I am tired. I am hungry. I am unmotivated. Even as I type this, my fingers feel as if invisible weights are taped to each sluggish knuckle. My hair sits in a messy, unbrushed, balled-up twist; a “messy bun” if you will, which is slowly becoming my creepy, new “signature style.” As I slouch in…
Mindfulness in Nature: Fascination and Awe
I went to the arboretum near my home the other morning for a hike and to clear my mind which has been particularly busy these days. I hadn’t been there in a few weeks and the change was nothing short of amazing. At the end of April I enjoyed getting lost there amidst the green…
Aerodynamics of Sisterhood
Women. Goddesses. Mothers. Daughters. Sisters. It is the beginning of April and the vernal freshness in the air inspires action and new beginnings. Reflecting on the past month, I definitely recognize the powerful role that women have played in preparing me for a leap forward. During the “wintering” months, my energy and attentions were drawn…
Yoga: Gaining and Letting Go
Yoga?! Meh… It’s too slow to be a great work out. I could never twist around and bend like “that.” I’ll break my neck trying to do a headstand. I can practice mindfulness without hitting the mat. I’m too (shoulder slump) old… Wrong, wrong, wrong, and oh-so-very-unbelievably wrong. As it turns out, my deep dive…
To Be a Dark Horse
I am a reader. I read to expand my worldview, to expose myself to new ideas and ideologies, and to share in the experiences of other people who have journeyed before me. In short, I read to grow. Whether it is fiction or nonfiction, I read between the lines to see the motives, learn the…
Grammar for a Full Life: How the Ways We Shape a Sentence Can Limit or Enlarge Us, by Lawrence Weinstein
So what in the world do the rules of grammar have to do with living your best life? This is likely not something you have ever asked yourself. At first thought it seems like one of those “What does ___ have in common with ___?” jokes. I was therefore surprised and delighted by Lawrence Weinstein’s…
Temporary, by Hilary Leichter: Amusing Musings about Work and Life
Coffee House Press publishes, “literary fiction, essay, poetry, and other work that doesn’t fit neatly into genre categories,” as per the blurb in the back of my latest read, Temporary, by Hilary Leichter. How fitting! The book, which kept me turning pages until my vision started to blur, had me simultaneously amused, depressed, and enlightened. …
The Beach: Earth, Air, Water, and Fire
I am often amazed at the restorative power of nature. Any metaphorical weight on my shoulders… any stress, confusion, sadness, or anger manages to lift and drift away (sometimes a little, sometimes a lot) when I spend quiet time outside. Whether I am walking, biking, kayaking, or simply sitting, a little time alone in nature…
The Butterfly Effect: Mindfulness and Our Role In a Bigger Picture
Feeling insignificant? Powerless? We all do from time to time, especially when situations large or small seem to be spiraling out of our control. Our inability to make things the way we want right now, or the helplessness we feel when reading about current events can make us feel like specks of dust being tossed…
Tricks to Enhance Your Mindful Walk: Identifying and Naming
Ah, language. Isn’t it great? Through speech and through writing we convey complex messages for infinite purposes. Words help us inform, comfort, instruct, warn, entertain, question, and commiserate. But first and foremost, it is through language that we label and name. Classification: /klasəfəˈkāSH(ə)n/ noun. The action or process of classifying something according to shared qualities…
The Mindful Librarian 
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