“If you resist, it will persist. If you allow, oh wow!”

Gratitude helps us collect evidence for all the blessings that are constantly unfolding around us.

With practice, the most upsetting, terrible situation can be seen as a blessing. Gratitude is the closest thing to alchemy I have found.

Open, groundless and grounding at the same time. It opens up the possibility that any action can be infused with something other than “business as usual”: rushing, exiting the experience, or story-telling.

Being gentle with myself is no different from being gentle with others.

My husband, my parents, friends and cat. I think they feel it!

Expression of gratitude amplifies the feeling and creates the opportunity to bless someone else.

People give to me, and I give to others. Both are warming and enlivening for the heart.

By making time to celebrate growth and contribution – with others and alone.

This happens many times a week, if I am present to my emotions and where my locus of control is at the moment: internal or external. External means I am seeing that things happen to me. Internal means I see things happen for me, and I can act accordingly.

I have asked for true love and I have gotten it in the form of my husband. I have asked for a place to call home, a community of friends and network of inspiring people, and I’ve been given those as well. Immensely grateful for everyone, everything, and every lesson learned.

I can see myself more skillfully shifting away from unhelpful thought patterns towards helpful ones, and it’s very exciting!

I would see everything that happens as a contribution to my life, and also that everything I say and do is a contribution to others.

My client, who told me that I have a responsibility to share my wisdom with people. He’s inspiring me to write a book!

There is no me, you; us, them. There is only us.

Challenging life experiences are great opportunities to apply recent lessons and learning. I get to rejoice in my growth, knowing that the tools and lessons I have to respond to the situation have not always been there.

No, because that would be a life of fear rather than transcendence.

Vulnerability inspires the compassion in others. When we acknowledge our vulnerability, we remind each other to be creators, not conquerors.

Relaxing into the beauty of the moment: Adam playing piano, sleepy Arlo bunning on the blue throw pillow, a whole day of care and capturing essence ahead.

Thank you for reading, Sheila! That’s a beautiful quote, and exactly appropriate! You have helped me reconnect with the ever-helpful idea that there are so many layers of masks and illusions that, if we so feel called, we can cut through to get to the love.