, three wise men, and the three fates. In countless myths and fairy tales, the hero on the journey is typically granted three wishes or given three tasks. I’m also a fan of Dr. Andrew Weil’s “Three Good Things” journaling exercise. At the end of each day, you make a list of three good things that…
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Mother’s Day
“Behind all your stories is always your mother’s story, because hers is where yours begins.” — Mitch Albom Happy Mother’s Day to all!
