How to Prepare for A Safe Hike

With the March equinox approaching, it is time to start planning outdoor activities. Soon, days will be long enough, and it is my favorite time of year to go hiking with my kids.

I did not grow up in an outdoorsy family. In fact, I don’t ever remember a single outdoor exploration with my family. Despite this, I often turn to nature to recharge. When I became a parent, I gave up mountain biking and thought my days of hiking were behind me. Little did I realize how manageable it really is. In the spirit of inspiring parents, I wanted to share a list of ways to make the outdoors easier to navigate with kids. Here I will provide a packing list and practical tips to make your hike safe and enjoyable. I have lived in Colorado and Washington — both amazing places to hike, and now in Arkansas, a very big biking city. Along the way, I have learned a thing or two about being prepraed for hikes with kids. Happy hiking!

Here are some tips for navigating the outdoors with kids:

1. Start Small. Just get out there on your first try. On the weekend, do a small walk on an accessible trail, your neighborhood, or a park. You will begin to start a pattern of positive reinforcement. For us, it started with a green belt behind our home. We made a place called the “Secret Garden.” It was an adventure for the kids, but it was just around the corner from our house, and really just a field filled with wild flowers. But by activating their imagination, it seemed more grand to them. In their child-like minds, it seemed much more extensive. To this day they still keep the memory.

2. Plan & Scope out the hike first.

With kids, you do not want surprises in the wilderness. Be sure to study the trail online. I stick to easy-level trails. If I find a trail along the road, I make sure to study the trail head guide to ensure it is suitable for them.

Remember to bring a means of navigation; even the easiest trails can lead you to get lost (a compass, GPS device, phone, or for more advanced hikes, a Personal locator beacon or altimeter watch).

Always tell someone staying behind what trail you will be exploring or post it on social media.

The trail head or website will often tell you the trail’s difficulty and give important information before you head out if the trail is suitable for kids.

One trick is to take a picture of the trail map at the beginning of the trail with your phone, but remember to back up; your phone might die. This saved us one time from avoiding a loop that was unexpectedly closed.

3. Always Bring Water. No matter how small the hike is, come prepared with ample water. There are several ways to bring water depending on the type of outdoor activity. If you are doing different activities or several hikes in one day, you might want to stow a cooler in the car.

We used to take several water bottles. For longer hikes, we finally upgraded the kids to hydration packs. The kids prefer to carry a light backpack, and it makes it easier for them to stay hydrated. We bought our hydration packs off-season during the winter at Cabella’s. Either way, try to buy this off-season or at a member’s club. They are an excellent investment!

4. Make a Sun kit. Bring sunblock, hats, and sunglasses. I put a bag by the door and have it ready to go. I keep sunglasses, sunscreen, and hats in one “ sun bag” so it is easier to remember versus reminding each person individually. I did a graduate project on sunscreen once, and the sun is more damaging for younger kids — as most of the damage to the skin is done early on. Be sure to use an appropriate sunscreen — I recommend a mineral variety from my research on types of sunscreen. And don’t forget to reapply it as needed.

5. Keep a first aid kit in the car & throw it into your hiking bag when you arrive. I always keep a first aid kit in the, but I like to have a separate, more complete one that is specific for hiking. You keep 2 (one in the car with basic Band-Aids and a more complete kit for the hiking bag).

As a mom, I find it best to bring this because if you are far from a doctor, you have some basic things to help the situation. REI provides a very good first aid kit list, which you can put together your own. You can alternatively find a pre-made first aid kit for hiking at a sporting goods or camping store.

6. Don’t forget special items. Pack anything your child might need for the hike the day before — snacks, hygiene items, wipes, tissues, etc. Any items you normally need may come in handy at different times, so take a mental note of items you might need. If your child has an allergy, don’t forget the Epi-pen or other medications you might need.

7. Decide what type of insect repellant to use. We lived in upstate NY, and during our time there, Lyme ticks were a big problem. My daughter had to go on antibiotics due to a possible infection when she had a tick. So, I do take bug control very seriously. Yet, I do not let it interfere with our enjoyment of the outdoors.

EPA has a search tool that allows you to search for the best type of control based on the type of bugs and other factors. In addition, Consumer Reports provides a “Bug Insect Repellent Buying Guide” based on ratings based on tests of top products.

See your doctor and ask for their suggestions if you have any concerns, especially if you have an infant, are pregnant, or have specific skin concerns. Below is some info from the CDC on control for ticks from their website:

“Use Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellents containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE), para-menthane-diol (PMD), or 2-undecanone. EPA’s helpful search tool can help you find the product that best suits your needs. Always follow product instructions, especially with children. Do not use insect repellent on babies younger than 2 months old. Do not use products containing OLE or PMD on children under 3 years old.”

If you are concerned about chemicals, there are alternatives to Deet, but do your research; not all products are created equal.

8. Shower within 2 hours of coming back from the outdoors.

According to the CDC, “ Showering within two hours of coming indoors has been shown to reduce your risk of getting Lyme disease and may be effective in reducing the risk of other tickborne diseases.”

As a general rule, we put all of our gear directly in the laundry room and put our things in the dryer when we get back. We try to leave the washer empty before we head out. If you do find a tick, follow the CDC’s directions for removal. You can bring a tweezer in your first aid kit in case.

9. Bring Healthy, energy-packed Snacks.

You can bring things like granola bars, nuts, fruit, or high-energy snacks (think high in protein). I usually put all the food in a large bag so you can toss all used wrappers and fruit skins to return home. You can bring a separate bag for trash.

Remember, you should leave no trace in the wild and pack everything you bring with you- even fruit skins, etc.

10. Keep a change of clothing/socks/underwear in the car.

I always keep an extra set of clothing in the car for hikes. I have had them get wet or muddy on trails, so I find it is easier just to come prepared. For the older kids, I generally don’t do this unless it is a longer hike and they plan on swimming or doing a particular activity.

11. Plan for weather. Remember it because it is so important!

Be sure to check the hourly weather patterns before you head out. Pack things like ponchos or rain jackets. If you live in a rainy area, it is wise to keep a small set of ponchos in your backpack in case the rain starts. They take up minimal space and little to no weight. Be sure its not too cold or hot for your planned hike; always consider the length and difficulty and account for issues that might arise with unexpected weather.

