Religious

“Bent but never broken; down but never out.” ~Annetta Ribken I lived for a long time thinking I was broken beyond repair. Let me rephrase: I thought I was unloved, unworthy, scarred, and broken. What a package, right? It started young, never feeling like I was good enough for anything I did. Being the youngest […]

“You can be a good person with a kind heart and still say no.” ~Unknown Why is it so hard to say no? The uncomfortable buildup of emotion I felt while contemplating dropping the ‘n’ word used to have me rushing around town, home, and work for the people I loved in a heartbeat. I

“Be kind to past versions of yourself that didn’t know the things you know now.” ~Unknown When I taught yoga classes in jails in Colorado and New Jersey, I would end class with the Metta Meditation: May we all feel forgiveness. May we all feel happiness. May we all feel loved. May all our sufferings

“With mindfulness, you can establish yourself in the present in order to touch the wonders of life that are available in that moment.”  ~Thich Nhat Hanh I am not a good friend to myself. This realization shook me as I was riding the bus home one day from the local university where I taught. This

“We need to grieve the ones we’ve lost—not to sustain our connection to suffering, but to sustain our connection to love.” ~Jennifer Williamson Ken was only forty-seven years old when he met his untimely death. It was surreal, my brother-in-law was gone from our physical world. As a family, we felt the motions moving through

“Avoiding certain people to protect your emotional health is not weakness. It is wisdom.” ~Unknown The word “boundary” often conjures up negative thoughts. After all, it’s usually an indication of something being restricted. However, deciding to set boundaries is one of the most empowering things you can do for your mental well-being. Growing up I always

“It’s okay if you fall apart sometimes. Tacos fall apart, and we still love them.” ~Unknown Do you often find yourself saying, “I just have to get through this week…” and then that turns into every week? I know I do. Between work responsibilities, chores, and spending time with family and friends the calendar can

“Remember, being happy doesn’t mean you have it all. It simply means you’re thankful for all you have.” ~Unknown I remember sitting on the New York City subway, tears streaming down my face, armed with valium and lithium along with other antidepressants that my psych had just prescribed. I was desperate, in that cave I

“A woman in harmony with her spirit is like a river flowing. She goes where she will without pretense and arrives at her destination prepared to be herself and herself only.” ~Maya Angelou For as long as I can remember, I have struggled with feelings of inadequacy and unworthiness. I’ve grappled with the unshakable feeling

“You can’t stop the waves, but you can learn to surf.” ~Jon Kabat Zinn In December of 2020, we noticed mom’s speech seemed difficult. Like she had stuffed cotton balls in her mouth, and someone was restraining her jaw from moving. We asked her about it, she said it was nothing. We hadn’t seen each