17 Comments

What you wrote here "It’s strange how it can be easier to choose gloom than to take a chance on joy." I can resonate. I appreciate your words Karen, and LOVE your photography of birds. I just love birds, they bring me so much joy. Thank you.

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Thank you

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I so relate to this--the reward of making an effort...nothing happens by chance. Serendipity is an act of will. Gorgeous writing, gorgeous images, Karen!

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Thank you

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Beautiful, Karen. I particularly appreciate this line: "say yes to the life that’s here." Lovely. Thank you.

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Thank you. Yes, the first time I heard that line I wrote it in a big post it and put it on my desk! She has a lovely meditation on her website about saying yes to the life that's here.

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Glad you said yes….I’ve been trying to be thankful and notice the things I like about my new apartment(birds singing, green trees etc) and ignore the upstairs neighbors noises👍

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It's such an adjustment. I think it's helpful sometimes to let yourself feel, for a moment, how challenging the adjustment is. to bring compassion to yourself for what is hard. And then to focus again and again on the good things. I just listened to this talk and it was wonderful! https://www.tarabrach.com/joy-part-3-of-present-heart/

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I try to read, each day, a bit of fiction that takes me to the place that reading did as a kid. A good biography can do that, too, as I read a lot of biography as a young reader.

I LOVE your line: "I gently got myself in the car anyway." Made me smile and nod, yes.

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Oh I love this! I have struggled to have time for reading.

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Karen- on this Mother's Day, thank you for sharing your "Yes" to being and becoming. Your thoughts caused me to reflect on the fact that, even at my age, I still need to do some mothering with myself. Thanks for all that you are and do that continues to bring Joy into this world.

Uncle Bill

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Thank you Uncle Bill. I think it is a never-ending journey. My hope is that as we do this, we also help heal the next generations.

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beautifully written. i have spent the last two weeks in arizona and every morning the bird songs are so loud and noticeable. i don’t know much about birds but your posts make me curious to listen more deeply and take in the sounds of nature more seriously.

and to answer the question:

i nourish (or try to) my inner child by forgiving myself when i make mistakes and rather than judge the mess that i have made, i help myself pick up the pieces and give myself grace.

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Thank you! I love that you are listening to the birds. And I love, love, love this way of nourishing the inner child. Yes!

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The dance of the inner child -- advance, retreat, one step forward, two steps back -- is perennial for me. But I am learning to honor the rhythm and to trust my intuition that I will know and do in the moment what is ultimately best for me.

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I love this Lauren!

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May 9, 2022
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Thank you <3

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