Even though our body can get sick,

we are an amazing organism.

Our cells die and renew themselves

over and over.

The water and food we digest

fuel millions on cells that know

exactly what they need to do

to keep us balanced and nurtured.

Our body is a miracle.

Our body is our refuge.

Our body is our healing ground.

Our body is our Island.

When we get sick, we rest,

so that all our body’s energy and purpose

go into restoring balance,

fighting off foreign elements

and birthing new cells while

killing off the sick ones.

“Rest, water, nurture your body

and your soul

will have a place to go,

so you can be healed.”

When I radically accept

how my life has enfolded,

how I have met life,

how I have failed life,

how life has met and failed me at times –

then life and I become one again.

As long as I am judging myself,

hating my life or those who made my life unbearable,

I have no peace,

I am estranged from myself,

and estranged from the life that I call “my life”.

When I begin to practice

tolerating my feelings in the here and now

finding my home in my body again,

breathing deeply and not letting my mind

continue to tell me lies and judgments

about myself and others, or about life itself –

then I am getting closer

to practicing radical acceptance.

“Radical acceptance”, “Forgiveness”

“Finding Grace”, “Living fully present”

“Living abundantly” all become the same experience.

Life and I are reunited – and my life can begin anew…

When there is no one to give me a hug,

I wrap my arms around myself.

When no one sees the hard work that I have engaged in,

I gently smile at myself and say “well done”.

When no one is there to see or appreciate

how I carried myself through the day,

I rest at the end of a long day and nurture myself

with a good meal and some relaxing music.

When I have no community around me,

as the Pandemic isolates all of us,

I listen to a recording of my father’s voice,

pet my cat, play with my dog, and arrange fresh flowers in my kitchen.

My community are my ancestors, nature, my pets and myself.

In a time when isolation could make me ill or depressed,

radical self-compassion and

awareness of my interbeing with more than people

can heal, nurture and comfort.

Building a relationship that is safe and confidential –

You can hear yourself with new ears,

and see yourself with new eyes.

In a space of trust and acceptance,

no matter what you share –

you can feel yourself

and develop self-compassion.

Having a witness see and believe your suffering,

your hurt, your victimization –

you can believe in yourself again,

and you can take small new steps.

Sharing a regular safe space,

You discover that you are free:

Free to be you.

Free to choose.

Free to leave old patterns behind.

Even if the new life feels overwhelming

and leaving the familiar causes fear.

You take one small step at a time

and become the person you are meant to be.

Nothing outside of me

makes me happy –

happiness is

an inner state of peace.

Sometimes letting go

is the only path

to reach that inner space of calm.

Other times I begin noticing things

I had taken for granted:

My breath, the warmth of my hands,

The absence of physical pain –

And in noticing those

I find contentment.

And then again

just breathing in and out,

I let my racing mind

pass like floating clouds,

and my body smiles at me,

whispering “Welcome home”.

And I feel happy, at peace,

calm and content.

This photo is an invitation

to live mindfully,

(and a wonderment

what the miracle of Jesus

at the wedding

might really have been about)

Title: “As you slow down

and savor every moment,

regular water will begin tasting like wine.”

When we resist life

as in not accepting the waves that come at us,

or that carry us to shores we did not plan –

we cause suffering for ourselves

and for those connected with us.

When we tell life how it should have been,

complain about it or run away from it,

as life is not presenting as we wished or hoped for,

we reject life.                                                  

Life will surround us,

yet we won’t appreciate or accept it.

We do not recognize it as a friend,

a healer in disguise or even a liberator.

When life is not presenting as we want,

we reject life –

and with that, we reject ourselves.

When we allow the waves of life to come

and don’t resist, we lower our and others’ suffering,

by not suppressing or missing it.

When we then even let life flow through us,

we suddenly see deeply:

“The waves coming at me and flowing through me

are life, are me…” My life becomes a friend,

a healer and liberator even through suffering.

“Embraced suffering is Life…”

I release the impact that trauma had on me.

I release the pain in my back.

I release the tension that anxiety causes –

especially in my stomach, my heart, shoulder and neck area.

Our bodies hold the memories

of emotional injuries, of fear, of all our past experiences.

As we listen to our body,

as we notice and attune ourselves,

our body will guide and help us heal…

Just as our body helped us before to cope and carry.

Our body’s wisdom calls us

to practice the art of intentional releasing:

Through deep breathing, yoga, mindful walking, meditation and restoration/prayer postures.

Emotional pain is real.

Healing is possible.

There is a holy space inside of us –

Some call it: “Island”, “Self”, “Heart space”, “Soul”…

This space is interconnected with everything else:

humanity, nature, breath, sunshine, earth…

When we learn to seek refuge in this holy space

We find solitude and all loneliness comes to an end…

“Interbeing”, “Intertwined”, “Interconnected”-

The space within a flower begins to talk to me…

The leaf on the tree begins to greet me, as I slowly walk by…

Loneliness is impossible –

Solitude is the smiling realization

that everything around me

is gently reaching out to be embraced

by my holy space.

It takes courage to succeed,

and it takes courage to “fail”.

Accepting that letting go,

not reaching the ideal,

not being first,

not becoming what society tells us

to become or achieve,

takes sometimes more courage

than actually reaching those ideals.

Being a “Failure” in the eyes of others

while knowing deep down

that you have done your best,

have been true to yourself,

have persevered against many odds

and have found yourself –

even if different than others want or expect

and maybe even different than you yourself

might have expected.

“Failure” takes courage,

and it might mean

to succeed in becoming

who you are meant to be,

instead of the roles, functions or images

others prescribe to you.