Case of the post-holiday Mondays?

Sit with this for a few minutes. Your body and mind will thank you! 

Gratitude

Tea time in Asheville, North Carolina

Tis the season to be grateful. Don't I know it! I came across this NPR article on the scientific health benefits of practicing gratitude and thought it appropriate for the upcoming holiday.

If I forget to say it before Thursday - Happy Thanksgiving! 

More Thoughts On Self Help

via here

New Music Friday

Remembering my friend through his excellent taste in music and awkward pauses. Love you, Chad.

In the Name of All Things Self Help

via here

I've been on a self help quest for months. Here are a few warm and fuzzy internet finds that have brought me a little ease and comfort.

+ 3 Methods for Working w. Chaos

+ The Heartspace That Is Home - meditation audio from Tara Brach

+ Soul soothing recipe

+ An almost humorous but sad truth to a personal issue

+ AMBIENT MUSIC! (I want it all.)

+ And then this TED Talk...again. Because I just finished Gregory Boyle's book and his work never ceases to inspire me.

From Your Soul

When Love Meets Sorrow

With the loss of a friend and the news coming out of Paris over the weekend, I'm left feeling sad and distracted this morning. I found Jack Kornfield's words on compassion and sorrow to be especially healing. Introspection has the power to lead us all to good, loving actions.

As we become silent we start to awaken to the mystery of this human realm. We begin to open to and acknowledge all of the unfinished business that often permeates our being. Through practice we can learn to offer love in the presence of pain. In these moments of loving-kindness we feel a connection to the web of life and discover the more objective nature of our struggles and sorrows.

Cabin Porn

I've been following this site for a few years. Now it's become a beautiful coffee table book. The trailer leaves me dreaming of a tiny cabin in the woods of Iceland or anywhere really.

Make Yourself Interesting

Have you tried making yourself more interesting? Ah ha! This post made me realize how I gravitate towards people who are curious and have a desire to know. They tend to practice a particular activity or volunteer in their communities or read. I think it also has to do with that overused word passion. I really do admire that in others.

Work on being an interesting person other people want to be around and are willing to open door for…. There are many roads to becoming an interesting person, but they all involve developing your curiosity and your desire to know and understand — yourself, others, the world around you. You can read. You can pursue a new activity like knitting or rock climbing. You can volunteer. You can commit to asking three people a day an open-ended question about themselves and really listening to their responses. You can share your information and connections freely.

New Music Fridays

We're going to see Odesza tonight in Richmond, so I thought this song was most appropriate for today. TGIF!