Join me on a blessed and heartfelt journey of discovery!

A New Year, A Word, A Signpost

January 9, 2025
by admin

No resolutions. No verdicts. No judgments. No mandates or grand statements for the new year. Instead, I choose a word for guidance. A word that acts as a signpost, gently directing me to how I want to show up in the world and for myself.

Some years, the words choose me easily. Other years, it is a more laborious process. This year, the journey to a new word was relatively effortless; it just required a bit of refinement from a phrase to a single word. A single word which I continued to let tumble through my thoughts, roll on my tongue as I tested it and played with it for a few weeks, wondering, is this the one for 2025? Then, during a group meditation/reiki session on the last day of 2024, the words from a song being sung grabbed me,

‘Is there a way for you to shine without fear?…’*

As those words, from a song I had never heard before, touched my heart, I knew I had chosen well for 2025.

Courage. My signpost for 2025 is courage. It is not something I feel I have lacked, yet I believe it is what I will need to grow in the direction I feel so drawn. It is a reminder to myself I do have the courage to be seen and the courage to be me. I have the courage to know and trust I am strong enough to handle the ruffled feathers and possible rejection of being just me and not who others want me to be. The courage to be the light when it is dark and the courage to allow others to be who they are despite any discomfort I may encounter. Indeed, the greatest gift we can give the universe is to be who we are meant to be and not shape-shift as society asks. As Brene Brown said, “Courage starts with showing up and letting ourselves be seen.”

So, courage will be my reminder to stay on the path as best as I can. To be myself, to follow my heart. It is my reminder that kindness is never futile, self-compassion is not indulgence, acceptance is healing and I can shine, even in the darkness.

Wishing you, dear friend, what you need for your heartfelt journey in 2025.

*Astral Plane by Valerie June

Is there a light you have inside you?

Can’t touch

A looking glass can only show you so much

Follow the signs, slowly but steady

Don’t rush

The day will come when you are ready

Just trust

Dancing on the astral plane

Holy water cleansing rain

Floating through the stratosphere

Blind, but yet you see so clear

Is there a way for you to shine without fear?

From other worlds

But you can’t say what keeps you here

Dancing on the astral plane

Holy water cleansing rain

Floating through the stratosphere

Blind, but yet you see so clear

Dancing on the astral plane

Holy water cleansing rain

Floating through the stratosphere

Blind, but yet you see so clear

Blind, but yet you see

Blind, but. Yet you see so clear

But is there a way for you to give it your all?

Dreaming a dream

Of sweeter things great or small

Dancing on the astral plane

Holy water cleansing rain

A Heartfelt Journey

The Hero Making Something Beautiful from Broken Glass

August 17, 2023August 2, 2023
by admin

Guided drift. A term coined by the late Fred Rogers of Mr. Rogers fame to describe his life’s path, and as Ann Saunders McCarty’s story unfolded, I kept hearing these two words. Guided drift. A path previously unseen making itself known. A trajectory changed. A willingness to follow new opportunities. A resilience to learn from plans that didn’t work out and take a different tack. Ann ultimately understands that previous experiences, good and bad, joyful and painful, lead her to where she is today. Read more “The Hero Making Something Beautiful from Broken Glass” →

A Heartfelt Journey

Less Comparison and More Compassion

August 3, 2023August 2, 2023
by admin

It’s easier for you because you are smarter. It is easier for you because you are stronger. It is easier for you because your situation is different. It is easier for you because… fill in the blank. It’s easier for you because is a refrain I have heard throughout my life. And perhaps things have been easier for me. I really don’t know because I only know what I experience. What I do know is that when these words are given back to me, even when I have said nothing about the subject at hand, what I hear is, ‘Your experience isn’t valid.’ Read more “Less Comparison and More Compassion” →

A Heartfelt Journey

The Hero Who Believes in Serving Our Community

July 21, 2023July 21, 2023
by admin

Many years ago, at an evening meeting to discuss recreational opportunities for the youth in our community, I first became acquainted with Pastor Bernie Federmann, or Pastor B, as he is affectionately known. I knew little about him, so I had no preconceived ideas of who he was apart from his profession, but Pastor B didn’t quite fit the pattern of a religious leader I had determined from others with whom I had worked. His compassion for people, whether a part of his congregation or not, was so apparent that the air practically vibrated with this belief. His peaceful, measured tone was reassuring and hopeful, even when relaying undesirable information. It was a brief encounter, one that didn’t occur again until many years later, but one that I kept close to my heart, aspiring to emulate when possible.

