“To live several lives, you have to die several deaths.” —Françoise Giroud Looking back on your life, have you lived “several lives?” Have you ever re-invented yourself? What did you have to let go of in order to do so?
Re-Inventing Myself Read More »
“Any real change implies the breakup of the world as one has always known it, the loss of all that gave one an identity, the end of safety.” —James Baldwin Tell me about a time you experienced this in your life—or you witnessed someone else having this experience.
“One does not discover new lands without consenting to lose sight of the shore for a very long time.” —Andre Gide Tell me about a time in your life where you had to let go of all that was familiar to forge a new future.
A Time I Let Go of the Familiar Read More »
“I set out to dispel daily depression. Every afternoon I get low-spirited, and one day I discovered the walk. . . . I set myself a destination, and then things happen in the street.” —Vivian Gornick Tell me about something that happened on a walk.
Something That Happened on a Walk Read More »
“I am a librarian. I discovered me in the library. I went to find me in the library . . . . I discovered that the library is the real school.” —Ray Bradbury Tell me about your relationship with libraries. About something that happened in a library.
“How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives. What we do with this hour, and that one, is what we are doing. A schedule defends from chaos and whim. It is a net for catching days.” —Annie Dillard, The Writing Life Tell me about how you structure your days.
How I Spend My Days Read More »
“We should not feel embarrassed by our difficulties, only by our failure to grow anything beautiful from them.” —Alain De Botton Tell me about a time you grew from your difficulties. Or what your difficulties are teaching you now.
Growing From My Difficulties Read More »
“An apology is a good way to have the last word.” —Dale Turner Tell me the story of an apology, given, or received.
The Story of an Apology Read More »
“Heartbreak is unpreventable; it is the natural outcome of caring for people and things over which we have no control.” —David Whyte Tell me about a moment your heart broke.
A Moment My Heart Broke Read More »
“When someone is struck by loss, there’s an openness to that which is beyond this world. When you really feel loss, when the ground is shaken, the veil thins and there is more access to the timeless, the eternal.” —Tara Brach Tell me about a time loss led to an opening or awareness you didn’t
“You must give up the life you planned in order to have the life that is waiting for you.” —Joseph Campbell Tell me about a time this was true in your life.
The Life Waiting For Me Read More »
In the little rap I give my students about re-entry into “real life” after retreat, one of the things I recommend is not to talk too much about the experience, but rather to practice their newly-honed listening skills on their loved ones back home. I caution them not to make any hasty decisions—like quitting their
Writing as a Pathway: Re-entry Into Real Life Read More »
After last night’s celebration and Claire’s wonderful chocolate cake, it’s finally the last morning of the Writing as a Pathway Through Grief, Loss, Transformation and Change retreat. And what I see around me is laughter, hugging, connecting and yes, some tears. The tough part of a retreat is always when it’s over. So we always
Writing as a Pathway: Farewell Read More »
Before I left Commonweal, I had to take one last trip out to the Meditation Hut, aka the Chapel, aka the Shrine and probably a dozen other pet names. I like to lay on the straw mats out there, flat on the floor and talk to my mother. It’s one of the places I hear
Writing as a Pathway: Meditation Hut Read More »
“The past has no power to stop you from being present now. Only your grievance about the past can do that.” —Eckhart Tolle Identify a story you have told repeatedly that keeps you locked into an identity you no longer want to define you.
Giving Up the Story Read More »
