Liquor? But I Didn’t Even Know Her!

Posted on February 2, 2013 by bonnevivantelife

wine-run-320

I hate it when drivers stop me and ask for directions when I’m running. So I always give them directions to the nearest liquor store. I hope they’re pleasantly surprised when they get there. Because personally, finding myself in front of a liquor store always makes me happy. You’re welcome.

I hate giving directions partly because I’m really bad with directions (giving and following). But I get really irritated because it interrupts my mindfulness meditation that I find in running. There is something about my long runs that ground me, clear my head, make me sane. Keeps me from being a full-blown alcoholic. The repetitive nature of pushing my body hard creates a stream of consciousness brain feed. I picture my thoughts as ping pong balls, bouncing up and down with each step on a tray with indentations–like a large egg carton. Each time my feet hit the ground, the balls bounce, and each one slowly finds its own space to settle into. I have no agenda or specific issues identified when I hit the pavement, but by the end of the run, I have answers to questions I didn’t even know existed.

Thoughts and feelings flow randomly–some connect, some are released, others settle into me. Through some miles, it’s quiet inside my head. I feel the pain and creaking in my knees, the throbbing ache in my hips, the wind cutting into my face, the sweat and snot dripping down my face. I need all of these moments to pull myself back together and settle into myself. I need all of these miles to reduce the number of trips to the liquor store–don’t want to bump into someone I gave the wrong directions to, after all.

Posted in Meditation, Mindfulness, Running | Tagged , , | 7 Comments

Dazed and Confused

Posted on January 29, 2013 by bonnevivantelife

dazedconfused

As you know, I’m dating and not having the best time with it. I’ve tried to maintain a good attitude through it all. At best, the men have not been all that interesting (hint: a bacon-weave meatloaf is not the best conversation starter). At worst, they’ve been jerks and liars (question: when were you going to tell me about your girlfriend?). Some moments can be exciting and fun, while other moments it’s utterly exhausting.

I knew one of my lessons in life was to learn to make wiser and better choices in who I gave my time and self to. I had not been very good at that in the past.  I met someone recently who was so kind, so respectful, so sweet. He was so nice to me. I had never met anyone like him before. He is a good man. And at first I thought he looked a little like Matthew McConaughey (and not from his Dazed and Confused days)–bonus! I had high hopes. He made me laugh. He was smart. I was looking forward to seeing where this might go as we got to know each other. I was really excited.

Then he dumped me, in the nicest way possible. I was stunned. And because he is so nice and genuine, I had no anger to hold on to in order to process this. For those who have not witnessed me in all my glory, me and a bottle of wine in an hour does not pretty make.

Why did this hurt so much? Because finding a good match is only part of the picture–this pain wasn’t about him. The possibility of impermanence throws an entirely different layer on the complexity of relationships. It’s the fragility and fickleness of relationships that terrifies me so much. That you really just don’t know if it will last, when it might end. You can hope for the best, work really hard to make it last. Promise and vow and intend to keep it going. But people get dumped all the time. People get divorced. Couples become uncoupled. Not knowing if or when absolutely terrifies me. Two weeks, five years, 20 years, 45 years: you just never know. I’m not down with that.

In the past I thought I couldn’t trust myself. I’m learning to. Now, I question if I can trust hope. I know I need to regroup. But I’m not sure how to get there, or even what “there” is. I just know I’m sad and a bit scared. Dazed and confused.

Posted in Dating, Relationships | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Become a Lake

Posted on January 28, 2013 by bonnevivantelife

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The last couple days I’ve been repeating to myself “Be a lake. Be a lake. Be a lake.” To no avail. I have not evolved into becoming a lake yet; I am still just Batshit Crazy. As you nod in agreement, let me explain. I recently stumbled upon this:

An aging master grew tired of his apprentice’s complaints. One morning, he sent him to get some salt. When the apprentice returned, the master told him to mix a handful of salt in a glass of water and then drink it.
“How does it taste?” the master asked.
“Bitter,” said the apprentice.
The master chuckled and then asked the young man to take the same handful of salt and put it in the lake. The two walked in silence to the nearby lake and once the apprentice swirled his handful of salt in the water, the old man said, “Now drink from the lake.”
As the water dripped down the young man’s chin, the master asked, “How does it taste?”
“Fresh,” remarked the apprentice.
“Do you taste the salt?” asked the master.
“No,” said the young man. At this the master sat beside this serious young man, and explained softly,
“The pain of life is pure salt; no more, no less. The amount of pain in life remains exactly the same. However, the amount of bitterness we taste depends on the container we put the pain in. So when you are in pain, the only thing you can do is to enlarge your sense of things. Stop being a glass. Become a lake.”