12. Bring Extra socks. Keeping a pair of extra socks in your backpack for the kids and yourself is never a bad idea in case their feet get wet. Wet socks can ruin your feet and make the next day horrible. This is the rule that my husband learned in the Army.

Take care of your feet, and they will take care of you.

Finally, remember to enjoy the moment! It can be very fun to do a hike with kids, and they learn so much by going out in nature. The memories will last a lifetime.

Thank you for reading!

I write three Medium publications:

Coffeehouse: A Penny University: A publication and community exploring the creative process. In 17th Century Britian, Coffeehouses were thought of as centers of thought, and any person regardless of social standing could buy a coffee for a penny to engage in creative or economic discourse. Coffeehouse is geared towards those working on an artistic project, book, or entrepreneurial endeavor. I provide food for thought, resources, books, and ways of thinking about creativity to propel you forward. To keep the theme & feel of a coffeehouse, I also add articles about the world of coffee and food from different cultures.

https://medium.com/the-coffee-house/building-community-on-medium-a-penny-for-your-thoughts-918abaca9e8a

SundayDrives: This publication explores historical and family travel around the United States. Often times I research NPS sites, places on the National Registrar of Historic Places, UNESCO World Heritage sites, museums, and other sites of significance in our nation’s history. I have lived in 8 states and counting, and our family enjoys free, or inexpensive travel around the USA.

https://medium.com/sunday-drives-usa/to-travel-is-to-live-starting-a-tradition-of-sunday-drives-fcb0d1c4cb08

JoyMailed: This publication began as a way to seek joy in life. It explores research on topic such as finding happiness, mindfulness, stillness, gratitude. I explore topics related to meditation, psychology, and resources to live a more joyful life. I keep an interior “bucket list” of emotional milestones I hope to achieve in life and share these as inspiration for your own life goals. Finally, I explore life philosophies like minimalism and stillness, try them out and let you know how it turned out.

https://medium.com/joymailed/dear-reader-of-joymailed-6d11bbb2dca7

If you enjoyed my work, buy me a coffee.

Thank you for reading and for your support. It means the world to me.

12 Tips for Hiking with Kids was originally published in JoyMailed on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

After my mother died, I was inundated by emotions. A part of me wanted to hold on to whatever was left of her on this earthly plane, and that manifested itself in holding on to her things. It displayed itself in my home, in keeping her dining room set, a few of her personal things like jewelry, and a collection of different nick-knacks. Not only did I hold onto these things, but I felt an obligation to do so. I felt giving them away would somehow betray her memory or make me lose a part of her. Although I gave away many of her possessions immediately after she passed, I still held on to many things, some of them made a load much heavier than I imagined.

Clearing my home of my mother’s clutter and giving away the personal things I kept after she passed did not in any way take away my mother’s memory. In fact, after giving the things I held on to all these years, I was surprised that I actually felt closer to her. My mother was a very giving soul. She loved helping people and giving of herself to others. I realized that by giving her things away, I was actually continuing her legacy.

Living intentionally creates more room to breathe. Both figuratively and physically. My home feels lighter. The absence of these items in my home let me release my grief. Although it seemed like these items were allowing me to remember my mom, they were actually keeping me in one stage of the grief process. I realized that by letting my mother go, I was actually coming home.

This process was not an easy one. It took me about ten years. My mother held a constant presence in my life, with her role as a confident, supporter, and friend. I hoped that keeping the little angels she loved by her bedside, I would somehow keep a piece of her. But the more things I kept, the less memories I wanted to remember. It was so difficult for me, that despite keeping her dining room set in the hopes of eating with my family to remember her, instead I never wanted to use it.

Letting Go & Living Intentionally

In the years that followed my moms death, I was fortunate to have moved a few times. Moving was fortunate for me, because it aided in the process of releasing things each time. The first move was extremely difficult for our family, because I held on to many things I should have probably released before the move. The subsequent moves, I realized that to make space for my new memories with my family, I had to let go what was literally and figuratively weighing me down.

I never realized that I holding on to the old memories of my mother, was keeping me from making new ones with my young family. This realization made me want to make my own place in the world. I started to see that she would not have wanted me to live in the past, or try to take her place. Rather, she would have preferred me to live my own life after her death, and make a new life for myself with my husband and my children.

These days, I live more intentionally. It is not the “stuff” that matters, but what the release of material things has taught me about myself. My house still does not look like a magazine catalog or a perfect minimalist picture of design, but what it does provide is a sense of peace. I understand that throughout this process I have had to give myself compassion to grieve. I have also come to the understanding that my mother is so much greater than anything she left. She is forever present in my heart.

Originally published at www.thejourneytominimalism.com on June 29, 2018.

Letting Go On the Journey To Minimalism was originally published in JoyMailed on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

I feel a deep sense of peace whenever I am near the ocean. My grandmother used to tell me that the oceanside could heal your body — that the wind picked up the iodine in the breeze. I think it is our mind — we need space sometimes for nature. I touched the Pacific water with my hand, the water comes down from the Artic — but it didn’t feel cold to me. I was careful to catch a wave that wasn’t too overpowering, and I let it flow over my hands. And we let the kids collect seashells. We painted them. And I felt the happiest I’ve felt in some time, just taking in the ocean and its wonders.

I remembered my grandmother in Spain and taking her down to touch the water with her feet in her old age. Her body hurt, and I knew she believed in the healing properties of the water, so I wanted her to feel the gentle waves crashing on her skin. She thanked me. She almost fell into the water as a Rouge wave came by, and I steadied her. She was always very embarrassed of her weight — and she did not want to go to the water for fear people would mock her in her old age going to the water in a dress — she lived in a different time when people criticized others more openly. But I encouraged her to walk with me to the water’s edge as I saw her admiring the ocean from afar.

I did not realize it then, but that was the last time she touched the water. Normally, she would only sit and watch the waves from above on the boardwalk, but that day, I encouraged her to come down with me, and we walked along the beach. My grandmother is now in the ocean — her spirit is with me. And I only hope someone will also take me to feel the ocean water in my old age. Nature is our constant friend and a reminder of healing and renewal. In these moments, we find ourselves, deep within nature’s embrace. Next time you can go to the beach and touch the waters’ edge, get lost in its embrace and feel nature healing you.

Ocean Healing was originally published in JoyMailed on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Fear. It can be said that fear is the greatest enemy of the mind. The time lost on fear can be the difference between achieving a life dream and putting it off indefinitely. We hesitate. We doubt. We wait. We let ourselves off the hook, saying it is too hard. We remind ourselves of our weaknesses, and say, “it’s impossible.” Fear paralyzes our greatest passions. The simple words , “I can’t” are the death of many dreams.

