Tag Archive for: Live Awake

Magical Moment: Bad News?

I’ve been hearing from many of you lately that you’re feeling pretty tired.

Tired of isolation.

Tired of disruption.

Tired of bad news.

Tired of uncertainty.

Tired of… You fill the blank.

Yes, it’s a lot. And it’s exhausting… If we let it be.

Because in the midst of adversity there is opportunity. Opportunity to remind ourselves that we have choice.

The question is ~ Where does that choice exist?

We may not have the choice to go to work every day, or look for a new job, or fix our children breakfast and pack their lunches and get them ready for whatever version of school is happening that day, but we do have choice in the moments in between.

Are you taking time each day to move your body? I’m not talking an intense workout program (unless that’s your thing). How about a walk just a few doors down? Or simply standing on the front porch and allowing the sun to shine on your cheeks?

Are you choosing to fill a water glass or bottle and keep yourself hydrated throughout the day?

How about choosing to go to bed a little bit earlier so your tired body gets more of the sleep it needs?

Or wake up a few minutes earlier in the morning and sit in quiet meditation?

Where else can you find choice in your life?

Photo Credit: Debby Hudson @ Unsplash

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I recently discovered a meditation that became a way to bring more light into the darkness I was experiencing. The recording addressed the fact that most of us are so focused on the bad news and negativity were hearing, we overlook all the positive that exists in our lives.

It takes but a few moments to remember all that is good, but the impact of the practice is profound. By remembering all that we love, and speaking those words out loud or writing them down or sharing them with a friend, we choose to let in the light and shift our perspective, which ultimately has a positive effect on the rest of the world.

What do you think? Are you willing to try?

I invite you to allow in a bit of light to shine in on those dark places.

Listen here ~​

​LIVE AWAKE: FEEDING THE HEART & CARING FOR GOODNESS​

I love…

…the sound of a pencil moving across the page

…the coconut cream foam on top of my morning coffee

…the play of light on Georgie’s whiskers in the afternoon sun

…our kitty Lulu curled up on the end of Andie’s bed

…the moss on the big rock just inside the woods

…the fall leaves changing color

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What do YOU love?

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I can’t wait to hear?

 

 

Mother’s Day Magic

I hope this finds you well and enjoying the glorious month or May (or the new June, as many of the moms I know have dubbed it – it’s so full and busy!).

With this time of year so heavily focused on getting the kids to the end of the school year, we need to remember to take a few moments for ourselves each and every day!

I saw first hand the power of this when I was up in my hometown of Syracuse, NY for a couple of Mother’s Day events.

The first event was a wonderful gathering for the NICU expansion at Crouse Hospital where I spoke about my first book, Preemie: Lessons in Love, Life, and Motherhood. You can read more about that here – CROUSE HOSPITAL NICU FUNDRAISER

The following day was to be an evening book signing for A Mom’s Guide to Creating a Magical Life at Barnes and Noble, but before that, an opportunity to appear on the local evening news popped up!

Was I nervous? Of course, but mostly I wanted to get it right.

I studied some newscasts and noticed how most of the women dress, typically in more form-fitting dresses.

“I’m going to wear the same pink dress I wore last night for the talk and then quickly change for the book signing,” I declared to my mom and Andie.

“And because timing will be tight, Andie, you and Papa Jer can go ahead to Barnes and Noble and set up the food, drinks and books.”

Everyone nodded their heads.

And then I strode out to the car to pack my extra books, seltzers, cookies and the outfit I’d quickly change into once the news segment was over.

On the way back in my mom mentioned that Andie might want to see the television station, but I assured her we were on too tight a time crunch and that wouldn’t work.

I quickly moved up the stairs to grab a shower, but remembered I’d promised myself to take a few minutes to listen to a meditation.

So I did.

And within moments of lying down on the bed and listening to the calm, serene words of the meditation wash over and into me, I saw a vision of myself on the news, wearing the loose and comfy outfit I’d planned for the book signing – and there Andie, right there watching!

I was tempted to pop right up, but I listened to the rest of the meditation, and found even deeper stillness and quiet.

And once it ended, I took out my earphones, walked over to Andie and said, “I’m back, and I’d love for you to go to the news station with me.”

“What about the bookstore set up?” she asked.

“Who cares if we’re throwing cookies on a plate when people arrive,” I said and went to put on my cozy outfit.

What I realized during that meditation was that the news channel wasn’t interested in having another news anchor on the air. They were interested in a woman who shows up as her authentic self and speaks about what lights her up.

I hope that’s what I did, and I hope that inspires you to do the same in your life!

NBC3 Mother’s Day News Segment

Walking into the news station, Andie looked around and said, “This is dope.”

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