2023-09-21 18:00
I write obituaries for cats.
I could explain that I write obituaries for cats for people. But the ones who know don’t need the asterisk. The ones who don’t know will still say… Read More
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The Mindful Word ⋆ Journal Of Mindfulness And En Blog
themindfulword.org
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A daily blog and quarterly journal of engaged living, The Mindful Word features articles on topics such as mindfulness, spirituality, wholistic health, sustainability, conscious creativity and voluntary simplicity.
![LA PAZ, MEXICO: A Vacation That Became An Ordeal; An Ordeal That Became A Vacation [Part 1]](https://cdn.blogarama.com/images/posts_thumbs_site_id/2577/257729-1870353513.w320.jpg "LA PAZ, MEXICO: A Vacation That Became An Ordeal; An Ordeal That Became A Vacation [Part 1]")
2023-09-20 18:00
Dedication: To the brave and resilient people of La Paz.
It’s a morning in mid-July in our home in Walnut Creek, California, across the bay from San Francisco and a few miles inlan… Read More
2023-09-18 18:00
Each of us has, at some point, behaved badly towards the people we love. I’m not referring to anything physical or severe, but we all have hurt someone’s feelings with a sharp wo… Read More
2023-09-14 18:00
There were no forests in my childhood.
As a youngster, I never looked up in awe at towering trees. I never walked along a shady path in the woods. There were no mysterious birds I couldn… Read More
2023-09-13 18:00
A delusional Russian dictator who wants to restore the ‘greatness of the motherland’ is needlessly slaughtering women and children, and destroying hospitals, schools and people&r&hell…Read More
2023-09-11 18:00
Have you ever felt completely powerless over something? Has something ever had complete control over your mind, body and spirit? As someone who has battled with addiction his entire life, I… Read More
2023-09-06 18:00
Why do we do it—this fight to stay alive, regardless? What’s the purpose? At our ‘advanced’ age, especially, and with nothing to give to the future except perhaps as… Read More
2023-09-04 18:00
The source of us all
The divine creative essence is the source of all that is good and loving and healing.
We each have within us this essence. We would not exist without its presenc… Read More
2023-08-23 18:00
Mindfulness is a proven mechanism for emotional stability and is becoming more popular than the long-sought-after ideal happiness everyone dreams of. However, it’s often accompanied by… Read More
2023-08-17 18:00
Earlier this summer, I toppled off my bike. My left elbow took the brunt of the fall as I landed hard on the pavement. I lay there for a few minutes, with searing pain in my arm, determining… Read More
2023-08-10 18:07
The translation of memento mori from Latin to English and the deep consideration of its meaning is the last thing many people would like to do. They find the thought of death—their own… Read More
2023-08-09 18:00
When was the last time you posted a job ad for a new role at your organization? Perhaps it’s been a while, so the next question might be more relevant.
As a boss or leading manager… Read More
2023-08-05 15:00
When I got home from work and turned on MSNBC-TV, anchor Chris Hayes was sharing his basic response to the indictment, which he summarized by saying, “If these acts were not crimes, th… Read More
2023-08-03 18:00
When we discuss mental health, questions are our best allies. Like a flashlight in a dark room, they help us find what we need to know about ourselves. Let’s be real: We often give a t… Read More
2023-08-02 18:00
Success can be defined as a measurement of your capability to foster what you value in your life on a daily basis.
Until recently, I’ve been healing how I perceive success and weal… Read More
2023-07-31 18:00
In Buddhist psychology, it’s said that the underlying cause of all suffering is ignorance. Ignorance is not being aware of what we don’t know. Many individuals confuse knowing fa… Read More
2023-07-26 18:00
Fear is to desire is the same as what pleasure is to peace.
Your longing for peace is momentarily quelled by drinking the comforts of pleasure, no matter how destructive or toxic it is to… Read More
2023-07-25 18:00
Like many people, I attended church while growing up. As a result, my understanding of the whole concept of communion was limited to what my religious teachers taught me in Sunday school and… Read More
2023-07-24 18:00
My social media channels were recently peppered with a “new” perspective on other people’s behaviour called the “Let Them Theory.”