So as you know, I’ve been working really hard at leading a more mindful existence; being more authentic and vulnerable; learning to sit in discomfort instead of fighting it or denying it. By most accounts I really had made great strides. Loved being so at peace in my own skin. Loved breathing through really hard things. Loved pushing myself to grow. Go me!

It is really amazing how quickly one can regress–like lose 10 years in a moment. At this moment I am not a lake, I am not mindful, I am not OK. I am in fact, Batshit Crazy. I am an embarrassment. I am not fit for public consumption. All it takes is one familiar trigger and all the lessons learned and hard-fought battles earned–gone, out the window. Hello, Crazy Girl, welcome back. Haven’t seen you in these parts in a while…

Some might say regressing is a part of the growth process, that you need to go back a few steps to gain traction and move forward again. Some might say this is temporary, and/or necessary. Quite frankly, I don’t give a shit. I just know this sucks. A friend’s husband tells her she is a Great Lake—so cute! She’s encouraging me to remember I too am a lake. Right now though, if I’m a lake, I’m a Superfund lake. Toxic, hazardous to myself, messy, and in desperate need of a cleanup. Funds, we need funds for this. Please send your monetary contributions so that I may purchase more wine. I’ve heard alcohol kills germs.

Posted in Meditation, Mindfulness | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

Not a Golden Globe, But a Liebster!

Posted on January 14, 2013 by bonnevivantelife

Liebster-Award

Huge THANKS to mommyverbs for nominating my blog for the Liebster Award!! I feel a great connection with mommyverbs—she’s witty and funny and wise. Through words posted on the interwebs, I feel a quiet calmness and strength about her that speaks to a level of resiliency, and can tell she’s also quite fierce and can open up a good can o’ whoop-ass when necessary. In any event, you should check her blog out.

So, to accept this award, I need to:

1) Share 11 random facts about me

2) Answer 11 questions posed to me.

3) Nominate 11 bloggers and tell them. No tag-backs.

4) Give them 11 questions to answer

Ready for over-sharing?

Facts About Me:

1. When I was 18, my friends tried to sell me into a marriage contract to a Serbian nightclub owner in NYC–$20,000 for his green card. I am not friends with them anymore.

2. I’m afraid of the dark and of heights.

3. I can’t swim. Not even doggy paddle. Or float. In fact, if you throw me in the water I will promptly sink. When I am out in open waters, I make sure I am with people who are fond enough of me to throw some sort of flotation device in my general direction, should I fall in.

4. My eye fell out. OK, I MAY be a little dramatic here, but I did almost go blind in one eye, and didn’t even get a good eye patch for all the trouble (I really wanted one with a rhinestone-encrusted skull and crossbones, but the opthamologist refused to humor me). For no good reason (no head trauma, no drunken brawl), a few years ago my retina detached slowly over the course of a week. Then within hours my field of vision turned black. That sucked.

5. Household chores I hate the most: folding laundry and emptying out the dishwasher.
Some days the dread is enough to make me consider getting remarried.

6. My last name really isn’t my family name. It is the family name of the people who kidnapped my paternal grandfather and raised him as their own. True story.

7. I do not hesitate to publicly blame my kids for anything to absolve myself of blame (baked goods that don’t look so hot, burps and farts, messy house, tardy arrivals…you get the picture). I have no shame and I freely admit it.

8. Couldn’t run a mile until I was almost 30. Today, my long runs a couple times a week are 11 miles. There is no greater power than believing in yourself.

9. I can’t watch a movie that’s based on a book—I need to maintain my personal vision of how people and things look and sound, as opposed to a director’s vision.

10. I have well over 120 pairs of shoes.

11. I have always hated my first name. No one ever spells it or pronounces it correctly. And I’ve always thought it sounds and feels clunky. It was also a lot of bubbles to fill in on standardized tests. AND it is never printed on keychains, cups or other crappy kid-junk that stores sell. As a kid, that mattered!

