Faking It

I first heard about Dr. Brene Brown when I watched her powerful piece on shame on Ted Talks a few years ago. Recently my sister suggested a great book she was reading called The Gifts of Imperfection. It took me awhile to put two and two together that it was written by the same person.

Perfectionism permeates our culture. Brene Brown explains it has only worsened since 9/11 because everyone feels so vulnerable.

As she says, if we want to be happy we have to stop striving to be so perfect.

I think happiness comes from loving ourselves more. We love our self ( and others) more when we can embrace our imperfections.

Brene Brown is speaking at the Women and Power Retreat September 20-22 at Omega Institute.

I would love to go if I can swing it.

Heads-Up

I have been suffering from carpal tunnel'ish symptoms that I am pretty sure are being caused by looking down at my Iphone. They started around the holidays this past year and I didn't put two and two together, until recently, that just twelve weeks prior I had started using a smartphone. I've been waking in the middle of the night with a numb right hand, which is so damn annoying I can't tell you. My chiropractor thinks it's from a pinched nerve in my neck, not carpal tunnel issues, but either way I think it's caused by looking down at my Iphone.

 Grrrr.

Anyway, I thought I would post this smartphone ergonomics video for y'all so that you don't end up in the same boat as me, if you haven't already.

Yet another reason to leave our smartphones behind.

Do chime in if you've had similar issues. Readers have been emailing to say that it's hard to successfully leave comments on here. If you are having issues I think the best way around this is to leave comments anonymously (in the drop-down box) of the comments section below.

Thank you m'dears.
xo

All You Need

It's been a doozy of a week here. One of my daughters had surgery on her nose for a deviated septum, which compared to many surgeries is minor, but was still quite an ordeal none the less. Poor little critter. It's not helpful that I am a bit of a woos unfortunately in medical situations.

And the heat wave! Oh my gawd, the heat...

I have also come face to face with the issue of accountability as of late. It's not appropriate to go into details but I will say this:

I think the human default when we error in life is sometimes to get defensive about our actions and get into our "story". This can waste all sorts of extra energy and cause further conflict. I know I have certainly done this.

But the reality is all we really need to do is step back, and acknowledge that we screwed up, and apologize.

It's really so simple when we can just take our ego out of it.


I have also heard this week about something called the "release technique" for when we are confronted with negative thoughts or situations. For instance, we might say to our self, "I didn't get enough sleep last night!" but then you respond to yourself with "It's not so bad."

Oh my god it's so hot out!

It's not so bad :-)


Thank you to Sandi for sending in the above silent clip in response to last week's post.

And have a good week my friends.
xo

Take Me There

Mother's Day

Since my mom moved to the area a year ago we've been church hopping a few times each month. Having not ever been religious, and not having gone to church since I was young, it has been a nice change for me.

I especially like the hour spent alone with my thoughts in church.

And that I can spend time with her at the same time.

Alone, together.

Sometimes, a sermon will bring me to tears it's so relate-able.

Sometimes, I drift away, and hardly catch a word.

Anyway, I think we've finally discovered a church that suits us both. I knew it when the choir of mixed ages sang the Beatle's "All You Need Is Love."


Go out into the world in peace.
Have Courage.
Hold on to what is good.
Return to no person evil for evil.
Strengthen the fainthearted.
Support the weak.
Help the suffering.
Honor all beings.

~Adapted from Paul's letter to the Thessalonians