Posts Tagged ‘peace’

Simple Steps to Real Gratitude this Thanksgiving

Wednesday, November 21st, 2012

This time of year, it can be easy to lose yourself in preparations and in taking care of everyone around you.  I know I often feel pulled in different directions, like I have to fit certain things into the day to accommodate everyone.  This year I have made a plan to really feel the gratitude and enjoy this Thanksgiving day.  These are some of the steps I’ll take to care for myself and stay centered and balanced during this busy time.  Won’t you join me?

  1. Meditate.  Five minutes in the morning to yourself.  You may want to try lighting a candle and connecting to www.calm.com as you begin your day.
  2. Take a morning Thanksgiving Walk.  Go solo or take someone with you.  Bask in the beauty of our surroundings this time of year.  I may even take my shoes off and dip my feet in a nearby stream.
  3. Make a Gratitude List.  Begin with at least 10 things you love about yourself.  (This could be done during the walk.)
  4. Create a Letting Go Ritual.  Pay attention to any negativity that may be coming up for you about the day.  Release it by acknowledging it, writing it down, and then burning, flushing, or ripping it up into little pieces. (more…)

Tags: , , , ,
No Comments »


Retreat Bliss: Taking my family along for the ride.

Thursday, August 2nd, 2012

I LOVE retreats!  I love planning them.  I love going on them.  I love learning how to facilitate them.  Whether it’s a self-imposed 15 minute break in nature or a weekend away to relax and learn.  I find tremendous peace in taking time for myself.

In the past, my least favorite way to retreat was when I attempted to “retreat” with my family.  After returning from a “relaxing” family vacation, I would feel like a I needed to go on another vacation by myself just to de-stress.  Something changed recently though when we decided we’d make an impromptu road trip and do some tent camping.  I’ve been traveling to Watkins Glen for almost 20 years with my husband Tom.  It has always felt like such a sacred place to me.  There is an incredible energy in walking the path of the gorge, through this crevice in the mountain that used to be connected.  There are gentle waterfalls that spill over your head as you climb the steps.

Even driving into the town of Watkins Glen and catching glimpses of Seneca Lake in the distance makes me feel all tingly inside.  My mom says my experience could be summed up as a “gorge-gasm”.  And she might be right. (more…)

Tags: , , , , , , ,
No Comments »


Cultivating Peace Within

Wednesday, April 18th, 2012

Sometimes people tell me that they feel peaceful in my presence.  This got me thinking about how I come to this ‘peaceful’ place within myself.  The answer was simple:  I require lots of alone time to rejuvenate and refresh.  I am not a hermit by any means, in fact I love getting out and being social but sometimes keeping up with my children’s schedules and the pressures I put on myself as a business owner can run me down.  I don’t always feel peaceful.  It’s a feeling I have learned to cultivate over the years in different ways.

Here are 5 simple, yet powerful ways that I use consistently to keep me in the “happy” place.

  1. A simple morning ritual.  Setting my alarm a little earlier so that I can get up before anyone else is well worth the effort.  Sometimes all it takes is 10 minutes of quiet time to make a big difference.  I LOVE Roy Deleon’s Praying with the Body morning prayer rituals for this.
  2. Always have a journal handy.  Journaling has become one of the most empowering habits I have developed over the last 18 months.  All you need is a spiral notebook to keep with you.  When I am wrestling with decisions that need to be made or I just need to vent, my journal has become like a best friend.  When I tap into that inner wisdom that flows onto the paper, wonderful insights and ideas unfold. (more…)

Tags: ,
No Comments »