In short, if someone want… Read More
2023-07-18 18:00
I’ve read dozens, possibly hundreds of autobiographies and memoirs. There’s always something to learn or discover about the way someone lived their life, good or bad. And because… Read More
2023-07-17 18:00
The impact of digital technologies like smartphones, social media and virtual reality on humanity terrifies me, and I doubt I am alone. I am only 24, and despite being of a tech-savvy genera… Read More
2023-07-13 18:00
Awareness, Love and Compassion are who we are at our essence.
Our expressions of love and compassion bring about healing, forgiveness and reconciliation within ourselves and with one ano… Read More
2023-07-12 18:00
“Intuition is the Highest Form of Intelligence” by Bruce Kasanoff re-quotes Albert Einstein, who said, “The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faith… Read More
2023-07-11 18:00
I fell in love with lavender in France, on a walk in the Provence countryside. Our guide led us to a 12th-century abbey called Sénanque. I was mesmerized by its bluish-grey weathered… Read More
![BECOMING FLAWESOME: The Key To Living An Imperfectly Authentic Life [book Review]](https://cdn.blogarama.com/images/posts_thumbs_site_id/2577/257729-1498046519.w320.jpg "BECOMING FLAWESOME: The Key To Living An Imperfectly Authentic Life [book Review]")
2023-07-10 18:00
BECOMING FLAWESOME: The Key to Living an Imperfectly Authentic Life
Kristina Mand-Lakhiani
[Hay House, 304 pages]
In the quest for perfection, individuals often lose sight of t… Read More
2023-07-05 18:00
sto·ic (noun)
capitalized : a member of a school of philosophy founded by Zeno of Citium about 300 b.c. holding that the wise man should be free from passion, unmoved by joy or gr… Read More
2023-06-28 18:00
Someone, perhaps a therapist I sat with along the way, pointed out how often I used the word “should.” I think back to this moment as my first step on the path towards Stoicism… Read More
2023-06-26 18:00
In a developed, wealthy nation like Canada, our social culture has been crafted based on an idealized economic-growth mindset. The country’s increasingly profitable real estate industr… Read More
2023-06-19 18:00
When people come together, differences in views about life will sure to be revealed. There will be those who are open to various views about life and living, and there will be those who are… Read More
2023-06-15 18:00
It’s not every day that a bishop and an atheist sit down to discuss religion in front of a camera. Yet, that’s exactly what happened in a recent episode of the “Within Reas… Read More
2023-06-14 18:00
Picture this: Jenny, a mom of two, steps off the treadmill sweating profusely and breathing heavily. Her goal is to lose belly fat from her recent pregnancy, so she decided to sign up at a l… Read More
2023-06-12 18:00
True practice of zazen is to sit as if drinking water when you are thirsty. There you have naturalness. It is quite natural for you to take a nap when you are very sleepy. But to take a nap… Read More
2023-06-08 18:00
Trauma can make you feel like everything is out of your control. Unexpected triggers can transport you back to the most terrifying moment of your life, and suddenly, you may start panicking… Read More
2023-06-07 18:00
In the summer of 2021, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, I thought it was an appropriate time to take on a personal 40-day challenge to live each day with death on my mind.
