We all yearn for love and understanding in our closest relationships, but achieving that consistently has been elusive for many, especially recently. The truth is, every individual has imperfections. These intricacies make sustaining love and mutual acceptance challenging at times.

Imaginal cells hold the information code for the butterfly, and while no single imaginal cell has all of the information, collectively, out of apparent death, they bring forth the majestic creature. How poetic that scientists knew to call them imaginal, for indeed, they are keepers of imagination.

Back in January, I facilitated a program for The Innerwork Center called Digital Detox. The goal was to help participants explore their relationship with technology, bringing conscious awareness of how, why, and when they are engaged with it - and most importantly whether it was serving them. When researching this program, I found a few statistics published in a Forbes article from January 2023 that help to pull the necessity for a program like this into focus

Dear Pleasure,

I know you left because I was emotionally neglected. What I thought and felt wasn’t a concern to anyone. I was scared, anxious, and overwhelmed and no one checked to see if I was okay. I was taught to mask my feelings by “fixing my face” when I was upset around others. I wasn’t allowed to feel unpleasant things.

This is a guided walking meditation ritual that may be practiced in a park, on the beach, by a river, in the woods or any natural setting. Please adapt this offering to your accessibility needs, any movement outside is fine. If you can’t be outside, sit comfortably where you are and imagine that you are reveling in nature. The intention of this ritual is to support you in embracing your connection to the natural world, as you connect these words with your movement, speaking aloud and planting this truth inside your body.

I am a woman of many words - a hyper-explainer and an over-describer. My favorite type of word is the adjective because we can pile them on top of one another, each addition providing more specificity and distinction.

When I first attended a Mindful Self-Compassion workshop at the Innerwork Center, I couldn’t imagine my three kids and my demanding day job giving me time or space to break free and meditate. Once I arrived, I wondered about the wall of meditation cushions in the Center’s meeting room.

I discovered a mental health hack that helped me cope with the stress of being a CEO: the silent retreat. It was the one thing that helped me stay grounded, balanced, and refreshed, and I started attending one every year.

May we be happy

May we be well

May we feel loved

And grow from the ground

of loving-kindness.

Happy August! This poem was shared by our Executive Director, Rachel Douglas during one of our mindfulness orientations. It resonated with me and I wanted to share it with YOU - our community. Perhaps, you may sip a cup of tea or enjoy your morning coffee as you allow each word to permeate your spirit.

How many times a day do I ask others “How are you?” as a passing by, as a habit, as a greeting. Hi! How are you? I’d like a small coffee please. Cream no sugar. Thanks. Hihowareyou. I’m here to pick up my _________. Hello….good thanks how are you? I have an appointment.

For the majority of my life, I’ve felt alone. I was cared for and all my needs were met, yet I still felt alone. This loneliness came from feeling unseen and unknown – not feeling like who I am and what I liked matters. This loneliness came from not being able to connect to myself—not knowing or acknowledging my feelings, doing things because it impressed others instead of doing what I wanted.

As I journey in the second half of life, I both ponder and become clearer.  I have questions and I have some answers. What I know is, however, that it matters deeply how I show up in this world, in this universe.

Slowing down in order to be more present and form high-quality connections with others may seem at odds with the fast-paced, competitive work environments that have come to dominate our organizations. Yet, mindfulness has quickly become a familiar word increasingly across work and home domains.

One of the first things we did in Iceland was to participate in a walking tour where we learned Iceland’s unofficial national motto, “þetta reddast” pronounced “thet-ta re-dust.” It’s a phrase that exemplifies the mindset of the Icelandic people and it means “everything is going to be just fine.”

About a year ago I began learning about a way to live and approach my health differently that included adjusting just about everything in my life. It’s called the Ayurvedic Lifestyle, an ancient Indian healthcare system that dates back more than 5000 years to the early Vedic scholars and sages. 

As the new year ushers in, I welcome you to download or take a screenshot of this mindful check-in exercise to reflect on the past year and mindfully create a few intentions for the year ahead. It often helps to take inventory of the past while forging ahead with expectancy.