RIP Mary Tyler

New Year's Eve retrospective

20 questions for New Year’s Eve

1. What was the single best thing that happened this past year?
2. What was the single most challenging thing that happened?
3. What was an unexpected joy this past year?
4. What was an unexpected obstacle?
5. Pick three words to describe this past year.
6. Pick three words your partner would use to describe your year—don’t ask them; guess based on how you think your spouse sees you.
7. Pick three words your partner would use to describe their year—again, without asking.
8. What were the best books you read this year?
9. Who were your most valuable relationships with?
10. What was your biggest personal change from January to December of this past year?
11. In what way(s) did you grow emotionally?
12. In what way(s) did you grow spiritually?
13. In what way(s) did you grow physically?
14. In what way(s) did you grow in your relationships with others?
15. What was the most enjoyable part of your work (both professionally and at home)?
16. What was the most challenging part of your work (both professionally and at home)?
17. What was your single biggest time waster in your life this past year?
18. What was the best way you used your time this past year?
19. What was biggest thing you learned this past year?
20. Create a phrase or statement that describes this past year for you.

Broken Heart

Interesting article on LA Times about broken hearts:
http://articles.latimes.com/2005/feb/13/opinion/ed-heart13

Being Solitary

"Being solitary is being alone well: being alone luxuriously immersed in doings of your own choice, aware of the fullness of your won presence rather than of the absence of others. Because solitude is an achievement."

— Alice Koller

Shifting Focus

When our personal space feels as if there is no control over its arrangements—the who, what, when, where, and how—the awareness arises that our sense of comfort and security feels diminished. No one can feel comfortable when there is a feeling of powerlessness in the decisions being made about our personal environments. However, you now know more fully what you would desire your personal spaces to become. Have within your reach a few things that bring ease into your experience; music, books, pictures, candles, and whatever else brings forth your sense of Well-Being. Shifting your focus from what you do not like about your situation to what you do have in the Now will actually allow the Universe to synchronize the events that can lead to the changes you desire. Of course you must take action when you’re inspired and guided to do so, but your attention to the positive will set the wheels in motion.

from the app The Sourcerer

Fetal Position

When you sense that your dark night is one of pregnancy and oceanic return, you could react accordingly and be still. Watch and wonder. Take the human embryo as your model. Assume the fetal position, emotionally and intellectually. Be silent. Float in your darkness as if it were the waters of the womb, and give up trying to fight your way out or make sense of it.

from the book Dark Nights of the Soul by Thomas Moore

Love thyself

“I don't want to be with someone
who splatters their pain
across the Internet”
he said,
smirking

“And I don't want to be with someone
who could never get me”
I said,
turning to leave
letting myself feel
his disapproval
echo in my body
Letting it hit my heart
but not take home in me

Here is the thing my friends
Some of you
want me to assure you
that becoming more and more you
is going to go pleasantly
that you will end up
not only loving yourself
but be more adored
and your life will open
beautifully

And that is lovely
but just not guaranteed
In fact, quite the contrary
As you become more
you
there is a high probability
that it will trigger
those around you
and when people are triggered
they can come at you
with all their
disappointment
hate
and just plain
dissatisfaction

And I can tell you
it doesn’t feel good
And I can also tell you
it still feels better
way better
than trading
me
for
the chance
that you might like
who I am pretending
to be

Because sometimes
in the most precious
of moments
I get seen

And it feels better
then a million
sweet empty
somethings

And it carries me
through moments
like these
when my heart cracks open
and someone gets in
who has blatant disregard
for that which I hold dear

Someone
who just
doesn’t get it
get me

And I get it now
I understand
This my friends,
this is how you know
if someone
is a person for you

Because some will retract
and some will lean in
as you reveal
more of you

Choose the ones
that lean in

Yes this
please

Choose
the ones
that lean
in

by Emily Rosen