When I was a little kid, I used to work at my parent’s grocery store in Washington Heights, and I saw an immigration lawyer’s office. I said with certainty, “Mom, that is what I want to be.” My father believed that being a lawyer was not a career for a woman, and my mother who lived vicariously through me, saw my success in my science classes as a sign I should be a doctor. I forced my way through a pre-medical major, but things never really clicked. My dream felt hijacked. The circumstances around me created a perfect storm to live up to expectation, rather than my personal quest and my dream crashed.

Some dreams we lose, but it doesn’t mean we should give up. Eventually, the dream will return, or a new one takes its place.

One part of following a dream is accountability — and I’ve learned the greatest accountability is not to others, but to ourselves. Finding a way to go beyond passion and follow the ugly day-to-day struggle of pursuing a life purpose is no easy feat. The beautiful unfolding journey changes us permanently.

There are other feelings that creep up in me. Mainly, strength and determination — immeasurable qualities — that seem to appear magically as we reach the top of the mountain. These aren’t empty words.

Here are steps, strategies, and mind exercises, to help you pursue a life goal:

1.Develop A Gritty Mindset. A psychology researcher, Angela Duckworth, set out to study what made people successful. It came down to one key quality — Grit — the tenacity to not give up and keep going in the face of adversity. This sense of conscientiousness distinguished those who rose to the occasion and did great things. In her book, “Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance” she discusses examples of people who kept going despite the odds, and found a sense of duty and consistency to meet their life goals. This solid commitment to their dream and following through with all the necessary steps along the way, was the single greatest predictor of life success.

“Grit is about having . . . .a goal you care about so much that it organizes and gives meaning to almost everything you do. . and grit is holding steadfast to that goal, even when you fall down.” -Angela Duckworth

2.Show Up, Be Consistent. Show up every day. If this goal will make you grow, there will come a time that you will want to give up. Some days you’ll be on top of the world, and other days you will feel like curling up and going home.

I’ve come up with a strategy that helps: On the good days, write down how you feel and capture that emotion so that you can use it later to fuel your tank. On the bad days, take out a piece of paper and write down why you started. Read the affirmations you wrote when you were on track. Dig deep and close your eyes. Imagine yourself already having achieved the goal, giving a speech for others who are following your path. Is it worth it? If so, do the detail work — and show up everyday. Imagine what people in the audience ask you — or what you say in this speech whenever you feel like throwing in the towel.

GENIUS IS ONE PERCENT INSPIRATION, NINETY-NINE PERCENT PERSPIRATION.

– Thomas Edison in 1903.

3. Reject social expectations. It may seem counter-intuitive to reject social norms to follow a goal, but it is often necessary. Yet, those who were the “first” to do something, made it to the “top” of a field, or achieved something new had to think beyond the current expectations society placed on them. Rethink the confines of society, family, cultural, gender and age expectations in your life. Personally, growing up in a Latino household placed many gender roles on me about taking care of family, over following personal pursuits.

“Everyone seems to have a clear idea of how other people should lead their lives, but none about his or her own.” ― Paulo Coelho

There are countless examples of society conflicting against people’s personal goals. A great example is the book and movie, “Hidden Figures,” exploring the history of women of color in NASA, who often went unappreciated and unseen while doing extraordinary, key work for our country during the space race. Many of our stories are often told retrospectively, because we lack awareness of the present, or our position in history. Many years later, our individual goals may be a source of inspiration to others. What may seem like a very personal dream, may become someone’s blueprint.

Breaking ‘unspoken rules’ will only make your achievement greater in the end- do not let it stand in your way- do not listen to the people close to you who tell you it can’t be done because of XYZ, instead work to change XYZ. Use it as fuel.

4.Don’t Aim for Perfection, Aim for Progress. Perfection is possible when we do one task, and take all of energy to do it without any mistakes, even if it means giving up other things important to us. Perfection does not help us grow, mistakes help us learn.

“You are your own worst enemy. If you can learn to stop expecting impossible perfection, in yourself and others, you may find the happiness that has always eluded you.”

― Lisa Kleypas

If we aim to progress and see our goal as a way of self-development, we will begin to see that perfection is not only impossible, but unnecessary. Excellence comes, not from avoiding mistakes, but from continued practice and dedication to the task at hand. Growth is greater than one perfect product, because it means we mastered something with ease and flow.

5.Honor Your Past. What made you the person you are today? Personally, my story is one of taking care of others — and sacrificing my dreams and personal goals in the process. There is no shame in what I did, in fact I am proud of it. Life does not stop coming. Our past can fill us with doubt. But instead of running from our past, how can we give it a place of honor in our life? I use the word honor intentionally because it is a word that highlights the most positive aspects of adversity. It describes how our deepest scars can mold us by fire. Honor means to respect, or hold with a sense of integrity and principle. Although the ugliness of our past can not be erased, if we see it as something of honor — we begin to see that our having survived it is honorable, too.

What did our past teach us? How did we show strength? What does this pain say about who we are? Take that and put it into your life purpose — write it down next to your goal.

Once I knew only darkness and stillness… my life was without past or future… but a little word from the fingers of another fell into my hand that clutched at emptiness, and my heart leaped to the rapture of living. -Helen Keller

At some point I realized that my life goals would not come knocking at my door, I had to work harder. I had to find a way to honor the person I had once been — a supporter, a healer, a caretaker, and realize that person could also be a leader, seeker, and go-getter. These parts of who I was could be balanced and find a way to pursue my life purpose. This process of honoring our past is by no means easy — it took me ten years and years of compassionate self-discovery. Yet, what I see now is a woman willing to stay true to herself.

6.Keep Learning. What distinguishes people who succeed is an insatiable drive to learn. Take a related class, read a book or attend online workshop and learn all you can related to your goal. For example, one thing that motivates me is a free Harvard law class I am taking on Edx.org. In addition, I am taking a writing class called “The Masters” class which features best-selling authors’ advice on writing. Both of these experiences have strengthen the pursuit of my goal. A key to self-development is learning, because not only does it open new pathways in our mind, it stimulates our creativity. Take for instance, learning creativity. At one time, creativity was thought to be an innate skill. Yet, education research by E. Paul Torrance found that creativity could be likened to a skill that could be explicitly taught. He encouraged risk taking and mistakes, and his life work lead to the development of gifted programs through the world. Learning is one of the greatest ways we take a risk, because we are opening our mind to new ideas.

