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…
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…
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…
Tis the season of gifts and yummies! Harry and David stacked boxes of juicy pears and moose munch, homemade holiday cookies, eggnog, latkes with applesauce, etc. I love receiving (and eating!) these gifts as much as the next person; and I love giving gifts too. It’s…
When was the last time you felt really “seen?” When you felt recognized and known by another? I’m asking because just last night I had this very experience at my monthly women’s group, and it is still reverberating in my body. It came about because…
Embracing Nudity In the Middle A few weeks ago, my older daughter and I had a “Tara-Mommy Day” at a Korean spa. We were excited to have some time together to hang out in the saunas and steam rooms and to try a signature Korean…
Embracing “Being” Goals Happy New Year! I hope your holidays were awash with joy and ease. In all likelihood, with the beckoning of a new year, many of you have contemplated resolutions. And, if so, it is probably something you aspire to do (i.e., exercise, meditate, begin that…
Early last week, I got a text from my friend Kris inviting the tribe over for a Happy Hour Pumpkin Carving Party. I was thrilled! I love Kris, I adore our tribe and I seldom say no to happy hour. But the pumpkin carving part?…
I almost chickened out doing a bucket list adventure which was right within reach. No, it wasn’t skydiving or bungee jumping (those will never ever be on my list). It was hiking up a river in sometimes waist-high cold water, on uneven rocks and boulders,…
I was driving my dog to her acupuncture appointment yesterday (can’t make that s#!t up), while listening to a summit talk entitled Mindfulness and Compassion in the Treatment of Anxiety and Depression, when this line jumped out at me: “Think about connecting not impressing.”…