Answers to the 11 questions are:

What is your favorite quote? From Mary Oliver’s “When Death Comes”

“When it’s over, I want to say: all my life
I was a bride married to amazement.
I was a bridegroom, taking the world into my arms.

When it’s over, I don’t want to wonder
if I have made of my life something particular, and real.
I don’t want to find myself sighing and frightened
or full of argument.

I don’t want to end up simply having visited this world.”

Also really love this from her: “Someone I loved once gave me a box full of darkness. It took me years to understand that this too, was a gift.” 

What is your favorite season? Fall

What is one of your hobbies? Running

What is your favorite flavor of ice cream? Chocolate, and if you throw in some chunks of anything covered in chocolate I’ll commit a crime for you.

What is one piece of advice you’d like to share with the world? Say what you mean, mean what you say.

What is your biggest dream? To somehow make a living incorporating writing, cooking, baking and providing psychotherapy together in some sort of service or establishment…with really good live music playing in the background and really good alcohol flowing. If I interpret this question to be asking “What do I strive for?” then it would be that I raise my children to be kind, smart people who do good deeds and make a difference in this world.

Who is your favorite superhero/heroine? Wonder Woman. But her invisible plane always threw me for a loop (Where did she park it? Why didn’t anyone ever bump into something so large? Can’t people SEE her in the invisible plane? Nowhere did it say the plane made all occupants invisible! In fact, in the cartoons, you can see her sitting in the invisible plane!), and her truth lasso was cheesy, as were her metal wrist shields. But there was something about her that made me twirl in circles week after week, until I fell down and threw up, hoping in vain to turn into Wonder Woman.

What is the movie you watch in the middle of the night when you can’t sleep? Sorry, this is a boring answer: none. I usually don’t get to bed until about 1am, and only have about 4 or 5 hours before I have to wake and start the day, so there aren’t any nights I can’t sleep. Once I couldn’t sleep, but some good wine promptly took care of that…

Who is your favorite famous person and why? Tina Fey. She’s smart and funny and authentic.

What is the first of your favorite songs that you think of … right…. now!? “Change” by Churchill: “To make you want me I can fabricate the truth. I’ll give you easy, It’ll keep me destitute…”

What is your favorite flavor/brand of wine? (Or drink of choice?) Malbecs, Shiraz’s, some Pinot Noirs. Especially from Chile, Argentina or Spain. My new fave: Broquel (Argentinian Malbec)—To. Die. For.

And now the Liebster Awards Go To:

A Wild One Within

You’re Just a Dumb Ass

OK, I know I’m supposed to list 11 blogs. But see, the point of the Liebster is to recognize up and coming blogs, with less than 200 followers who deserve recognition and support to keep blogging. I apparently only follow much larger blogs–I need to devote more time to finding amazing small blogs to support! Duly noted.

But their list of questions are still really good:

1. What is your greatest fear?

2. What is your favorite childhood memory?

3. Diamonds or pearls? Can’t say both.

4. Biggest impractical splurge was:

5. What did you want to be when you were little? Mission accomplished?

6. Your worst quality:

7. Name 3 items you would want if you were stuck on a deserted island:

8. Quick: tell the first joke that comes to mind RIGHT NOW:

9. What’s the most embarrassing thing that’s ever happened  to you?

10. If you could have any job in the world, what would it be?

11. What is on your nightstand right now?

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Blog of the Year 2012! Woot!!

Posted on January 7, 2013 by bonnevivantelife

Blog of the Year Award 1 star jpeg

Once upon a time, in a world without mortgages, ballet recitals, budget cuts at work, or a slowing metabolism, there lived a young girl who dreamed of changing the world through her writing. Anything was possible. She even thought it wise to take out $40,000 for a journalism degree (Shout out to Newhouse! Go ‘Cuse!).

So I’m still paying off my student loans, and I’m not a writer. This highlights just one of the many instances of how UNwise I am. (Let’s not go so far as to call me foolish…let’s just go with “misguided.”) But those are for previous and future posts to address. So where was I? Oh yeah, so I took a different career path: psychotherapy, research, marketing. Paths, I took paths (and more student loans), and none of it was writing.