Manifesto for Adults

Being a Beyonder means doing your very best, going beyond where you have been before, and going beyond where others have gone.

-They are tolerant of mistakes by themselves and others.
-The beyonders take delight in deep thinking.
-They are able to feel comfortable as a minority of one.
-They love the work that they do and do it well.
-They have a sense of mission and have the courage to be creative.
-They do not waste needless energy trying to be well-rounded.

By: E. Paul Torrance and Garnet Millar

Taken from E. Paul Torrance — “The Creativity Man” an Authorized Biography. Garnet W. Millar. 1995.

7.Be Your Own Guru or Wise Owl. There is not one person in this world who knows you better than yourself. Really think about that for a minute. Your hopes, your fears, and your dreams are all there for the taking. It may sound metaphorical, but we have the needed tools to address our life’s greatest challenges, we just have to find ways to tap into them. As a child, the first day in Girl Scouts, we read the story of a little girl trying to find a wise owl. The girl set out on a quest in the forest, but the owl told her the girl was in the lake, of course, in her own reflection. This story may seem trivial, but as a child I remember it was the first time I saw the power I had to choose in life — to be the person who helps others. We have the power to control our own destiny.

8.Redesign your life to your goal. Look at your current life situation. We may say “it’s impossible” or “it’s too late” when we look at the steps needed to pursue a goal. This is a special moment. It is the key moment we must push forward even harder.

“Our goals can only be reached through a vehicle of a plan, in which we must fervently believe, and upon which we must vigorously act. There is no other route to success.” — Pablo Picasso

At this moment resign yourself to make your goal a habit, and stick to the plan. The day by day of following a dream is not glamorous, in fact, it is downright hard. Research suggests that it takes 21 days to form a habit, and that is laying the foundation of your goal work. Take a planner and label it “goal work” and find a slot each day to do different things that will enable your goal. Overcoming this fear and doing the dirty work the first month. This is the part of the process that makes us different people at the end. The success is just icing on the cake. What part of our life situation is actually possible to change? What aspects of our life can we change to fit our goal? Write the monthly and weekly steps needed to achieve this goal. Break this down into a calendar of daily tasks. Don’t forget to incorporate family, relationship, and spiritual goals to align to your new dream.

You may start to think, “I won’t have time for all this.” Yet, your family and relationship will not be forgotten. Ask yourself: Will you feel revitalized and happy if you pursue your dream? Often, you will find more energy and satisfaction in ALL areas when you are following your goals. This is because you are living to the fullest and actualizing yourself. Instead of taking time away, your dream has the power to enhance your life.

9.Realign Your Life. Consider the alternative. Sometimes attempting a new endeavor we realize it is not what we wanted. Resigning yourself from an incorrect goal, at the right time can save valuable time. The important thing is to quit for the right reason. I should have quit my major in college, but I forced my way through it because I did not want to fail. As a pre-medical major, many classes did not fit my greatest strengths, interests, or even what I wanted to do in life. Due to cultural expectations, I often did what my family expected of me. My parents pretty much decided my major for me, and I ignored my interest in other careers related to humanities and writing. By the time I realized, it was too late to change majors. In some instances, quitting is not sign of weakness, but an opportunity to realign more closely to our life’s purpose. We must distinguish the difference between quitting and realigning our priorities. Quitting is giving up. Realigning is an intentional choice to change direction.

10.Connect to Something Outside Yourself. Connecting to something greater can help us finding meaning or keep us on track when we feel lost. Maybe it is a higher power, a cause, or a belief in something greater than yourself. Whatever it is, this aspect of our lives is more important now than ever.

if you want to accomplish the goals of your life, you have to be with the spirit. — Oprah Winfrey

Key figures that have changed history share one thing in common- their pursuit became more than just a personal pursuit. It had an element of transcendence in something outside themselves — something that they wanted to give the world, permanently change, or say is possible. As you follow your goal, incorporate a practice, ritual, or reflection focused on your intention. Find ways your personal intention relates to the world. It will not only help guide you — but it will focus your energy when you most need it.

How do people do it? The answer lies in the reason people set out to do impossible feats — belief. It inspires us to wonder what we are truly capable of if we truly believe in ourselves. That isn’t a platitude, it’s a challenge. Perhaps one of the greatest challenge we will ever face alone. If it seems impossible to you, take it as a sign you picked the right goal.

Remember I said about writing a speech to your future audience? This is my speech.

In the end, our dreams are always with us — whether we achieve them or not — they never really die, because they are a part of us. If we can get our dream into the world we are fortunate, but if we never reach it, we also learn valuable lessons. Either way there is nothing lost. Achieving the dream is definitely the harder, but more fulfilling path to take.

Live bravely. You can do this. And the world wants hear about it when you do.

Living Bravely: 10 Ways to Achieve Your Life Goals was originally published in JoyMailed on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

My mom introduced me to the Beatles.

She grew up on Bailey Avenue in the Bronx in the 1960’s, a Cuban refugee, she was in her teens when she arrived in America and did not speak a word of English. She taught herself with music. Having to purchase a record player to play “Home English” records for language lessons, allowed my mom to indulge in her one obsession, music. It was a rare luxury.

When I was a teenager, I found her old record player and records stuffed in old boxes in the attic. She never talked about her childhood, so I listened and began trying to imagine her — making a vision of her free spirit in bell bottoms sitting on her bed with knees folded, dreaming. When she passed away, her music became an easy, direct connection to her, and so understanding its meaning became important to me. It taught me how she would want to be remembered.

“There are places I remember” is a song anchored in a sweet form of nostalgia. It is an autobiographical song about John Lennon’s life and the things he remembered about his childhood. You can lose yourself in his words and find a place of comfort and childlike joy. It’s brilliant storytelling. It’s hard not to feel moved.

According to Beatles author, Dave Rybaczewski,

[In] “ ‘There are places I remember’…” . . . John Lennon begins what most believe is a personal reflection of the first twenty-five years of his life. Although no “places” or “friends and lovers” are mentioned by name, the listener is drawn in by the reminiscent tone of his vocals along with the tender feel of the melody line and musical arrangement. By the end of the song we feel like we’ve been taken on a hand-sketched two minute and twenty-three second journey through the life of John Lennon.”