This cha… Read More
2023-06-05 18:00
A favourite quote I keep tacked to a bulletin board in my office reads: “One’s destination is never a place, but rather a new way of looking at things.” The novelist Henry… Read More
2023-05-25 18:00
Awake again. Pain, the unwanted guest that will not leave, rousts me from my dream cloud. I sigh, close my eyes and listen. In the distance, the unmistakable call of two horned owls in a cal… Read More
2023-05-22 18:00
After having had all the shots and boosters that were available at the time, at the age of 79, I came down with COVID. The cause of my becoming ill is a mystery to me. I religiously wore my… Read More
2023-05-17 18:00
Budapest is a city that beckons travellers with its flamboyant art nouveau architecture, invigorating thermal baths and vibrant bar scene. Aptly dubbed the Paris of the East, this enchanting… Read More
2023-05-11 18:00
I usually steer clear of shrines dedicated to this or that deity, saint, martyr, visionary, mystic vision, bloody event or miracle. Shrines aren’t really a new idea, as they’ve b… Read More
2023-05-04 18:00
April has to be one of my favorite months for the explosion of blooms, and in particular, tulips. Over the late autumn, I planted a variety of tulips of different shapes, sizes, bloom times… Read More
2023-05-03 18:00
“I call upon the guardians of the heart of Father Sun, the guardians of the heart of the Mother Earth and the guardians of the four directions, so that through me, they can bless these… Read More
2023-04-24 18:00
“Gratitude opens your heart, and opening your heart is a wonderful and easy way for God to slip in.” – Baba Ram Dass
Few things have the power to totally transform one&r&hell…Read More
2023-04-17 18:00
“Mantras are passwords that transform the mundane into the sacred. – Deva Premal”Mantras are passwords that transform the mundane into the sacred.” – Deva Prema… Read More
2023-04-12 18:00
When I was quarantining alone during the height of the pandemic, I started doing aerobic exercise routines I found online to deal with cabin fever and help me manage my mental health. In the… Read More
2023-04-10 18:00
India is a land of diverse cultures, religions and topography. One such unique and fascinatingterrain is the Thar Desert, also known as the Great Indian Desert. Spread across the states ofRa… Read More
2023-04-06 18:00
Two ways to reduce stress include exercise and mindfulness. There’s evidence to suggest that both can do amazing things for your mind and body. But what about putting them together for… Read More
2023-04-05 18:00
Ask 10 people about their relationship with emotions and you’ll get 10 entirely different answers. Some will say they’re a source of connection with the world and those around th… Read More
2023-04-04 18:00
The term “self-care” can be thrown around so freely nowadays. Don’t get me wrong, establishing rituals for psychological health and wellness is extremely important, and as… Read More
2023-03-30 18:00
A mantra I often ask clients to repeat is this: “I am not my thoughts. I have thoughts. Some thoughts I create but most I do not, and it is those thoughts that can unknowingly create m… Read More
![CHRONICLES, VOLUME ONE: By Bob Dylan And Narrated By Sean Penn [book Review]](https://cdn.blogarama.com/images/posts_thumbs_site_id/2577/257729-1629638950.w320.jpg "CHRONICLES, VOLUME ONE: By Bob Dylan And Narrated By Sean Penn [book Review]")
2023-03-28 18:00
CHRONICLES: Volume One
Bob Dylan, narrated by Sean Penn
[Simon & Schuster Audio, 5 hours and 3 minutes]
I’m listening on Audible.com to Bob Dylan’s 2004 book Ch… Read More
2023-03-27 18:00
Our Northern Hemisphere winter hasn’t been gentle, but rather, one of unremitting extremes—fierce winds, atmospheric rivers, flooding and towers of snow. Too often, in its wake… Read More
2023-03-21 18:00
For the past few weeks, I’ve been watching myself sink into a deep state of burnout. Work stress is getting the better of me (mostly due to my insistence on avoiding conflict at all co… Read More
2023-03-13 18:00
The symphony of the Earth is life-giving. But how can we harmonize with our dominant culture rapidly removing so many wild voices from the orchestra? Some birds—like the once abundant… Read More
2023-03-08 19:00
I could make a list of what he taught me. Driving a standard. Appreciating The Beatles. An affinity for old movies. Trying out different sports. Things that dads can teach. But at times, I f… Read More
2023-03-06 19:00
BEWITCHING THE ELEMENTS: A Guide to Empowering Yourself Through Earth,Air, Fire, Water, and Spirit
Gabriela Herstik
[TarcherPerigee, 336 pages]
“As the political climate c… Read More
2023-02-27 19:00
We all face storms in life. When storms happen, this can be daunting, because we end up feeling restless and weary. As humans, we all want to feel in control instead of feeling vulnerable, a… Read More
2023-02-22 19:00
Piercing is a popular and common fashion trend among youth. Gone are the days when the ear was the most common site for piercing. Nowadays, young adults love to pierce different parts of the… Read More
2023-02-21 19:00
Last year, I made a habit of setting intentions every time the moon went black. Well, it’s February 19, 2023, and it’s a new moon tonight, so it seems like as good a time as any… Read More
2023-02-13 19:00
In bustling inter-city London, my garden was a tiny haven for plants and wildlife. A hole in the bottom of the fence let hedgehogs safely meander and find food on their nightly foraging, wit… Read More
2023-02-09 19:00
One of the most critical jobs of a pastor or a rabbi is to create a community from many individuals. This often leads us to speak of what binds us together, the values we share, the stories… Read More
2023-02-08 19:00
“You’re an unknowable mystery.”