But there is still something about writing that speaks to me, pulls at my heartstrings. I always loved it, and always missed it. There are some things I want that I shouldn’t have (more cake, bad boys, the 7th shot of whiskey). But then there are those things that speak to me that I need, to give me life–things I want that I can have or do (long runs, new shoes, guiding people to actualize their potential). Turns out writing is one of those things that feeds my soul.

So that is one of the reasons why this blog was born. It’s a small, humble thing. Sometimes it’s funny, sometimes thoughtful, sometimes angry. But always me. At first only a handful of friends read it (Another shout out: Thank you Friends! Drinks on me!). Most days I think that’s still true (And yes, I’ll still buy a round).

So I was floored and so honored to be nominated for the Blog of the Year 2012 Award from fellow blogger You’re Just A DumbAss, who I admire. She is so real and grounded and genuine. Her daily courage to be so authentic in such an open forum is inspiring. Her thoughts and experiences resonate with honesty, and leaves you laughing so much that sometimes, if you were a middle-aged mother of two, peeing just a little in your pants. Or so I’ve heard. So my blog not only feeds my soul, but it has also broadened my horizons to connect me to such amazing people. And that one person was touched by my writing so much as to recognize me–I am so grateful, so humbled, so truly honored. I am one lucky, albeit misguided, girl.

And for those of you keeping track of things like oh, the year…I am well aware it is now 2013. I’ve been a little busy…so let’s just call this a re-cap of 2012. A reflection if you will. A retrospective perhaps? Well, no matter. I was nominated and I’m not giving it back! So the ‘rules’ for this award are simple:

  1. Select another blog(s) who deserve the ‘‘Blog of the Year 2012 Award”;
  2. Write a blog post and tell us about the blog(s) you have chosen – there’s no minimum or maximum number of blogs required – and ‘present’ them with their award;
  3. Include a link back to this page ‘Blog of the Year 2012’ Award at the Thought Palette and provide these ‘rules’ in your post (please don’t alter the rules or the badges!)
  4. Let the blog(s) you have chosen know that you have given them this award and share the ‘rules’ with them
  5. You can now also join our Facebook group – click ‘like’ on this page ‘Blog of the Year 2012’ Award Facebook group and then you can share your blog with an even wider audience.
  6. As a winner of the award – please add a link back to the blog that presented you with the award – and then proudly display the award on your blog and sidebar … and start collecting stars…

So I nominate a really smart, witty, genuine, and kind blogger: http://mommyverbs.wordpress.com/

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“The truth will set you free. But first, it will piss you off.”–Gloria Steinem

Posted on January 2, 2013 by bonnevivantelife
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Microsoft Clip Art

A friend recently shared an Atlantic article from summer 2012: “Why Women Still Can’t Have It All.” An oldie but a goodie.

As is usually the case, the universe was speaking to me. I had been struggling with a career decision and I needed to make a decision within a day or two. I had been offered a promotion. The obvious perk of more money is nice, but money is not a driving factor in my life (some days it’s clear that’s a major flaw–especially on the days I’m jonesing for new shoes). The job itself was appealing, challenging, important. And a nice step up. A recognition of all my hard work and a culmination of my career goals. I have always been driven by career–it has been a huge part of my identity from birth.

As life happens, I took on other parts of my identity through the years. I’m a single mother of two. And I make sure to take time to do things that nurture me, not only as a mother or a professional. But carving out time for my interests and things that feed my soul. So I’m busy, but through the years I’ve managed to create a nice cadence to our chaotic lives. No one’s ever perfectly groomed, but we’re fairly well-mannered and well-fed. Usually no one is bleeding, or at least there are no gaping head wounds. It’s a good life.

And then I had the good fortune to be considered for a promotion. Can’t go wrong here, right? Well, after much soul searching, I realized I had to listen to my gut–the voice screeching “NO!”

I had been trying to ignore it. Because I’m good at ignoring my gut. Because I’ve worked so hard in my education and career that of course I had to take this opportunity. Because I’d be a fool to pass this up. Because I WANTED this job. But then I had to stop and look around. At who I am today and what my life looks like. Today. Not ten years ago, not 20 years in the future. But today. And today, I can’t have it all. I have mentored young women, telling them the notion of balancing our lives is a mistake, as it implies holding it all at once without dropping anything. But instead, it’s a juggling act–that we throw some balls into the air for a time while holding others, and the priorities rotate and take turns through our lives.