When I listen to this song, I feel Lennon invites us along like a long lost friend. He reminds us it’s ok to remember, but doesn’t allow us to be consumed by sadness.

Instead of focusing on the history of The Beatles everyone has heard in pop culture, Rybaczewski is obsessed with analyzing their music on a deeper level. In doing so, he creates an intimate portrait of their life and art.

From http://www.beatlesebooks.com/about

The story of the song is also explained by Lennon himself. Commenting about this poem, Lennon said in 1980:

“ ‘In My Life’ started out as a bus journey from my house at 251 Menlove Avenue to town, mentioning every place I could remember. I wrote it all down and it was ridiculous…It was the most boring sort of ‘What I Did On My Holiday’s Bus Trip’ song and it wasn’t working at all. But then I laid back and these lyrics started coming to me about the places I remember…I struggled for days and hours, trying to write clever lyrics. Then I gave up, and ‘In My Life’ came to me — letting it go is the whole game. . . .’In My Life’ was, I think, my first real, major piece of work. Up until then it had all been glib and throw-away. I had one mind that wrote books and another that churned out things about ‘I love you’ and ‘you love me,’ because that’s how Paul and I did it…It was the first song that I wrote that was really, consciously, about my life…a remembrance of friends and lovers of the past.”

Rybaczewski elaborates that after Lennon’s death, Yoko Ono had Elliot Mintz gather his possessions and he found “In My Life” in a book containing the informal manuscript for many Beatles songs. The poem was later adapted into a song, and John Lennon and Paul McCartney collaborated on writing it, although some controversy exists on who took primary ownership of the song-but to me it is evident the lyrics rest with John’s original poem and were the inspiration for the more general lyrics in the song we remember. The poem now rests in The British Museum. I would love to see it one day.

Here are the words of his poem:

“There are places I’ll remember,

All my life, tho’ some have changed,

Some forever but not for better,

Some have gone and some remain.

Penny Lane is one I’m missing,

Up church and to the clocktower,

In the circle of the Abbey,

I have seen some happy hours.

Past the tramsheds with no trams,

On the 5 bus into town,

Past the Dutch and St. Columbus,

To the Dockers Umbrella that they pulled down.

All these places have their memories,

Some are dead and some are living.”

According to Lennon’s biographer Peter Shotton,, “some are dead and some are living,” is said to refer to Stuart Sutcliffe, a former Beattle and friend who died of a brain tumor in 1962.

“IN MY LIFE”

“Beatles Music History” author — Dave Rybaczewski cited from http://www.beatlesebooks.com/in-my-life

Here we can see the writing process that occurred behind his songs — and understand a more intimate portrait of a man that includes his doubts and fears about sounding corny or contrived. It allows us to see how memory can be interpreted in different ways, depending on our tone and frame of reference. Although the song is nostalgic, it maintains a consistently light mood and tone through its composition — a valuable lesson for both writers and musicians. His music taught me a different way to grieve — one that let me balance and process my emotions in a different way.

John’s memory is ingrained in our culture. His music made us think a bit introspectively, and reconsider our vision of the world while not bogging us down with the heaviness of memory. His songs remind us to appreciate the great friends who have touched our lives, even momentarily, and to hold space for the ones we left behind.

In my life, his music taught me how to grieve, and how to keep memories alive.

Lennon’s genius is in making us feel — in all life’s complexities — the simple commonality of longing, love, and friendship-even when it is gone. His songs touched the very core of our fragile, shared humanity. It’s no wonder we are moved. It’s no wonder my mom stopped to listen whenever she heard his voice.

Lennon awakened joy in my mother’s eyes — the type of joy that existed before life settled in. If you asked her the best memory of her teenage years, she would mention all her favorite bands, and of course, the Beatles were almost like her friends — a personal memory she could return to over and over again. Even if life got ugly, she could put on those rose-colored glasses anytime. I can remember that anytime I listen to his song.

The song awakens a sense of attachment to the past, without holding on to it. It reminds us what’s most important-love and connection. The very things that define our life when we look back.

Lennon was a magnificent storyteller. His music taught me a way to remember — to sit in a soft nostalgia that doesn’t hurt or cause pain. When I listen to his music, I start to remember mom and I know in my heart that somewhere she is dancing and looking down with rose colored glasses.

Credits to Dave Rybaczewski for all Beatles History. You can find him at: http://www.beatlesebooks.com/about

How John Lennon’s music taught me to remember was originally published in JoyMailed on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

My great-grandmother was one of the first women in her family to learn to read. Angela Fernandez grew up in a rural town in Cuba. Mima, as we could call her, recounted many childhood stories to me — some tall tales, and others so laden with the truth that just retelling them, made her cry. I once asked her how she learned to read — given she often explained she was the first girl in her family to learn to read and write — a life achievement she was very proud of well into her 90’s.

You may not think of the very basic skill of writing and reading to be a lifetime achievement, but to Mima it truly was something she held so dear. This was that same woman that I saw pass a US Citizenship Exam in her 80’s after I helped her memorize all the principles of the US constitution and our nation’s basic freedoms. She practiced for weeks and using my high school history knowledge, I gave Mima lessons in US Civics and History. She was a dedicated student. I reminded her that she didn’t need to remember all the details, like the Presidents’ names, but she wanted to. Mima passed that exam with flying colors — like everything she did — with a fierce sense of determination, dedication, and gratitude. It was during those lessons that she told me the story of how she learned to read.

Mima asked her father to enroll in school when she was old enough to attend basic elementary school. Her father said, no, as in his mind, only her brothers were allowed to go and girls stayed home to help with the household chores. But one day changed the trajectory of Mima’s life.

The women had gathered — as they had just received a long-awaited letter from a relative abroad. Yet, despite the happiness of the letter, Mima noticed that her aunt began to cry. Mima realized that she needed to wait until someone could read the letter aloud — because she could not read it herself. After that experience, Mima confronted her father again. She asked him to buy her a pencil and a notebook. From that day forward, her father agreed to enroll her in school, and she set the goal of learning to read — not for anyone else, but for herself, and she attended school with her brothers.

She would often continue her story, telling me that learning to read changed her life. She’d explain that she attended a parade, and handed Baptista’s wife a letter in the inauguration of a new hospital — to request a job at the new maternity ward. She said she landed the job — because of that letter. My grandmother (Mima’s daughter) would often interject at this point in the story, often laughing at Mima’s incredible ability to make the most impossible, seem real.