I’d never been told this before. The pastor with whom I was having a counselling session over the phone said it, and it struck me a… Read More
2023-02-07 19:00
I’m going to be 75 years old one week from today. This piece is about a consequence of that age, that I “officially” learned about only yesterday!
In itself, my physical… Read More
2023-02-06 19:00
My name is Brandon E. Simmons and I took a serious misstep in life.
It was 2012, and I had found myself in a deep state of grief, stress and debilitating depression. Part of my attempt to… Read More
2023-02-02 19:00
The profound importance of the Earth to our physical, emotional and spiritual well-being is one lesson that we’ve learned from the recent pandemic. It should really go without saying… Read More
2023-02-01 19:00
The journey to discovering your Enneagram type is often a long and explorative process, and after finally figuring out your type, you may be wondering which Enneagram type is most common thr… Read More
2023-01-30 19:00
Authenticity is the congruence between your thinking and doing. In the process of growing authenticity, you will find yourself on a journey of self-discovery and acceptance. Authenticity is… Read More
2023-01-26 19:00
“The ache for home lives in all of us, the safe place where we can go as we are and not be questioned.” – Maya Angelou
There’s nothing like being homeless to help… Read More
2023-01-24 19:00
I was eight years old when I saved a life.
It was a hot summer day in Houston. My mother took me and my three brothers—the youngest, just a baby in her arms—to the neighbourho… Read More
2023-01-23 19:00
As a Yoga instructor for seniors, I have seen firsthand the many benefits that Yoga can offer to older adults. From improved flexibility and balance to increased strength, Yoga can help seni… Read More
2023-01-16 19:00
I didn’t think I was a morning person. For decades, I’ve vehemently claimed to be a night owl. Everything changed four days ago.
Four days ago, I started conducting an experim… Read More
2023-01-12 19:00
One day, a few years back, a painting caught my eye as I roamed through an art museum in Nashville, Tennessee. The artwork was a depiction of the interior of a human body. Rather than portra… Read More
![INSIGHT TIMER: Relieve Stress With Mindfulness And Meditation [app Review]](https://cdn.blogarama.com/images/posts_thumbs_site_id/2577/257729-3953279577.w320.jpg "INSIGHT TIMER: Relieve Stress With Mindfulness And Meditation [app Review]")
2023-01-11 19:00
Do you feel like life is getting harder to navigate, year after year? We all hope this year will be different, which is possible with hard work, dedication and support, but that’s not… Read More
2023-01-09 19:00
I have refrained from writing this until now, because I continued to hope and pray that he would return as he had left—proud, brilliant and creative. But the passing of time does not a… Read More
2023-01-05 19:00
Shining like guineas with the sun’s warm eye on,We almost think they are gold as we pass,Or fallen stars in a green sea of grass.– John Clare, “A Rhapsody”
This fa… Read More
2023-01-03 19:00
Saint Issa
A Jewish youth, an incarnate of God, taking birthto restore the dharmathat was lostin a decadent ageof worldly attachments.
You see,the timing was rightfor the destined retu… Read More
2023-01-02 19:00
This is the follow-up to LIVING AND DYING WITH CANCER: A kind stranger made our world a better place, published last month, with more monthly installments to come.
