Posts by admin

Touch and Go: Meditation for Pain

Posted by on Nov 7, 2016 in Uncategorized | 1 comment

It’s 7:50am and I see I have 2 voice mail messages on my phone as I drive down the canyon from my mountain home.  I don’t think much of it, other than I don’t recognize the numbers.  My office is off a main, somewhat rural, highway on a horse ranch that is a 40-acre sanctuary in the midst of what is becoming suburban sprawl.  I get to my office and play the first voice mail, which is from a concerned passerby who saw my horse on the wrong side of the fence- the highway side.   I check the time he left the message- 6:45am.  Emotional overwhelm kicks in.  I start to panic.  It’s now 7:50am, and my first client of the day will be...

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Losing Aby: Grief and Stillness

Posted by on Aug 27, 2016 in Uncategorized | 5 comments

Losing Aby: Grief and Stillness

It is done. There is a stillness in the house that I don’t recognize.  My husband asks if I want pasta and wine. My son is singing Jeff and Paige songs. I realize that the stillness is actually inside of me- her parting gift. I wish to hold her warm body in my lap, stroking her head and gently rubbing the pink spot right above her nose. Instead it’s my laptop on my lap. A poor substitute for a soft, furry friend and the feel of her breath going in and out. I wish I’d have remembered that more throughout the years when my computer sucked me in. “She went really quickly,” Danielle says. “Her body was tired. Sometimes they hang on for us.” The stillness. Suddenly I am...

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How To Raise Non-Judgmental Children

Posted by on Apr 7, 2016 in Uncategorized | 0 comments

How To Raise Non-Judgmental Children

My 5 year old son and I are driving by our new neighbor’s house.  He enthusiastically starts waving, rolls down the window and says, “Hi!  Hi!”  His excitement is contagious, so I start waving too.  Our neighbor stands there, looking at us as we pass his house. “Well he wasn’t very friendly,” I say.  Then I pause.  I can feel the twinge of judgment in my body, manifesting as a slight tightness in my throat and chest.  I aspire to use and teach Non-Violent Communication (NVC) in my house, and I’ve just broken the first guideline, which is to make observations instead of judgments. Being Aware of Self-Judgment I could go down the...

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Blame and the Empty Boat Practice

Posted by on Oct 8, 2015 in Uncategorized | 0 comments

Blame and the Empty Boat Practice

I am sitting with clients at my office in the autumn morning shade. Their rescue dog sits with us. He was caged in a dog mill for 7 years until my clients opened their home and hearts to him. A shifting of position in my chair used to startle him- now he is unfazed. His eyes are friendly and take in all that surrounds him. He is relishing his newfound freedom and is confident where he once was unsure, eager to explore the surrounding ranch and then return when called. There is also a cat; soft, young, grey with white socks, friendly, and cute. I’m not sure where she came from, but she’s been calling the ranch home for about a month. The dog sees the cat and chases her....

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3 Mindfulness Activities You Can Do With Your Child Today

Posted by on Sep 21, 2015 in Uncategorized | 0 comments

3 Mindfulness Activities You Can Do With Your Child Today

“Mindfulness means paying attention, in a particular way, on purpose, in the present moment, and non-judgmentally.” ~ Jon Kabat-Zinn Mindfulness. It’s popping up everywhere! The reason? We now have the ability to study the brain like we haven’t before due to modern technology, and the results are in. Mindfulness is good for your health, your stress level, your relationships, healing trauma, giving birth, developing compassion for others, developing self-compassion, communicating clearly, and living a happier life! For more information on the neuroscience behind mindfulness meditation, The Buddha Brain by Rick Hanson is an excellent resource. Even though most of us are...

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