It is difficult to estimate how much of Mima’s story was true — and how much was a lesson meant to teach me. But either way, her life was truly extraordinary. I choose to believe all of Mima’s stories — the ones that made the wrinkled eyes fill uncontrollably with fresh tears of childhood, and the ones that as an adult, I realize were tall tales meant to keep the brutal truths hidden from a child. In those stories, Mima taught me that learning stretches us further than we ever thought possible — it challenges us to be the very best versions of ourselves. Her life story is part of my education, and Mima will always be my greatest teacher.

When she was still alive, I wrote about Mima in my college application essays — and I retold the stories that she passed on to me. The essay began, “The room filled with the sweet smell of mango trees . . “ Through her stories, I could imagine her home in Cuba filling with neighbors and the ocean breeze, the house that got taken away by Castro’s communist regime………the house she often spoke about with nostalgia in her eyes, knowing she could never return to the life that once was.

Everyone who read my application to Cornell wanted to meet Mima. A natural storyteller, her greatest gift was making people believe in the power of their dreams or making up tales to make them believe. As a child, she would often make up fairy tales at bedtime. In all of them, the prince and princess escaped to a faraway land together, hand in hand. They’d turn into different animals and save one another from the evil kingdom and in the end, they’d fly away like doves never to go back again to the land that rejected them. They’d fly into the sky, making a bow in the air with a ribbon, and holding hands.

I never understood why Mima told me so many stories, some true and some crafted so beautifully that it may as well have been a prize-winning children’s book. Mima’s stories were a special gift so special to me. I know now that the responsibility she passed on to me was so simple, yet powerful — to recount her story to others. In our stories, we live on. And Mima lives on, in me. Always…

The women in my family saw education itself as a magnificent door. When I would write letters home from college, asking for support, and other times wanting to give up — Mima would write me back letters reminding me of my dreams, telling me that opening that door was the key to the future. The letters I thought were like a full circle of her childhood stories, now arriving at my dorm at Cornell. The circle was not lost on me, but it became heavy like an iron gate. As I opened those letters in the shaky handwriting, I would cry — just thinking of the immense responsibility to her and all those who came before, just thinking of the dreams that were denied to her and so many.

And I would think, if I could just prop that door open enough — others could follow……

Mima went on to become a nurse’s assistant and help deliver babies. Her passion for her profession meant she would take the bus to the hospital every single shift, to be sent back home on another long bus ride on the days she was not needed. But Mima said it was worth it — she wanted more than anything to have a profession. Before that, she had been a bathroom attendant in one of the casinos in Baptista’s Cuba. She recounted a story to me of returnimg an expensive ring that a guest left while attending to the bathrooms. Mima knew she wanted more in life — she always knew — even as a child — that she could dream big.

My mother, Miriam, became a maternity RN delivering babies in Columbia Presbyterian. Mom came to this country at 14 years of age from Cuba not understanding a word of English. Little did she know then, that she would be carrying on a long line of women into a new world — one with the possibilities of higher education. When she passed away, mom’s name was engraved in nurse’s lounge at Columbia. Forever a nurse, I also asked to add the words, Miriam Ordonez, R.N. I knew how much this meant to her because of how much she overcame to earn her nursing degree. I still remember as a young child going to some of her nursing classes, and all of the students dotting on me — she graduated 9 months pregnant with my brother.

The opportunities denied to Mima by poverty, historical circumstance and luck of where she was born, are not lost on me. Her contributions to this world were incredible, and should not be diminished in any form. Yet I know for a fact, given the opportunity, she wanted to dream bigger. The same opportunities were denied to her daughter as well.

My grandmother, Olga, worked tirelessly in factories when she arrived in NYC as a new immigrant. She taught herself English with “Home English” records. She later landed a job as a laundry room clerk for Montefiore Hospital, where she retired. She was incredibly proud of her achievements, but often expressed regret of not pursuing her true dream — music. She later developed severe COPD, yet never complained or blamed her working conditions of years in dusty laundry rooms. She never had time to dream of a better life, simply trying to make ends meet as a single mom. These are the same inequities that continue to exist in our world today.

Despite wanting to dream, many are denied the opportunity. I remember volunteering to assist an ELL teacher in teaching English to new immigrants. Our top student began struggling to attend class on time, after always being early at the start of the course. I asked him about it after class, and he explained to me that his employer no longer wanted to let him leave early. For next class, I prepared some resources, and provided him online resources so that he could learn at home, and encouraged him to continue pursuing his education. He truly appreciated it. One of the next sessions, I discussed digital resources, so that they could continue their learning at home. After the class ended, I met with the students at the local library to teach them how to find free computer language and citizen resources. Yet, I wished there was more I could do. We can do more as a society to enable access to education. We could open the doors of education facilities to new immigrants — we could provide free community college to all who seek it.

Educational inequalities are exacerbated by social injustice and social ills — we must work to end them. The power of education is in its ability to make all voices heard — and we must do everything in our power to provide access to opportunities to ALL people who seek them.

Mima’s life is a testament to the power of learning, and the power of one life to change the world. Mima was my greatest life teacher and she imparted on me a legacy to continue opening doors for others through my personal dreams.

Education is more than what we learn in school — but what we give back to the world through our life’s work. Every life is valuable and has something to contribute — and the access to educational resources should align with the deep-seated human need to dream. We should all be like Mima, bending the arch of history forward with our dreams.

https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/joy-mailed-6904308644658212864

lessons from my greatest teacher was originally published in JoyMailed on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

I’ve been stuck in a slump before. It isn’t pretty. The motivation to do things just vanishes. In fact, just this past month, one reared its ugly head, but this time I was prepared. The good news is that there is so much you can do to get “unstuck” and conquer the things holding you back.