Just because I tell people that doesn’t mean I accept it easily. I realized where my life is right now, taking this job would not be a good idea. Not for my sanity and not for my kids’ well-being. I am grieving over letting go of the notion that I could have it all. That societal expectations (that if I’m ambitious and smart and driven, I should take this job) collide with real life. That I’m not helping the feminist movement progress any further by turning the promotion down. But my kids need me, and I need them.

So I’m really sad right now. I’m building up the courage to turn the promotion down. I know it’s the right thing to do, but I’m sick to my stomach right now. Plus my pants are too tight from too much holiday eating, but that’s neither here nor there. I need to be brave enough to not force myself into the mold of societal expectations. I need to refuse to feel like a failure or a slacker if I choose my kids and my quality of life over the job. I need to remember I am still ambitious and smart and driven. And I’m courageous. And really, really sad.

Posted in Empowerment, Meditation, Mindfulness | Tagged , , , | 18 Comments

The best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry

Posted on December 19, 2012 by bonnevivantelife

The kids and I were soooo excited to start our daily acts of kindness.  We got our friends involved. We talked about how stopping at 26 seemed both arbitrary and like a token gesture. We talked about how making this a habit in our daily lives and being mindful of acting kindly automatically changes the tone and expectation of society around us. How we should do these things not expecting recognition or thanks, but because it’s the right thing to do. How we don’t have the right to judge who is deserving of acts of kindness or monetary donations. That we will just go through life grateful and kind-hearted, and everything falls into place.

That was the plan–in an ideal world things fall into place. This ideal world clearly does not involve my karma. We’ve had some stumbles coming out of the starting blocks. My 6-year-old daughter came home from school yesterday reporting her attempts at kindness didn’t go over so well. Apparently, she asked her friend if she needed help. Over. And over. And over. Again. And again. And again. Until the poor friend begged, “By golly, I don’t need ANY help. Please. Just go away!” Looks like I passed on the lack of the moderation gene to another generation. Badger ‘em until they scream Uncle (or By Golly)!! Then swoop in to help when they’re exhausted to save the day! Needless to say, my daughter wasn’t digging this random act of kindness thing.

Today I was getting coffee, and offered to pay for whatever the gentleman behind me was getting. Turns out I was aiding and abetting. The guy quickly hid his muffin behind his work files, and grabbed a bag of chips for me to buy him. So instead of creating an opportunity for paying it forward, I created an opportunity for not paying for food.

Essentially, we’ve started off our #26ActsOfKindness with harassment and theft (#CrimeSpree perhaps?). We’re going to keep trying tomorrow, and every day thereafter.  Until someone screams By Golly. Or gets arrested.

Posted in Parenting | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

#26ActsOfKindness

Posted on December 17, 2012 by bonnevivantelife

hands

A friend and I had been talking lately about how we want to get our kids involved in more meaningful, hands-on volunteering activities. Sure, we donate money to causes throughout the year. That is surely important, and we will continue to do so. Yes, we donate to Toys for Tots and other holiday-themed toy and clothing drives. Methinks nice, we’ll keep doing it, but not necessarily meaningful to the kids. We donate other items and volunteer our time throughout the year for various causes, through our affiliations with Boy Scouts, church, school, etc. We’ll still do that as well (a boy’s gotta earn those belt loops somehow!). But my friend and I, well, we wanted more. We want our children to truly understand and live the lesson that it does take a village, and that we’re part of this village. We have a responsibility to do what we can to lift everyone up.

I’ve been meaning to incorporate this desire to do good into my everyday life–you know, those random acts of kindness. I keep intending to perform random acts of kindness, like buy someone’s lunch or feed someone’s meter or save a cat from a tree, or…or…something. But I am honestly too self-absorbed in my chronic tardiness and overflowing To-Do list day to day, minute to minute, to do so. To even remember to do it.

Then I read about Ann Curry’s challenge she threw down on Twitter to do 20 Acts of Kindness, which is now 26 Acts of Kindness to honor those who died in Newtown:
http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/12/17/15972814-inspired-to-act-26acts-of-kindness-to-honor-those-lost-in-newtown-conn?lite

I was all on board when I read this. I was going to email this to my friend: “Look! Let’s get our kids in on this–it will be meaningful to them, and for our own personal healing.” I mean, I think it’s safe to say we’re all still reeling from this, trying to make sense of the loss, of how we feel about the right to bear arms, how we deal with the mentally ill, how we protect our children. This is all so much: the horror, the tragedy, the heavy grief–so much so that I’ve been literally speechless. What can I say? I don’t. I cry and hug my children and don’t yell at them when they’re running late, or fighting with each other, or spilling milk on the carpet. But there had to be more.

