But sometimes I wonder if the secret, powerful antidote to such queries is actually in appreciating everything as much as possible and finding sustaining, remarkable amounts of gratitude and wonder for what is already here.

One thing I’m learning is how very many ways there are to do anything. Everything. There are so many possibilities. There are so many different kinds of normal.

It can be really hard to see yourself clearly in some tender areas.

When we care for each other in this way, we can each make the other person feel more treasured and held. We can do hard things, together.

On choosing what to notice, what to count more of, and how we see our lives and circumstances, through good and bad…

The story of meeting Mr. Spiro Matsos, a kind, happy, and generous eighty-two year old Greek restaurant owner…

You start wherever you are, with anything you want to do — and it’s the perfect place and best time. You go from there and just keep going.

It’s easy to second guess ourselves.

Good. Get all those fears out.

AND THEN REMEMBER…

In facing your fears, no matter how big they are, you are defined not by those fears, but by the enormous, incredible courage with which you respond.

I’m absolutely soaking up the time to be by myself, be free and unencumbered, and practice the Absolute Yes of doing whatever I feel like for four days.

We were babies. We’d been dating less than a year, and we were eighteen. But that was when I knew. That season of our love story was it for me: I realized I wanted to be with Jake for the rest of my life. I could see it. I could imagine it. I felt it deep in my bones.

If you’re like me and find it difficult to get messy, welcome grace, and not be fiercely, obstinately, over-achieving-ly independent…

Let’s practice, together, welcoming the transformation of letting others make us feel held and seen and special. Let’s all lighten the load for each other.

Love carries us.

i love you

and i love when we are together

What a waste (and common human condition) it is to not appreciate what we have when we have it.

Perhaps instead, we can practice the art of contentment. The rebellious acts of gratitude and joy. Noticing everything going right in our lives and all that we are thankful for.

Sometimes I need the reminder to do my best and be intentional, but then just sit back and relax and have some faith. Trust that it will all work out. Trust that you will have your own back, whatever comes. Believe in yourself and the best that could happen and your circle of support if it doesn’t. Keep calm. Have fun. See how it shakes out.

For it all: thank you.

To more of this and more of love and more of everyday magic.

Big love. Practicing acceptance for situations we don’t want. Letting go of what was, accepting what is, and having faith for what will be. On the warmth and softness that are our strength. Carving a path forward with clarity and power.

On our own harsh criticism of ourselves, the best we can do with what we have and where we are, returning to our commitments, and having self-compassion…

On exciting whimsies and novel delights… big and small.

Don’t forget to notice the magic and shake some sparkles in! At least a dash, as often as you can! This is our one wild and precious life, and time is a strange, warp-y mystery, and we don’t want to miss the whole point in being here in the first place!