Here a few things to try:

1. Start a Journal — Writing in a journal is like an emotional release. It helps to find a journal you really like and there tons of options. You can choose ones with prompts and quotes to inspire you. There are few different types you can try if you can’t take the thought of staring at a blank page. For instance, mindfulness journals usually include a story or prompt to get you thinking about one specific aspect of you life and slow down your thinking. A goal-focused journal can help you break down your aspirations into manageable every day steps. A gratitude journal might be a great way to turn your thinking to the things going well and refocus your energy. Either journal you chose, you are doing yourself a favor to get your thoughts on paper where you can see them clearly, and have more control over them. It is a great way to find inspiration and bring your goals to life on a page.
2. Start a Bucket List. I once wrote a blog at MrsBucketList.wordpress.com. It was a blog aimed at creating a bucket list, but not the type you think, like travel or to do lists. I wanted an “internal bucket list” so to speak, of things I wanted to do or say, but never had the courage to verbalize or talk about. A bucket list can take many forms, but it can be a powerful tool of life assessment and add value to your life by setting of intentions. It is also incredibly fun! You can find some “scratch off” Bucket lists of ‘100 books to read’ or ‘100 dates’. The possibilities are endless. Try to think of things you want to do and make a list, or buy a premade list to get yourself out there and trying new things!
3. Try a new physical activity. At one point in my life, Yoga helped me refocus my life on positivity. I had developed the habit of having little time to myself while I cared for others, and by finding yoga I was able to recenter myself to take time for me. I grew to understand that the practice helps you learn many things about yourself. This month, I needed something new and I wanted at times to do physical activity as a family. We found a “workout game” which has a series of cards and challenges you do as a family or with a partner. We also used our savings from clipping coupons to save up for bikes, and were able to purchase a bike trailer for the 2 littlest ones. We started doing a Friday fun bike ride after work, and it has been very liberating. Biking makes me feel like a kid again.
4. Read a motivational book. A book that resonates with where you are can be life changing. One for me was, “One Day My Soul Opened Up,” by Iylana Vanzant.
5. Set a new Self-care ritual. When I lived near Dallas, TX there was a place called a “float spa” near me. It was basically a super-saturated tub of dense salt water where your body would completely float. It was super quiet and it was a lesson in forced mindfulness. The flotation itself felt weird at first — it felt almost too calm, too quiet, too still. But when I got up from that tub, my body felt a release — it was like weight was lifted from my body, in some ways, from my mind. I encourage you to try a new self-care ritual. But it doesn’t have to be complicated. This month, I needed a self care activity I could do at home. So it is a book and a bath. My husband and I agreed that we would take turns doing the dishes after dinner so that one of us could watch the kids and the other could go take a 30 min bath while reading. It may seem small, but setting this intentional time does 2 things — one I look forward to it and two it reminds me to take that time.
6. Learn something new. Learning opens new doors and opportunities. Finding a way to re-invent yourself can be the key to getting out of a slump. Online classes can be a great way to go if you have to balance other responsibilities and many are free on ww.Edx.org supported by schools like Harvard and M.I.T.. They have career focused classes, as well as classes on happiness, humanities, nutrition, and classics. Another class I have loved tremendously is the Masters classes. For this program, experts in different fields, many with recongizable names like James Patterson, Serena Williams, Wolfgang Puck, Annie Leibovitz, and Dan Brown to name a few, teach “the tools of the trade” so to speak and the keys to their success. This month, I decided to look into starting some new career classes to expand my options after staying home with kids for years. I decided to take some classes to help with this, instead of feeling overwhelmed. I am also learning about what industries I would like to go into and where my skills are a good match. Learning gives hope and direction.
7. Connect with old and new friends. In the prior article I wrote on happiness for this site, I talked about how researchers suggest that a central key to happiness is social connection. Take the time to write a letter, send a message to a friend on social media, or make a phone call. It may seem so small, but it’s important to keep relationships both new and old going through connection. I have always lived far away form most of my friends, having lived in 6 different states, so I often resort to social media. Consider starting a friend’s group to keep in touch, or even starting a new group focused on a book discussion or an common interest in an area you know. Try to keep the group small enough that you really get to know people and can connect personally. Meetup has some great options if you don’t want to start your own — but try to put yourself out there — it really does help.
8. Strengthen your Relationships. And don’t forget the one with yourself. Along the same lines as the one above, is taking time to communication with your significant other, or even with yourself. I find one way to do this is through things like “a couple’s prompt a day” or a book that has daily reflections to write and think about. Sometimes we tend to also forget getting to know ourselves again. This connection is as important as the one to other people. One way to do this is to write down your goals, dreams, or aspirations. You can use these to create a vision board, or a brain map of what you want your life to look like. You can do something nice for yourself out of the blue, like buy yourself flowers for no reason, or write yourself a letter. Whatever it is, remember that the love you have for yourself is the basis of all the love you give — so strength that love and your relationships can flourish.
9. Make time for Fun. Make the time for an activity you enjoy — like writing, reading, music, dancing, puzzles, drawing, coloring, watching Netflix documentaries, baking, biking, hiking, fishing, nature walks, makeup, museums, day drives, movies etc….it can be anything, but promise yourself 1 hour a day or week, or at least a month. Whatever time you make commit to it for a month. The importance here is to make this time a priority, so that you remember to enjoy life, your mood will improve and you will realize you should have done it sooner.
10. Honor Your mind, body and spirit. Make a commitment to do something healthy for yourself each day for a period of 21 days. The reason for 21 days is that is when things become a habit. It can be remembering to take your vitamins, drink water, eat healthy, drink lemon water in the morning, meditating for 20 minutes a day, doing a mindfulnesss activity or writing a note of gratitude each day before bed. Whatever it is keep your commitment to yourself — take the time to honor and love yourself in the present, exactly as you are. Don’t think about how you wish your life could be, but instead focus on the one thing you commit to doing to honor the love in yourself. Each day you will feel better and things will get lighter.
11. Re-assess and Re-align. Sometimes in life, we face what we think is the lowest point, only to discover it was a way to realign our life to new priorities, opportunities, or possibilities. And in the end, something greater, better, stronger and more powerful comes out of it. You may want to consider what things in your life you have been dreaming about, but did not have the courage to take on. What things have you lost hope in? Where can you reawaken your desire and passion? What is your life purpose? What have you been holding back on or waiting for? What is your greatest fear to success? This may seem like a very bad time to do this, but actually during these times we can really realign our life and set new priorities. Dig deep and reassess. Sometimes life has an interesting way of communicating with us, and if we listen, we can find something beautiful in the muck.
12. Ask for help. The bravest thing I have ever done and seen other people do is ask for help when they need it. Sometimes it may asking a friend or partner to support you through something. Other times, seeking professional support is necessary because there are underlying medical and psychological reasons for the feeling of being stuck, which are so common. At any point, asking for help is not a weakness but a sign of bravery. Awareness of mental health is so important, and being open about it helps to reduce the stigma for others. Don’t be afraid to reach out and talk about things — find the resources you need and be your own best advocate.

