I remember sitting in a meditation retreat many years ago when our teacher Elizabeth told us she had just (and I mean just) been diagnosed with cancer. I was struck by her bravery in sharing something so intimate and raw with a room full of…
The Birthday I Wasn’t Sure I’d Have: What Hope Taught Me
Tuesday, March 3rd was my 61st birthday. In “normal” times, this birthday probably wouldn’t have been a big deal. In fact, I might have even groaned at the reality of being further into my 60s. But this was not a normal year. Eight months ago,…
Alive in the Middle
On Friday night July 11th, at 10pm, my PET scan results came in. Eric and I had been anxiously awaiting the findings all day, but by evening we assumed we wouldn’t hear anything until Monday. Before bed, I glanced at my email and saw the…
The Story My Mind Forgot to Update
Have you ever been complimented in a way that made you think, If they only knew me? The first time someone described me in writing as “the most positive person I know,” my stomach lurched. I stared at the words thinking, That’s definitely not me. Vulnerable? Absolutely. Disclosing?…
The Silver Lining I Didn’t See Coming
When our daughters were about three and five, my husband started a birthday appreciation tradition. After dinner, we go around the table and each person shares something they appreciate about the birthday girl or guy—their courage, humor, generosity, spark, a meaningful memory, etc. As the precious words…
One Year Later: Embracing What I Never Wanted
One year ago today was one of the most exhilarating days of my life. I launched my book, Embrace the Middle—a labor of love and perseverance that spanned three years. That same day, I nailed a TV interview, watched my book climb to #1 in multiple…
Embracing Healing of Serious Illness
Dear Beautiful Community, This is not the blog I planned to write, want to write, or find easy to write. But it is the one I must write, as it is my journey. I have always been open about my outer and inner world (it helps me…
From Fear to Faith: Lessons from Madeira Island
Most fear (or to be precise, anxiety) doesn’t come from what’s happening. It comes from what might happen — the what-ifs. Sometimes our own minds conjure stories of doom, sometimes they’re echoes from others, and sometimes (as in my story below) other people prey on…
We Are Not Our Stories
The other night, I found myself scanning my bookshelf when Byron Katie’s Who Would You Be Without Your Story? practically leapt into my hands. Not surprising. For the past many months, I’ve been revisiting an old and persistent story about my worth. And, it’s not a…
The Healing Power of Being Heard
Lara (pseudonym) spoke just a few sentences, but her words landed like a stone in still water. We were gathered in the yurt—twelve midlife women, each carrying invisible stories, joys, and sorrows. Lara shared a tender belief about her lifelong feeling of unworthiness. No one interrupted. No…
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