holding compassion

I'm thinking about you in your corner of the world.

I'm thinking about how things unfold in the ways we least expect.

I'm thinking about all that we cannot control.

I'm thinking about people circling with love.

I'm thinking about how we can lift one another up in simple, real ways.

I'm thinking about you.

And I'm sending you love, compassion, hope, and peace today.

***

Over here, I'm turning to a compassion meditation today as I think about so many around the world who need love right now. 

If you'd like to join me, click here to download a guided meditation that talks you through creating space for compassion and love for another (and yourself).

Sending light and love across the miles,

Liz

capturing this moment: where i stand

april 2013

A few months ago, I remember seeing a question float across Twitter that said something like, "Why this obessession with taking photos of our feet everywhere?"

I don't recall if I responded, but I know I wanted to say, "Because it helps me to really notice this moment and where I stand in my life."

This could be literal:

april 2010

Standing barefoot in the backyard for the first time in the spring while peeking over my 8-month pregnant belly.

Or much more abstract:

June 2012

Standing in the backyard after my two-year-old daughter handed me flowers she found in the midst of a really difficult day. Words I paired with this photo:

i am leaning into this life

(choose trust)

It helps me capture the feelings underneath:

taken in april 2009 in the front yard of my grandparents'
home after my grandfather died

petals
121 gerow avenue
just before leaving for the last time

It is another form of self-portraiture that helps me to find myself in the midst of all the roles I play, it creates space for me to connect with the ground beneath me, reminds me of where I am and where I've been and where I want to go.

In her book The Wisdom of No Escape, Pema Chodron talks about how we are "the ground" of our practice. These photos remind me of this too. 

Who I am, with all my beautiful, wacky, gorgeous, silly, realness, is where my practice begins. And pausing to notice where I stand, where I am right now in this moment, helps me to unearth that truth again and again.

An invitation

Over the next few days, find your feet beneath you and snap a self-portrait. Maybe put your bare feet in the grass for the first time this Spring. Take a walk and find flowers blooming or the snow that still insists on arriving or a feather and stand right next to it and capture that moment in your lens. Write the words you most need to remember on a sticky note, put it right down by your toes, and snap it. 

Find where you stand in this moment. 

And then come back here and tell me all about it. Leave a link in the comments to your photo or just let us know how the experience was for you. 

***

You can find more about this prompt and other juicy self-portrait prompts in my book Inner Excavation: Explore Your Self Through Photography, Poetry, and Mixed Media. I'm delighted to share that I'm selling copies again, this time at a special discounted price of $18. Read more about the book and order it from me right here. (I'll even sign it for you and include one of my poem note postcards.)

here: retreat prep

it's to-do lists next to to-do lists

and grocery shopping

and laying out several possible outfits for EJ in case her daddy has trouble getting her dressed

it's freshly laundered stacked vintage quilts

next to super secret good stuff + my favorite pens

next to art supplies, a new instax, and starry lights

next to spices, a food processor, and pepitas

it's picking up my partner in crime at the airport

one last run to Target

and squeezing in a haircut

it's a basket of poetry

two suitcases full of books

and one vintage typewriter

it's slowing down to soak it up

it's counting down the minutes until they arrive

it's creating space to feel the expectations

and deciding again and again to just show up as me

it's opening my heart to this

yes, this.

here

little girl me

Just thinking about this little girl today. Feeling so grateful for the ways she teaches me when I am quiet enough to listen to her wisdom.

Sending love and light to you in your corner of the world...

teach.now.

Love LOVE this quote from Jennifer Louden. One of her signature courses, TeachNow begins next week. I loved it so much that I'm actually taking it again. I don't want to miss the new interviews and calls + I really want to try to create some space to connect with the other teachers in the class this time.

If you've been thinking about teaching ecourses and workshops, need to reconnect with why you love teaching, or just want to spend some time rekindling your mojo around the work you're putting out there, consider coming along. Learn more here.

(And yes, I'm totally an affiliate for Jen's program because I really believe in it. Big time.)

inhale. exhale. (a meditation)

inhale . exhale soul mantra earrings (in the shop)

pause in this moment.

inhale.
notice.
exhale.
find you in this moment.

inhale.
notice.
exhale.
stay right here. 

what is resting inside you today?

try to notice without judgement.

without a need to feel a certain way.

just notice.

then when you are ready:

inhale
compassion
exhale
love

repeat as needed 

***

Deeply appreciating how popular the Inhale Exhale Soul Mantra earrings have been. I imagine women pausing to take a deep breath as they put them on, when they see them in the mirror, when they feel the amethyst gemstones gently touch their neck.

Somedays even putting on earrings becomes part of the practice.

If you would like a pair of Soul Mantra earrings customized with your phrase, just let me know.

march 31

On Sunday we were reminded of the gifts we receive each time we get out of the house and go exploring. I love living here.

Yes, the sky really was that blue. 

The first few minutes were spent navigating her way through trusting that she can believe when I say the water isn't going to get her. A desire to talk through fears is common around here right now. (I guess I hope it always will be.)

She kept saying again and again, "These rocks are just so pretty."

When she realized I was collecting seaglass (which was why I wanted to go to North Beach in Port Townsend), she started looking for it too. And she found so many tiny pieces of brown and green and even some deep blue. I couldn't stop smiling so big and wishing my mom and grandma were with us.

Yes, deep blue sea glass. We will go when you visit. (So come soon.)

Even though getting out of the house was intense (I'm never at my best trying to remember everything for everyone), we found our way to kindness and laughter and this moment right here.

I keep thinking about how we have to push ourselves to put family playdates like this one on the calendar. Life unfolds so quickly and the things that must get done do give way to the beautiful moments yet sometimes in order to really connect to yourself, to one another, you have to go someplace new, explore, and have a picnic. Outside.

We must remember to take care of our souls in this way.

Yes.

sometimes

Last night I snapped this photo, Instagrammed it and wrote: Sometimes this always learning stuff is totally rad. Even when it shakes you up and spits you out. You look around and say, "yep, just where I am supposed to be."

A few seconds later, I added a PS of sorts that said: of course it's understood that sometimes the always learning part is exhausting and feels like shit. but later the "yes, this" comes.

I snapped the photo because for one slice of one moment, I felt like I could touch a deeper understanding of where I am right now. I didn't feel behind or not enough. I wasn't wishing for something else. I was full of a sense of trust that I really can sift through all the stuff, the chatter, the social media, the shoulds, the whys and listen to what I know. 

Because I'll forget this and feel overwhelmed and lost and alone and behind and how the list goes on one day soon, maybe later today (maybe in a few seconds) or tomorrow or one day next week, I'll keep documenting through words and photos and phrases hammered into lockets so I will remember to trust that I really am in charge of this story I'm living.

Yes, this.

Yes, this.

PS Just four three spots left for Water Your Soul :: Being Seen. We start Monday and will begin gathering in our private Facebook group this weekend.