“Gratitude is so close to the bone of life, pure and true, that it instantly stops the rational mind, and all its planning and plotting.” ~ Regina S Ryan Hi, friends!
This Saturday, the 24th, is my birthday. 🎉 I hope you’ll join me in the celebration! By celebrating yourself. 🥰 I’m asking you to gift yourself one thing that will begin to make a small, positive, shift in your life. ♥️ When I returned home from Colorado, Mike had reorganization on his mind. Specifically, a new arrangement, and some de-cluttering, in our home office. To say I was resistant is being too generous. I did not want to face all the piles . . . the stacks of ignored paperwork and stuff that had accumulated over the years. He was encouraging. And patient. And kind. Even when I was a bit of a tempest. 😤 2-3 hours later, we had made serious headway. The clutter and chaos was coming together. The room felt clearer. And inviting. Added bonuses? We ordered a new light to have on the desk. Then, picked out a rug for the room in order to soften things up. Now, I’m writing to you from our office. I can attest even without the new light, or the rug, the room feels so much better! It is organized, and creating in the space feels good again. This shift only took a few hours, and the impact is substantial. Maybe there’s a space in your home (closet? drawer? room?) that could also use a refresh? Or, maybe you are going to gift yourself a few moments each day to spend in gratitude? Or, reflection? Perhaps your gift will include some time in nature? Or stillness? How about gifting yourself some meaningful connection with a friend? It would be a beautiful gift to me if you gift yourself something special. A small shift that you are craving, and possibly even resisting, that you know will be beneficial! Thanks for celebrating with me! On the actual day, I’ll be making my way to our Farm Partner in Chiapas, Mexico. I can’t wait to be back at La Fortaleza! Love, light, and longing for peace, m P.S. Something I gift myself every day? The Walk for Peace 🕊️
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“I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.” ~ Mother Theresa Hello!
One theme I’m hearing amongst the circles I travel in is this: it’s taking ever more to stay regulated within. Our nervous systems are jacked up. And rightfully so. Today, let’s start by pausing together. Join me. Let’s sigh out a few breaths. Inhaling through the nose. Exhaling . . . sigh it out with an open mouth and an audible sound. A couple more times like that. Now, feel your feet on the floor. Tap into your connection to ground. Feel the support that’s underneath you. Relax your belly. Let your breath land there. Soften your eyes. Your forehead. Your jaw. 🙏🏽 Thank you. I also have something for us to think about. I’ll start with disclosure: I feel like an awkward person at parties.. Especially amongst a room full of people I don’t know. If there’s a way I can get myself into a service role in the kitchen? You better believe I’ll opt for pouring beverages rather than circulating throughout the room. I’ve always marveled at those who effortlessly engage with people they don’t know. How do they do it? Why can’t I be more like that? There are definitely techniques I have learned to try and build my social skill set while soothing my personal discomfort. I’m into learning and evolving. And, I’ve also started paying attention to what comes more naturally for me. I love one-on-one conversations. Especially when talking in-depth. If that conversation involves anything related to personal challenges, or growth? I’m all about the uplift for the other person. I’ve recently been told by two people I admire, they like the playfulness I bring to situations. Hmmmm, that’s something I’d love to enhance. Maybe I am putting more value on strengths I see in others? If it’s something I struggle with, then that must be the thing I should be able to do? If something does come naturally for me, then it must just be easy? Not valuable. Here’s what I’m beginning to understand more fully. We ALL have different things that come more easily for us. The person who can charm and engage an entire room? May feel resistance to sitting down for an in-depth one-on-one. If something comes more naturally for us, why not celebrate its worth? What’s “easy” for us is probably really challenging for someone else. And, it’s the whole-darned mix of us that makes everything interesting. My question for you is: What is one thing that comes relatively easy to you? That you do naturally? Maybe it’s something you don’t even consider because it just seems part of who you are. I’m thinking specifically about something you do very easily when you interact with others. Examples:
Whatever it is, celebrate that. Bring that into the light. Allow that to lead your interactions with others. My hope is by acknowledging, by honoring, our own interpersonal skills, we can allow that positive vibration to ripple out and reach others. For our own benefit and for the benefit of others. With love, light, and longing for peace, m P.S. I turn to this every day to help my own nervous system reset: The Walk for Peace 🕊️ 
“The practice of peace and reconciliation is one of the most vital and artistic of human actions.” ~ Thich Nhat Hanh Hi friends!