A Heartfelt Journey

Allowing Myself to See Me

July 15, 2023July 15, 2023
by admin

It was a sunny day, warm for the time of year and seeming like any other day, but it was also the day of my father’s funeral. One that I was hoping to navigate and come out on the other side without feeling completely overwhelmed or having to shut down. I was anxious for many reasons and really just wanted to curl up and hide away from everyone, away from my perceived duties, so I could continue to mourn his passing in private. As always, though, I felt the need to be the strong one. The one who was witnessing this not just for myself but also for my sister, who was unable to attend. I was the one who would hold it together, read his eulogy, and offer comfort to others who were hurting. I would accomplish this while keeping a smile on my face and maintaining a positive outlook. Read more “Allowing Myself to See Me” →

A Heartfelt Journey

What is the Perspective of Fairness?

July 7, 2023
by admin

‘It’s only fair, isn’t it?’ Such a common phrase, but I was a bit bewildered when my mom uttered it as a defense of wishing to be treated with simple respect and decency. Fairness had nothing to do with the issue at hand, I tried to explain, but she clung to this concept of fairness in having set a boundary with someone.

A Heartfelt Journey

A Hero Among Us Seeing Things Differently

June 14, 2023June 7, 2023
by admin

Engaging with joy. When I met Alexander Murkison in person, engaging with joy was my first impression and, upon reflection, a lasting one. Like many in our community, I first learned who Alexander was when he ran for a seat on the Lompoc School Board as a recent high school graduate with a mental health platform. I quickly learned what Alexander may have lacked in life experience for the position; he made up for with his energy, compassion, ability to look at things differently, and courage to address issues that are important to him but are not always as readily accepted by society.

Reflections and Lessons

Finding Hope in an Unexpected Place

June 7, 2023
by admin

Recently, I attended a local school board meeting. Because of a few items on the agenda, it was standing room only, and I found myself in the hallway for a couple of hours with a group of high school students and their two advisors. We were all waiting for our turn to make our presentations, and though we listened to what was happening in the boardroom, as is the nature of these events, we found ourselves whispering pleasantries to one and another as well as a few comments about what was transpiring in the other room. Read more “Finding Hope in an Unexpected Place” →

Mindfulness

Perceptions, Perspectives, and a Wildflower

June 1, 2023May 23, 2023
by admin

Wildflowers have always fascinated me. When I see them, my heart sings and I smile in wonder at their beauty and courage to grow in some of the most inhospitable places. Many years ago, I began taking pictures of ones I encountered when visiting different areas, admiring how there are so many varieties and knowing you can find them almost anywhere. Because of this, I have grown to recognize many of the ones I find along our local hiking and walking trails, and recently, I noticed a new one I didn’t remember seeing before. White, delicate star-shaped flowers sat atop a thin stem with long, blade-like leaves. The leaves reminded me of daffodil leaves or perhaps narcissus, and with these observations, I thought the plant had been placed along the trail by someone and not endemic to the area. I still enjoyed its beauty and took a quick picture, making a mental note of its location to point it out to my granddaughter on our next walk that way. Read more “Perceptions, Perspectives, and a Wildflower” →

Heroes Among Us

A Hero Among Us and a Mother of the…

May 26, 2023May 17, 2023
by admin

I believe every person’s story could be made into a major motion picture, complete with all the things we hold dear. Joyous celebration, heart-rending grief, challenges to overcome, and lessons to learn. These are the things that make a movie enjoyable, and these are the moments that comprise our lives. As Veronica Williams generously shared her story with me, it reminded me of this. She also reminded me how each of our stories matters because we matter. A reminder we matter not for what we have done, but for who we are. Read more “A Hero Among Us and a Mother of the Community” →

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