For the first time in a… Read More
2022-12-30 19:00
In the Western world, moss is considered unremarkable, boring, almost a weed, something to mar a perfect green lawn, something growing through cracks in the pavement, dried up and looking aw… Read More
2022-12-29 19:00
My wife and I live in a very large senior living development in the San Francisco Bay Area called Rossmoor. There are around 9,000 people living on some 1,800 acres (about 728 hectares), mos… Read More
2022-12-27 19:00
At this time of year, I experience a flood of mixed emotions, and peace of mind is hard to come by. It’s difficult to stay grounded when I’m submerged in a cocktail of both grief… Read More
2022-12-20 20:52
Emotions are a stunning expression of our energy, the “vibe” we give off. We register these with intuition. Some people feel good to be around; they improve your mood and vitalit… Read More
2022-12-15 12:26
Excerpted from Earth Blessings: Using Crystals for Personal Energy Clearing, Earth Healing & Environmental Enhancement by Judy Hall, a past-life therapist and karmic astrologer… Read More
2022-12-11 19:00
During long, stressful days, I find it difficult to pause and do the spiritual rituals I need and love. Instead, I try to power through without taking much-needed breaks to nurture my body… Read More
2022-12-09 19:00
A wealth altar, or sacred space, can be used as an anchor point for using wealth magic to manifest more abundance in your life. An altar is a small, dedicated area inside your home that&rsqu&hell…Read More
2022-12-07 19:00
The U.S. Supreme Court recently heard two cases challenging the use of racial preferences in college admissions—Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard, No. 20-1199 and Students for Fa… Read More
2022-12-02 19:00
This is the follow-up to LIVING AND DYING WITH CANCER: Gaining hope in a White Castle parking lot, published last month, with more monthly installments to come.
So, I’d found hope i… Read More
2022-12-01 19:00
Have you ever wondered why people act in a certain way, while you find it strange to do so? The actions we take have a lot to do with our basic personalities, and the Enneagram is a tool we… Read More
2022-11-30 19:00
Adulthood is about learning to become a parent to yourself. If you’re single long enough, it’s also about learning to become your own life partner. And if you can’t afford… Read More
2022-11-28 19:00
Imagine for a moment a life where shame doesn’t have a tight hold on you. Imagine yourself with the capacity to process it and move forward without it rattling your foundation in a sig… Read More
2022-11-27 11:10
Words may not seem like much, but they can affect the things we believe, and our motivation and drive to push through to attain the things we want and deserve. So in this way reading powerfu… Read More
2022-11-25 19:00
I heard about a project from an international organization seeking to distribute very special seeds to community groups that applied and qualified. These seeds came from trees that survived… Read More
2022-11-23 19:00
It would be more accurate to say that my body takes naps throughout the night than to say that I have insomnia. But I have been quite an insomniac for more than a decade, having trouble both… Read More
2022-11-20 17:30
Over the past seven years, the American people have existed in a politically toxic environment. I have been attempting to understand how I am able to apply my mindfulness practice to relate… Read More
2022-11-17 19:00
I had a lot of fun teasing Mrs. Parks about being on the popular TV show, To Tell the Truth. I’ve re-watched her segment several times, and each time I see it, I love it more. It&rsquo&hell…Read More
REFLECTIONS ON A TOTAL LUNAR ECLIPSE: Resolutions To End Vicious Cycles And Emerge From The Darkness
2022-11-16 19:00
As I write these words, it’s November 7, 2022: the evening of a total lunar eclipse. I’ve spent the day contemplating the spiritual significance of this event for me. What viciou… Read More
2022-11-14 19:00
Is it difficult for you to stay focused on the task at hand? How many times have you wanted to dedicate yourself to completing an important job or project that you had pending? How often do… Read More
2022-11-14 19:00
Is it difficult for you to stay focused on the task at hand? How many times have you wanted to dedicate yourself to completing an important job or project that you had pending? How often do… Read More
2022-11-09 19:00
Many voices are speaking out on behalf of the planet right now, calling attention to the importance of saving her, of changing our ways, of conserving and protecting and understanding her be… Read More
2022-11-04 18:00
Some plants get overlooked, especially those that produce mainly green, foliage-like ferns. So many gardeners focus on brightly coloured flowers, and ferns don’t have flowers because t… Read More
2022-11-01 18:00
This is the follow-up to LIVING AND DYING WITH CANCER: Treatment, the “good fight” and accepting help, published last month, with more monthly installments to come.
In Septemb… Read More
2022-10-27 18:00
The debate over whether transgender women should be allowed to compete against cisgender women in individual sports is only the opening salvo in what promises to be a much broader policy dis… Read More
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