Who knew a four-day, 2500-kilometre solo drive in the rain, preceded and followed by intense moving activities, could be so exhausting? Last week, when I was en route, I posted a single haiku. This week, sitting in my new place still surrounded by boxes, I don’t even have a haiku left in me! And yet, I’m committed to posting every week. And I’m a day late already. So, what to do? In the time-honoured tradition of busy bloggers everywhere when life gets to be just a little too

She sat and sat and sat, carefully sifting memories like sand, memories of a seashore much like this one, floury silky white sand, those laughing days squinting in the sun collecting shells until happy hour, two-for-one margaritas that were far too good, and caused her to eat too many stone crabs and swear off margaritas for good, at least until the next time, those staggering evenings rolling home after in the dark on a starlit beach. She sifted the memories carefully, separ

I’ve struggled my entire adult life to Get Things Done. It’s not that I’m ever really idle, not really. Even when it looks like I’m doing nothing, I’m in fact a quivering brew of anxiety about things I should be doing right now, should have done, should do tomorrow — and there’s always something more to do. Am I the only one this happens to or does that sound familiar? I’ve tried probably every productivity system on the planet, paper and digital, at some point or another. As

I was recently asked about what has worked for me in building a regular writing practice. So I’ve pulled together some of the components of my writing practice that have been most useful in becoming steadier on my feet – as it turns out, not only in writing but in other aspects of my life too. It’s all connected. Community: Probably the single most compelling thing I’ve done to get from A to B — from struggling to write three times a week for 5-10 minutes at a time to actuall

To pick up where we left off last week: For me, the real deal about being kind to myself is all about being in touch with my own true heart … holding it all without pushing it away or pushing it down. So, how do I do this? How do I personally get beyond the bubble bath and expand into the soft tender core of myself? How do I make friends with myself? Get in touch with my own true heart and hold all of the pain and joy and goodness and sadness, and everything in between, the w

“To thine own self be kind.” I mean REALLY TRULY kind. I mean radical kindness, real, radical self-compassion. The kind of kindness that lasts, that soaks into every aspect of your life, the kind you don’t leave behind when you come home after a retreat. Beyond random acts of kindness. Beyond bubble baths. Beyond massages, spa days, yoga retreats, whatever your budget allows you to do as a form of self-care or even the occasional self-indulgence. Beyond chocolate, binge watch

Don’t ask what you can do. They can’t tell you, because they don’t know. Don’t say, if there’s anything you need, just let me know. They don’t know what they need. They won’t call you. They’re too weary. Just go. Call ahead if you must, but go. Don’t ask them to choose a good time. There is no good time. Just go. Bring chocolate chip cookies, chicken soup, chili, or even a sponge cake. Comfort food. If they offer you tea and/or food, accept it. It gives them a moment of norma