practicing surrender

practicing surrender

We like to imagine we are in control. The dominant culture encourages us to decide what we want, plan to go after it, and work hard to achieve it. We want to be go getters. The cost of that outlook is often anxiety, ill health, and loneliness. What is meant to bring...
Cleaning our messes one upset at a time

Cleaning our messes one upset at a time

Let’s face it. Most of us carry around a load of sadness and heartbreak. How could we not, considering the challenges we face and the state of the world? But we don’t want to feel it. We tuck it away, pretend it isn’t there, and put on our armor of “everything is...
Natural beauty (a poem)

Natural beauty (a poem)

Does a treeask the sunwhere were youyesterdayThere were cloudsI was lonelyDoes the sunaccuse the treeyou are too needyI get so tiredof showing upit’s not like thatthe tree soaksthe sun shinesthey make beautytogetherand smile in your journal: Do you ever get...
On asking for help

On asking for help

Asking for help is so important to my survival and happiness as a human being (even more so as a quadriplegic) that I’ve given it its own kind promise: “I will ask for help gracefully.” What could be a simple task gets complicated in everyday life....
surfing through change

surfing through change

I know nothing about surfing. I’ve only seen it on rare occasions (not much surfing in southern Minnesota.) I’ve never tried it. But I imagine… Looking out at a rolling ocean. Smelling salt air. Grabbing a well-waxed board and paddling out. Watching the water. Feeling...