distracted

Before you scold yourself for the distractions, it might be worth asking -- are those "distractions," in fact, the very things that give you life?

off the menu

What you need might not be on the menu.

Ask for it anyway.

the simple life

You are enough just as you are.
There's no need to pack in
still more,
and more,
and more.
 
It is enough
to sit,
to pause,
to move at a slower pace,
to see how much you can appreciate each ordinary moment.

Do this
instead of racing
through as much as you possibly can hold.
Instead of resenting your capacity,
listen to it.

And, I daresay, you may find yourself
enjoying this simple life,
far more than you thought possible.

clarity

invaluable

When those days in which you question your value come - and come, they will - know that you are, and will always be, infinitely valuable.

the illusion

How do you do it all?

You don't.

space

Space is beckoning you. That feeling of overwhelm is declaring to you: Don't be afraid to create the space you need -- time uncommitted to much of anything, time to simply be.

Don't try to apologize or rationalize. Be courageous enough to simply make that profound need an immediate priority. Soon after, you will find unexpected beauty - for the decision you've made will encourage others to also make space to simply be.

choice

I know you're afraid of choosing wrong,
but maybe there isn't a wrong here.
Maybe just choosing is right.

capacity

I do care.
But, I can't care
all the time
that much
about everything.
It's draining.

this is life

Somewhere along the way, you start to realize the ordinary moments are actually quite significant. Perhaps you’ve known it all along and heard others proclaim it as such. But now, you actually act as if it’s true for you. Instead of rushing through laundry, you find ways to appreciate it, gently folding each crease and stowing each item away. Rather than begrudgingly make another meal, you see the veggie chopping as therapy, admiring the vibrant colors as a smile surfaces on your face.

Maybe this is maturity. Maybe this is wisdom – this choosing to appreciate the ordinary moments of life. It is indeed a choice and a countercultural one, at that. It’s a choice not to take any of this for granted. A choice to accept the present as the gift that it truly is.

Yes, that’s such a cliché. But when you finally experience it for yourself, it’s far from one. It moves you deeply. It challenges you to slow your pace… to listen… to experience… to stop saving it all for some later day. It compels you to courageously recognize the fact that you can celebrate now. That success you’ve been racing toward? It’s already present. You simply couldn’t see it through all the striving.

In light of this, the journey feels different. You keep moving forward, letting go of the good so that you might experience the great. But your journey toward the future doesn’t deprive your present state of its due respect. Because, this messy path… the day to day… this is life. And, it’s completely transformed when you finally see it this way.

generosity

Accept the generosity of others. It propels you forward.

Don't let pride or the myth of self-sufficiency stand in the way of that.

quiet now

Quiet the mind.
Be present here.
No haste needed.
It's okay to be still now.
Content in the moment.
Not concerned of the future.
No chasing what if's,
Trying to predict or control.
Be calm. Be still.
Be quiet now.
Mind, you can rest.
In this moment
Everything is okay.
No need to rush.
No need to spring ahead.
Here. Now.
Savor bites. Savor aromas.
Honor this moment.

perfection

The perfect way will indeed fail you...
because there is no perfect way.

the lens

You choose the lens.

Choose the one that will make this day...

worthwhile.

opportunity-laden.

fruitful.

creating life

There's no shame in pursuing what you need. It's up to you to create the life you desire for yourself. Just lean in as you do so.

Yes, it takes courage. Yes, it takes trust. But know-- it's possible.

When it all feels so uncertain... in those moments when you only half know... that's okay.

Accept the not knowing. Pause when you need to. Take action to explore when you can.

The future is full of hope... even, or precisely, as you explore the unknown.

life

 What a continual dance between simplicity and complexity.

questions

There will always be more questions than answers.
Life is filled with uncertainty, and that is okay.

vulnerable

You will meet resistance when you open up your world.
Resistance within yourself tells you the vulnerability is too much.
Resistance beyond yourself reminds you it's impractical to take such action.
Regardless of resistance, that opening up is a must.

within

No one holds the answers--
not even to those things that seemed so concrete
you felt sure that they would.
So, the truth instead becomes--
you cannot trust those inputs too deeply
and lose track of the voice within you.
That voice within may not have all of the answers either,
but it can indeed listen for truth.

your way

There is no perfect life... no "right" way of living either. So much is a mystery.

Even the so-called experts know so little about their own domains. Everyone is just giving it a go.

So, no need to worry whether your path is right or the best. It is the best if it seems the right one for you.

It may change along the way, indeed; but, you need not fret.