How is your start of 2026? I hope it has been gentle and kind. Mine has had a couple of unexpected bumps that sent my nervous system into a whirl . . .and I have to tell you. I am so grateful for the regulatory tools I can reach for within my body and the practices I have in place. Something I am beginning to practice is setting a priority for each day. One specific thing I am focusing on. Sounds simple, and it is. I’m learning that when I write down my priority? This simple act serves as an accelerant for my focus. When I layer in thinking about a couple of actions that will support my priority? This brings my outcomes to the next level. It moves the needle even further in the direction I want to go. Sprinkle on top some reflection time and explore how things went? Now we’re really creating the shift! Here’s the thing. This takes a bit of time. Not much! But yes, time. And guess what? Somehow, my days are feeling more spacious. I think with a more focused energy? There’s less that distracts and depletes me. Something else giving me hope and nourishment these days? The Walk for Peace. If you haven’t found this one yet, you might also enjoy following along. It’s the 2,300-mile journey of Buddhist monks, and their incredible dog, Aloka, who are walking from Fort Worth, Texas to Washington, D.C. It is scheduled to last 120 days. Today is Day 75, so there’s still lots of time to get inspired. Their stated mission is “to raise awareness of peace, loving kindness, and compassion across America and the world.” And their daily commitment to this, one step at a time, is powerful. May we all take one powerful step this week. In the direction we want to move. We’re worth it, ~ m 
“Let nothing dim the light that shines within.” ~ Maya Angelou Welcome 2026!
My girlfriend Theresa sent me a Monk Manual for Christmas. I didn’t know such a thing existed, and my initial response? Resistance. It looked like a complex, and time-consuming chore. The rather large, and thick, yearly “planner” felt oppressive. Like yet another daily “to do” that I really do not have time for. Maybe the gift would become something I found space for on a bookshelf and did just that . . . shelve it. But I left it out. On our dining room table, with its pretty ribbon, just to see what might emerge. The next day, I softened my own edges of resistance and opened myself up to curiosity. Theresa knows me very well. We talk openly and in-depth. She’s a thoughtful gift giver. Why did she choose this for me? With the awful weather and MIke’s holiday break helping to shift us into a slower gear, I eventually curled up with the Manual. I found its language and message compelling. I realized there were loads of free online support materials accompanying the manual that were thorough, thoughtful, and helpful. I fully agree with the concept that most New Year’s Resolutions don’t pan out because people set the goal too far away from their existing patterning. I talk in my own yoga classes about how small shifts in our thinking, our being, and our doing create big transformation. That intentions aren’t magical thinking. That showing up for ourselves, for our vision, for what we want more of happens one breath, one small step, one action at a time. Pretty soon I was literally sharpening my pencil, digging around for a decent eraser, and jotting down thoughts and ideas . . . or, more accurately, themes and habits. On this New Year’s Day, my theme is Gratitude. I like the concept I picked up from Richard Rohr . . . of practicing gratitude until you are grateful. To support my theme of gratitude, I have chosen one habit to focus on. Because we know simply naming what we want doesn’t happen magically. We have to actually practice it. Move the needle into a different groove for our own internal patterns. So, my habit I am focusing on this week? No Complaining. That’s it. I’m going to try not to complain this week. And I’ll see what happens. Oh, I’m also trying a Gratitude Minute when I first wake up. Simply breathing in gratitude for whatever surfaces in that moment. I’m loving this practice. And guess what? It’s not time consuming. Nor complicated. Small things. Big impact. I’m here for it. Here’s to moving the needle and basking in the light, ~m |
AuthorMichelle Shaw: Archives
March 2026
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