#363: SPOTLIGHT: Neeru Garg

Question for Neeru: 

The Serenity Prayer offers:      “Grant me the serenity to accept what I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference…”.   With this thought, does something come to mind that you couldn’t change but had (or are having) trouble accepting ?

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#362: SPOTLIGHT: Irwin Kula

Question for Irwin: 

There is an idea that we can learn from every single person on the planet.  But there are also deeply ingrained habits we have been trained in that “teachers” have a formal designation which might limit our scope for learning.  With that thought, does someone come to mind in the past five weeks that you wouldn’t consider a “formal” teacher at all but who you learned something special from… (perhaps even someone you aren’t even fond of) ? 

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#360: SPOTLIGHT: Holly Grant

Question for Holly: 

Can you recall a moment in the past month in your work that something in it was going so so amazingly well in a deep, rich, wonderful way that you wished you could immediately and adequately and fully explain and share it with your mom or dad (be they living or having already passed) such that they might know your joy? 

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#355: Internal Time

I love the message of Jaime's writing below. It has me thinking about how it can feel challenging to detach from the natural tendency to be in hyperproductive mode throughout the day, jumping from one thing to the next. But there are ways to step out of this mindset by checking in with myself and my body more - perhaps through simple self-questioning, slowing down daily tasks a bit, or taking a minute away from everyone and everything to be in solitude. And by doing these intentional check-ins, I can welcome more presence and ease into my being, and therefore my doing too. 

- Amanda

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Jaime PosaComment
#354: When Easy Tries You

NEW lead-in from Christina Posa:

A client emailed me today asking if we could have a two-hour touch base at 6am tomorrow... It is those types of emails - the kind that make it feel like time is out of my control - that I easily categorize as a pet peeve. Lisa's blog makes me think of what I do when the opposite occurs: when time is suddenly freed up in my schedule. Do I scroll Instagram? Do I eat? Or do I call my mom, go for a walk, FaceTime my nieces? Do I simply fill my time, or do I do something to make my time fulfilled? I don't know if I have the answer in retrospect, but I will definitely be more conscious, and a bit more intentional, next time this anti-pet-peeve presents itself. 

- Christina

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Lisa BairdComment
#352: A Bzzy Bee

I love these reflections from Jaime after time spent out in the woods. I too go for a woods walk every evening, but the way Jaime notices the tiniest gifts from nature always inspires me more deeply. Reading this makes me want to slow down more, to pause and observe what is going on around me, and to really soak it all in because there are so many wonders taking place simultaneously right at my sneakers as I put one foot in front of the other. I’m in constant awe of the different findings that exist here in our natural world, and Jaime captures this diversity so beautifully in both her words and pictures (which I made into a little collage at the bottom).  :)

- Amanda

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Jaime PosaComment
#350: When a Tree Falls

I love that many answers to life's questions can seemingly be discovered through nature's gifts. This descriptive note from Jaime makes me feel as if I'm right there in the woods with her, letting a wave of peace wash over me.  And how transformative that feeling can be if I immerse myself, fully engaging my body and my senses. What a wonderful escape it can be... to bask in the light, to breathe in the fresh air, and to be where my feet are planted, even if just for a few moments. 

- Amanda

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Jaime PosaComment
#349: Accomplishment vs Achievement

What an interesting distinction between two seemingly similar words Steve writes on here. It has me thinking more about the kinds of activities I love doing simply for the process of doing, not for the end result. One thing that comes to mind for me is running. I never time my runs, and haven't since I was on the track team. It's the time alone, the music, and the fresh air and oxygen high that drives my motivation step by step. I hope you enjoy this note from Steve! It's now left me thinking about what other hobbies I'd like to learn or pursue next. 

- Amanda

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Steve CrandallComment
#348: Community Anti-Pet Peeve Share

A couple weeks back, I asked a few people in the community to share something small that brings them great joy. I loved going through all the different responses, and am sharing this compiled list of anti-pet peeves below. Hope you enjoy it too. Happy Tuesday everyone! 

- Amanda

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CommunityComment
#347: In Time of the Breaking of Nations

NEW lead-in from Richard Sugarman:

Such a beautiful touching story from Niko.

It’s made me think about reducing people to numbers or not seeing them at all. The people around us every day struggling to make a life often under the most difficult circumstances. They can seem invisible. Just a blur in a moment of a day. Who are these people? What are their lives? Who do they love and who loves them? 

There are real people behind all these numbers. Real people quietly getting through the day, loving and being loved, building a life brick by brick day by day. 

Maybe there is richness and healing in…Stopping to See them. Pause with them. Honor them.

- Richard

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Niko CannerComment
#346: Time For Practice

As someone who likes to partake in yoga, I found it interesting to get to hear what the experience and process is like from the instructor's end.  Corey’s blog reminds me of one of my teacher’s styles - she teaches the vinyasa flow slowly in steps, and then gives us a few minutes to practice on our own afterwards. During this time, there is no guidance or help or feedback given. She simply turns up the music and allows us to practice at our own pace. I appreciate the sense of freedom here to work independently and attentively, even though I often forget the order of which pose comes next in the sequence of the flow. Yet it still feels empowering, mistakes and all. And as Corey mentions, this practice time and being able to take the reins to teach myself is crucial in that it provides the opportunity for personal growth and new learnings. 

- Amanda

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Corey LoftusComment