Today, 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?”
Read MoreEarlier this week, I celebrated my very first birthday without a living parent on earth. From the moment I woke up, I kept thinking about my mother and father, feeling much gratitude toward them both for giving me life, and all the love, time and resources they devoted to raising and supporting me.
Read MoreAnne Lamott once wrote, “Maturity is gaining a modicum of grace when you do not get your own way.” I like that Anne used the word “modicum,” the equivalent of a smidgeon—just a teeny, tiny bit. Disappointment is hard, no matter our age, and life is full of it.
Read MoreIt’s hard to believe that the holiday season is already upon us. It arrived so quickly for me this year, and many of my friends feel the same way. Although the holidays are supposed to be extra-joyful, they can also up our stress levels for a myriad of reasons, including disrupted routines, taxing travel, difficult family dynamics, excess food and drink, financial pressure, extra commitments, increased socializing, heightened emotions of grief and loneliness, and even the perceived pressure to feel upbeat and happy.
Read MoreI appreciate the following words by Thich Nhat Hanh not only because I spent thirty years growing salad greens, but also because I often think about the dangerous human tendency to reflexively look for someone to blame when something happens that we don’t like.
Read MoreToday I’m sharing an essay I wrote three years ago that first ran in Spirituality & Health magazine about changing my relationship with death. When I “assigned” myself this topic, I knew it would be both difficult and important, but I had no clue what would arise for me. It turned out that intimately contemplating death for so long helped me to discover that holding death close is a powerful way to wake up to life.
Read MoreOn September 1, two days before my mother Edith passed away on her 96th birthday, I remained glued to her bedside. Treasuring our final hours together, I soothed her with words, song and touch. I wanted her to feel safe, bathed in love and gratitude.
Read MoreWhile on vacation this week, I’m sharing a short poem by my father about different approaches to life, and the wisdom of allowing things to be just as they are.
Read MoreWhen my beloved Zen teacher, Katherine Thanas, passed away twelve years ago, I booked a session with energy healer Hilary Nichols to help me process my grief over this significant loss. After guiding me into a deeply relaxed state, Hilary asked me to think about Katherine and identify a quality of hers that I loved and wanted to always remember by fostering it within myself. Katherine’s hands instantly came to mind—hands that touched everything with full attention and gentle reverence.
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