Getting Unstuck: 12 Ways to Conquer the Slump was originally published in JoyMailed on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Have you ever gone in a forest and felt so lost in nature that nothing else could be more relaxing and beautiful? It is the feeling of complete disconnectedness, often lost in the modern world. This feeling quiets the world for a minute. In an age of cell phones, technology, TV, Facebook feeds, commercials, and Youtube, sometimes the mind needs a break from all the competing things trying to get our attention.

Stillness. We crave stillness.

This feeling is a great motivation, especially on the days when we feel completely overwhelmed by the many demands of life. I relate to that feeling many days. It becomes even more important for me to find stillness. I struggled with this quest for a long time, until I realized how simple it really is. There are still those hectic days. Those days especially, remind me to make space for stillness and go for a walk. The calm that comes over me gives me energy to recharge my battery. My views of stillness are easier to explain with an analogy of a river.

“A river runs along moving all the energy of the forest, but it is still. Every season, the river changes, but it also remains the same. A river can change the landscape through which it flows. Finding stillness is like seeing this river, knowing its essential core is always the same, yet it can change as water flows within it. This is the way I see the practice of stillness in daily life.” — Miriam Clifford, Joymailed.com

5 Reasons to Embrace a Practice of Stillness

1. Stillness opens a sense of renewed energy and calm.

You don’t have to buy anything. You don’t have to be someone different. Stillness is about who you are at this moment. As the Nirvana song says, “Come as you are,” stillness is about accepting what is, and who you are. Embracing this peace is stillness.

2.Stillness helps you accept where you are right now

“Sitting still is a way of falling in love with the world and everything in it; I’d seldom thought of it like that. Going nowhere as a way of cutting through the noise and finding fresh time and energy to share with others; I’d sometimes moved toward the idea, but it had never come home to me so powerfully as in the example of this man who seemed to have everything, yet found his happiness, his freedom in giving everything up.”

— Pico Iyer in “The Art of Stillness”

I am reading “The Art of Stillness: Adventures in Going Nowhere” by Pico Iyer. The author left his busy life in NYC as a successful writer for Time magazine, to simplify his life and as he explains, “learn how to make those joys less external and ephemeral.” He spent a year in a small room in Kyoto, Japan, but then discovered that finding himself was less about a destination, and more about an internal shift in his mind influencing his attitudes, and perceptions. Iyer explains,”The idea behind Nowhere-choosing to sit still long enough to turn inward-is at heart a simple one. . . our solutions our peace of mind-lie within.”

Iyer describes visiting Leonard Cohen, who was living as a monk at Mt. Baldy Zen Center as a practical experience to live a better life:

“Leonard Cohen had come to this Old World redoubt to make a life-an art-out of stillness. And he was working on simplifying himself as fiercely as he might on the verses of one of his songs, which he spends more than ten years polishing to perfection. . . Being in this remote place of stillness had nothing to do with piety or purity, he assured me; it was simply the most practical way he’d found of working through confusion and terror that long been his bed follows.”

3.It helps in appreciating the ‘little moments’

Life is more peaceful when we realize we don’t need so much to create happiness. We can have a cup of coffee and a great conversation, and that experience is magnified when there are less distractions. Sure, life will continue, but there are something to be said about living each moment in joy and reducing the amount of daily anxieties.

For each individual, this process looks different, yet the benefits of the time and space it creates are huge motivations to continue on the journey to living more intentionally. For in these quiet moments, we often find our deepest longing is within.

4.It can be simple

Finding stillness doesn’t have to be complicated. We can find stillness in any moment we choose to listen to what is around us, instead of think. One way to do this would be to play a moving music.

Another way would be to take a walk through nature. Some days, it might be having a glass of tea or writing in a journal.

5. It can be a daily practice, even when we are busy.

An alternate way to create stillness is to really focus on any task you are doing; it can be something as simple as peeling a piece of fruit and taking the time to do it slowly and intentionally.

In the show, “Chef’s Table’ buddhist monk Jeong Kwan talks about how she uses cooking as a means of engaging in stillness. The episode shows a buddhist monastery deep in the forest, and focuses on how Jeong uses cooking to connect with herself and everything the world around her. Kwan says,

“It’s the mindset of sharing that is really what you’re eating. There is no difference between cooking and pursuing Buddha’s way.”

She further compares making soy sauce as a way of connecting to her ancestors and looking within,

“Soy sauce makes me excited just thinking about it. Every food is recreated by soy sauce. Soy beans, salt, and water, in harmony, through time. It is the basis of seasonings, the foundation. There are sauces aged five years, ten years, aged for one hundred years. These kinds of soy sauces are passed down for generations. They are heirlooms.If you look into yourself, you see past, present, and future. You see that time revolves endlessly. You can see past from the present. By looking into myself, I see my grandmother, my mother, the elders in the temple, and me. As a result, by making soy sauce, I am reliving the wisdom of my ancestors. I am reliving them. It’s not important who or when. What is important is that I’m doing it in the present.

I use soy sauce, and I acknowledge its importance. It is no longer just me that’s doing things. It’s me in the past, in the present, and even in the future. Soy sauce is eternal. It is life itself. Soy sauce makes me excited just thinking about it. Every food is recreated by soy sauce. Soy beans, salt, and water, in harmony, through time. It is the basis of seasonings, the foundation. There are sauces aged five years, ten years, aged for one hundred years. These kinds of soy sauces are passed down for generations. They are heirlooms.”

It can be anything that you love to do that induces a feeling of Stillness and it is a type of active meditation that doesn’t require complete silence and can be integrated into your life.

6. Stillness gives us the ability to impact the world in greater ways.

A busy, hectic life is the sign that we are moving forward faster? Or is it? Often times, we believe the feeling of overwhelm and feeling ”frazzled’ has to be a common sentiment running through life to accomplish something big. That is, until we realize we could choose to be still. We could meditate, reflect, and be at ease with the present moment. Although the busy time will continue, stillness provides the space to reconnect with what is truly important. Ironically, stillness affords us with the energy to do more. When we work from a place of stillness, the world notices something different. Stillness makes us at ease with who we are, and where we are in the present moment, and incidentally, this propels us forward in the direction of our goals.

Originally published at www.joymailed.com.

Stillness: Practice in Daily Life was originally published in JoyMailed on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.