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Hi Friends,

Today’s newsletter is going to be a collection of random thoughts. Before I dive in, I want to make you aware of a new workshop I’m offering on Saturday, June 25th, called Coming Home to Yourself. I’m calling it a self-discovery and self-love workshop. I believe deeply the path to personal and collective healing requires getting honest with ourselves and choosing love as often as we can. The workshop is three-hours, with the option to add an hour of breathwork at the end. An option I recommend, obviously. And speaking of breathwork, Online Breath & Belonging will be happening tomorrow night, and every Tuesday. Come journey with me and see what all the buzz is about. Okay, the buzz might just be in my head, but still.

Let’s take a few deep belly breaths and ground ourselves in this present moment. This moment, right now, is all we’ve got, is all we’ll ever have, and is all we’ll ever need. It is possible to be with what is, away from the pain of past traumas and future worries, away from the fears and anxieties of our minds. It is possible to be here now. Right here, right now. Let each inhale center you more deeply in this moment. Let each exhale provide further release of any stories that no longer serve you. You are whole, you are worthy, and you are beautiful, just as you are.

Okay, let’s dive in…

We must have the stubbornness to accept our gladness in the ruthless furnace of this world. - Jack Gilbert

A Facebook friend posted the following a couple days after the shooting in Uvalde, along with pictures of her jubilant daughter:

Last day of 6th grade!! First year of middle school in the books. Time to enjoy summer and some just desserts!

By the by, I am well aware of the horrors all around us. Part of the purpose of such terrorism and violence is to rob us of our ability to live in joy. It is insidious and persistent and awful. And oh so very much built into the fabric of our nation. In the face of constant horrors, it must be remembered that joy and celebration are necessary and revolutionary acts. My girl made it through 6th grade, and she loved it. Damned straight I’m celebrating that!

Yes! Yes! Yes! Damned straight, indeed.

I started writing about the shooting and guns and the overwhelming violence in our country and world, and then I stopped. I don’t have anything new to share. Is there a person on the planet who’s aware of Uvalde whose heart didn’t break when hearing about it? I don’t think so. I looked at a couple slideshows of the victims, and along with my grief, I felt complete faith that those nineteen kids and two teachers who died are now alive on another plane, in bliss, pure bliss, unbothered by the pain and insanity of this reality. It doesn’t lessen the horror of what transpired, but it does bring to the despair a certain degree of peace knowing those sweet kids are beyond any suffering now.

I sat with a friend on his patio yesterday and looked out over his open backyard that seemed to melt into the mesa beyond, as though it might go on forever. “I don’t think of this property as my land,” he said. “According to my mortgage, I own it, but of course I don’t own it. I am simply a steward to this land, to care for it while I’m here, as best I can.” Ah, yes, beautiful. I sometimes wonder if we would take better care of our planet if we thought of her as Baby Earth instead of Mother Earth. If we doted on her the way we would an infant. If, built into our upbringing we were raised to be stewards of our great home rather than simply inhabitants, rather than owners.

Let us forget, with generosity, those who cannot love us. - Pablo Neruda

Just because you feel judged doesn’t mean I’m judging you.

The alternative is true, too: Just because I feel judged doesn't mean you're judging me. It has felt easier at times to shut down to someone because I tell myself they're judging me, when in fact it is I who is judging myself. Whatever they said may have triggered me to feel insecure (which may not have been their intention at all) but that insecurity is mine to own, and, should I choose to, mine to investigate and work at healing. I see my triggers as an opportunity to blame, or to grow. I haven't served myself with blame. I will continue to work at choosing growth, as often and as honestly as possible.And, sometimes others are judging me and I feel triggered, and the same opportunity presents itself: Do I want to get lost in blame or get found in taking responsibility for my responses and growing from them? There's always a choice.

Lastly, I’d like to share some words I’ve shared here before, but I’m feeling them deeply right now, and they always serve as a good reminder:

Thank you for being here. It brings me great joy to be able to connect with you in this way. Wishing you deep peace and big love, always.

Scott

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