So I’m taking Ann’s challenge and upping the ante (because I’m oddly competitive, you know). I’m committing to engaging my children in this quest to performing a random act of kindness every day. One a day. Every. Single. Day. We will change the world one act at a time, every day of our lives. That is meaningful.

Who’s in?

Posted in Parenting, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Don’t Be a Hater!

Posted on December 6, 2012 by bonnevivantelife
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Charter Hall: Perryville, MD

I recently participated in a family meditation retreat over a weekend. I spent an entire weekend in a lodge full of strangers I had never met before. Even roomed with a family I did not know. I told a friend about this, and she was surprised–she said “You?? But you hate people!”

Yes, I hated people. I mean I truly despised people in general. There were very few people I could honestly say I enjoyed.

I have realized lately that I used to be so private and guarded because I didn’t trust people and didn’t want people to know certain things about me–that I wanted to choose who I could deem trustworthy enough to reveal certain aspects of me and my life. I didn’t want to expose myself to others who could potentially discover things about me or my life if I couldn’t control who would know, or what they would know.

But lately I’ve discovered that’s not the real issue or concern. I’m OK now with putting myself out there (in a not-oversharing sort of way), being in the mix, being me with people in general because the issue is not WHAT they find out about me and how they’ll judge me or use that information, but the issue is HOW I deal with their behaviors that I couldn’t control in the first place. What kind of behaviors I’ll accept, what boundaries I’ll set forth, what expectations I’ll put out there.

So I’ve learned it’s not about staying away from people in general to avoid toxic people or frenemies, or for fear of being judged. But it’s in identifying inappropriate or unacceptable behaviors and deciding how to deal with them. It’s in teaching people how to treat me. That, I can control. And I’m so grateful for all the new friends in my life.

Posted in Meditation, Mindfulness, Relationships | Tagged , , | 7 Comments

So Misunderstood

Posted on November 23, 2012 by bonnevivantelife


Holidays are a time for thanksgiving; for gratitude of all the gifts, family, and friends in our lives. Then why is it that family gatherings are inevitably like a drunken family therapy session? I cannot be the only person to both dread, and look forward to, spending the least amount of time humanly possible with my entire family. Don’t get me wrong, I love each of them dearly. Just not all of them together. I look forward to opportunities my children can create memories with each of them. But I am always hoping lots of wine will be served, and that for once, I learn to keep my mouth shut. (Which I don’t, by the way.)

I’ve realized I’m damned if I do, and damned if I don’t. I vow every single time to NOT fall into old family dynamics and I promise myself I WILL act my age and be appropriate. And when I’m so proud of myself that I’ve shown how evolved I have become, they get so pissed off. I’m not playing the expected role in this show. And they are not happy with this sudden and unwelcome change. Yet in the many moments I fail at trying to rise above it all, I still lose. I get the “Oh look, there she goes again. Of course she would…..”

I experienced how ingrained these family dynamics were on a trip abroad a few years ago with my entire family. For two weeks we traveled together and were inseparable. (I am pretty sure I was drunk when I agreed this would be a fantastic idea.) Those two weeks were the loneliest and most isolated days of my entire life. I was able to step back and watch all the dynamics play out. And I realized in sad horror that we all have roles to play; and that the scapegoat was always me or my father. My mother and sisters have their own brand of Bat-Shit Crazy going on, but somehow, my father and I have been assigned the Bad Guy roles. I felt so lonely because my personality and value as a person did not matter nearly as much as the role I had been assigned.

This is a really hard dynamic to break free from when no one else in the group wants to shake things up. After all, whose family would it be then? If we change the dynamics and the expected roles that we’ve grown up with, and that we’ve grown into, who are we? I guess that is something to be thankful for then–a place to easily fit into that feels like home. Like family. There is nothing else like it. Thank God…

Posted in Meditation, Mindfulness, Parenting, Relationships | Tagged , , , | 8 Comments