Next Tuesday, April 22, is Earth Day—a time to honor our planet’s beauty and bounty, and to renew our commitment to its protection and restoration. Earlier this month, I had the great pleasure of hearing Dr. Jane Goodall speak in person. Being in her presence was lovely and inspiring.
Read MoreIn last week’s blog, I shared how I’m planning to make half of my Quest for Eternal Sunshine Friday newsletters a simple offering of a “Take a Moment” micro-meditation paired with a quote to ponder. My aim is to lift the pressure of needing to complete a new essay every week, and also to give each one more time to blossom into its fullest potential.
Read MoreStarting in mid-February, Debra Silverman’s soon-to-be-released book, I Don’t Believe in Astrology, was my bedtime reading. Debra—a master astrologer and psychotherapist whose wisdom I’ve been benefiting from for 19 years—imparts many clear and powerful messages in her new book. One of the core beliefs she shares is that humans come to this planet to learn specific life lessons, and that pain is our primary teacher.
Read MoreDuring times of turmoil, when much of the suffering we witness and experience is beyond our control, it’s more important than ever to access an inner state of peace by calming our nervous system, quieting our mind, and connecting with forces greater than ourselves. Being rested, grounded, and clear-headed allows us to bring more compassion, joy and creative solutions into a world desperately in need of those qualities.
Read MoreThis week, I’m happy to share an article I wrote for Spirituality & Health magazine featuring wisdom from qi gong master Lee Holden’s new book, “Ready, Set, Slow.” It shares three of my favorite practices from the 25 the book offers—practices I’ve been enjoying and benefiting from every day.
Read MoreLast month, I received a beautiful newsletter from my cousin Trudy Goodman, who is a Harvard-trained psychotherapist and internationally recognized Buddhist meditation teacher. In it, she offered a simple yet powerful practice called, “Steadying the Heart in Uncertain Times,” which I’m happy to share with you today.
Read MoreTrudy’s odyssey in life has been analogous to a turbulent ocean crossing filled with unanticipated, treacherous storms.
Read MoreI recently did something completely ordinary that felt surprisingly extraordinary: I taught my 7-year-old grandson how to play solitaire with a deck of cards at his wooden kitchen table. The week before, I’d shown him Spider Solitaire on my iPad, and he’d loved it. Once he got the hang of it, the game moved fast—no shuffling, no dealing, and his win was celebrated by an exciting explosion of digital cards.
Read MoreToday, I’m happy to share an article I wrote for “Spirituality & Health” magazine that features insights and practices from Gabrielle Bernstein’s latest book, “Self Help.” Inspired by her devotion to Internal Family Systems (IFS)—a form of psychotherapy that is booming in popularity—Gabby’s teachings can help us heal our deepest wounds and empower us to live our best lives.
Read MoreIn anticipation of tomorrow’s writing workshop—“Write Your Past & Future Open” with author, poet and artist, Patrice Vecchione—I’m happy to share two poems written by Alice Tao, the talented poet whose work I first shared last autumn.
Read MoreI’ve been learning about the many emotional, physical, and spiritual benefits of experiencing moments of awe, so today I’m happy to share some awe-inspiring discoveries about seahorses—wondrous creatures that embody romance in unique and surprising ways.
Read MoreHealing and personal growth require both introspection and aspiration. To truly evolve, we must reflect on the past to understand the experiences that shaped us. We also need to envision the future we want, to make sure that we’re moving toward our desired destination.
Read MoreIn early December, my son and his wife choreographed a beautiful baby naming ceremony for their two-week old son, officiated by their rabbi. The only guests were two sets of grandparents, and we were each given a blessing to impart. I was deeply moved by the blessing my husband and I read (shared below), especially because it didn’t solely wish for a life filled with ease and comfort.
Read MoreIn the late 1980s, a member of the fundraising committee for the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum contacted my father for a donation. By all appearances, my dad should have been an ideal donor. A retired inventor and successful entrepreneur, he had survived three horrendous years in Nazi concentration camps while nearly his entire family was killed in Auschwitz.
Read MoreToday, I’m happy to share an article I wrote for Spirituality & Health magazine about Martha Beck’s transformative new book, Beyond Anxiety. I’ve done my best to capture its most profound insights in this piece. If you’re curious about finding freedom from anxiety by embracing creativity and curiosity, learning about the part of your brain that is incapable of experiencing anxiety, or discovering effective ways to calm your nervous system, I invite you to read on!
Read MoreIf I had to describe my father’s extraordinary healing journey in one short sentence, it would be this: “Mendek Rubin pursued joy with unwavering determination.” My dad believed that joy is everyone’s birthright. He often emphasized that we don’t need to do anything to “earn” happiness; we just have to replace the negative conditioning that stands in the way of being able to fully experience it.
Read MoreThe occasion of the New Year reminds me that none of us have ever lived this particular year, day, or minute before. Every single moment on this earth is unique—a once in a lifetime experience that can never be repeated. After spending a week meeting and falling in love with my newborn grandson, and watching my youngest child and his wife magnificently step into parenting for the first time, my awareness of life’s miracles feel extra-heightened.
Read MoreFor my final post of the year, I’m sharing some of Brianna Wiest’s wisdom about finding purpose, and the boundless impact of spreading kindness and love. I find her words, excerpted from her book, When You’re Ready, This Is How You Heal, both inspiring and empowering as we head into 2025.
Read MoreI think of myself as a generous person, but not a selflessly generous person. For example, I always make sure baristas are looking my way before I place a bill in their tip jar. Although I’m embarrassed to admit it, sometimes I even move extra slowly to ensure my contribution is noticed. No anonymity for me!
Read More“Who are you?” was the first question Hilary Nicholls asked me over a dozen a years ago as I lay on her treatment table for the first time. “Who are you independent of being a mother, wife, daughter, businesswoman, and all the other roles you identify with?”
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