A Heartfelt Journey – Join me on a blessed and heartfelt journey of discovery!

Notice the Glimmers and Keep Them Close

November 5, 2025
by admin

Glimmers. Moments of beauty and awe. Moments of kindness and compassion. Moments of peace and acceptance. Notice the glimmers and keep them close.

These flowers caught my attention, reaching toward the sun and mindless of the dew still adorning their petals. I was on my way to grab a coffee as I waited for my mother, who was having another medical procedure for her pain. Would this one work? I had hope, but not much confidence. Cautionary optimism? Rather, how I feel much of my life is these days.

These flowers, however, reminded me that there is always beauty if we look. The medical staff remembering my mother’s name this morning, despite a several month lapse in seeing her, reminds me there is always kindness and compassion if we care to accept it. The barista at the coffee shop, wishing my mother well, reminds me that there is always connection if we care to be open to it. These happenstances are reminders to me of all that is wonderful about our world. And so I hold these glimmers close and let them help light the path forward.

Wishing you, dear friend, many glimmers each day, lighting your way forward. ~♥~

Our Unique and Authentic Choices

November 2, 2025November 2, 2025
by admin

‘I feel like no one sees me,’ I confess to the trees. They reply gently, ‘Stop hiding from yourself and you will be seen.’

I whisper to the wildflowers, ‘No one hears me,’ and they whisper back, ‘You need only listen to yourself to be heard.’

In sadness, I sing to the birds in the sky, ‘No one loves me.’ The birds sing back as they fly by, ‘Love yourself and you will be loved.’

In despair, I share with Mother Earth, ‘No one chooses me,’ and in her wisdom, she shares, ‘Stop waiting for another to choose you. Choose yourself and you will be chosen.’

Instead of waiting on others, these are choices I can make. To see myself in all my glory and imperfections. To listen to myself even when I don’t want to. To love myself on the easy days and the hard days. And, to choose myself instead of waiting to be chosen.

Hoping you, dear friend, remember to see yourself, to hear yourself, to love yourself, and to choose yourself each day. ~♥~

Sunset of yellows and pinks outlined by silhouetted leaves

Hope and Reality, Hand in Hand

August 22, 2025October 7, 2025
by admin

What if we allowed hope and reality to walk side by side, hand in hand; one informing us of our dreams and desires, the other pointing at where to begin?

In a world where it is this or that, yes or no, black or white, we miss out on inviting opportunities into our lives. We miss out on expanding our world and allowing two seemingly opposing truths to exist at the same time, and thus miss finding they each bear gifts for us. For me, hope is the light that shines brightly in a dark space. It is the nurturing voice I hear when I am struggling. It is the bird song as the sun rises, the wildflowers growing in the most inauspicious places, and it is the knowledge that tomorrow is another day and opportunity. Hope is not a feeling or emotion; it is a thought construct telling me things can be different. Hope is not passive, merely wishing for things to change, but demands action to bring about what I desire. Ultimately, hope is not out of touch with reality but rather embraces the truth of the moment, asking, where do I begin? What steps do I need to take? Unfortunately, I’ve heard many negative comments toward the hope I voice, and, while I understand the sentiments, which are often born of overwhelm or fear expressing themselves, I don’t want them as my companions. Instead, I choose to walk with hope and reality side by side, hand in hand, one guiding my dreams and the other telling me how to begin. Will you join me?

Beach with wave rolling in and cliffs along the side — **Hope is not passive, but embraces the truth of the moment, asking where do I begin?**

Beliefs are not Facts, But Experiences Hold Truth

August 20, 2025August 20, 2025
by admin

What if we shared stories and experiences instead of shouting opinions and beliefs?

The news, legacy media, and so many on social media have made shouting opinions their primary form of communication. I’m sure this helps headlines and the monetization effort that is prized in our society, but opinions and beliefs are not facts, and just polarize us more. Opinions and far too often beliefs don’t allow for a shared experience or connection. It is a one-way conversation with one person forcing their thoughts on another. Experiences hold truth. Opinions hold feelings. And, it is in sharing our stories that we connect. We see ourselves in each other and find that common ground we so desperately seek. Has social media played its part in the divide? Yes. Does legacy media bear responsibility as well? Yes. But we share in that responsibility by letting ourselves be entertained instead of doing the messy work of truly listening, sharing our stories, and seeing ourselves in one another. I invite you to give it try and be messy. Do the work. Listen to another person’s story and share yours. There is magic waiting to happen.

This is my experience in connecting with others. What is yours?

~When we listen to another person’s story and share ours, there is magic waiting to happen.~

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

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” →

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” →

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.

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” →

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.

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