“I know most people try hard to do good and find out too late they should have tried softer.” ~ Andrea Gibson, You Better Be Lightning Hello!
First up today? A shout out to all the folks who join me on the deck for yoga at Lakeshore Resort! Seriously. You are really showing up this year, and it’s fantastic. Thank you for your presence; I appreciate you. ♥️ And now, a giant turn. On July 14, the world lost one of its most inspiring thinkers and poets, Andrea Gibson. I’m sorry I didn’t know about them sooner, and I’m so thankful they put their thoughts down into words so we can all continue basking in the beauty. Sponging up the wisdom. I started listening to them read their book, You Better Be Lightning, this morning. Wow! To have such clear vision coupled with the ability to explain it to us in magical ways? To be suffering a terminal illness and yet remain uplifted by hope and gratitude? To break through the cautionary tape of the heart and shine brightly as a source of light for everyone around? I need more of this. I want to be immersed in this. The study of light. Courage. Vulnerability. Truth. Always the truth. “Even when the truth isn’t hopeful, the telling of it is.” Andrea Gibson, Take Me With You The poems are a balm to my soul. Healing, softening some of the rough spots. Restoring some of the shine that seems difficult to maintain in difficult times. If you missed the quotation above about “trying softer” please take another nice, slow, contemplative read. Let’s not wait until it’s too late. Let’s try softer now. Right now. And later today. And tomorrow when we get frustrated, or angry, or feel that we’re right. Let’s try softer and see what happens? I hope you’ll join me. Today is New Moon, so it’s a wonderful time to plant new seeds. Love and light, m
0 Comments
“This is a time for straying, for losing one’s way, for asking new questions. A sacred activism. A slowing down that knows enchantment is not in short supply” ~ Bayo Akomolafe Hi friends!
My thoughts aren’t fully formed; I hope I can arrive at some place of value for each of us. 🤷🏻♀️ Because I moved, got married, started a new job, etc., all in the year 2000, it’s a marker in time that really stands out for me. When I think about ALL that has transpired in the past 25 years? So, SO much shift has happened . . . for me personally, for this community that I live in, for this country, for our planet. 2050 will be my 80th birthday; I hope to be at that party. 🎉 And, if I’m fortunate enough to be there, I’m now visioning what I hope people might say about me as an octogenarian. I read something recently that talked about how many of us are taught to view success: college degrees, high paying jobs, hustling nonstop, fancy materialistic items . . . you get the idea. Most of us feel the pull in one, or more, or all of these directions throughout our life. I’m not against any of these things . . . well, maybe hustling nonstop. 🤪 And, I’d like to build upon that definition of success. I’d like success to include: living well in our own bodies and beings (best we can, for as long as can); peace of mind; quality rest and stillness; joy and fulfillment; making a positive impact on others; service to our community, to our planet; a deep practice of gratitude; a life of light and love. Something I know for certain: our pathways “forward” do NOT form a straight line. That’s why I like the graphic shown up above. ⬆️ As much as we hope the needle would always move upward and to the right? That’s not real. I also know that everything continues shifting. What seems heavy and daunting now, will become something different. What seems delightful and fun now, may also shift. It’s part of it. And, I try not to hook into any of it too deeply. My feelings are just that . . . feelings. They aren’t who I am. They don’t determine things. I picture them like large, puffy clouds that keep drifting and moving with the wind. What’s more important to me is being clear, and present, and open to this moment. So that I can continue being of service, and being fulfilled, and being grateful. This is my practice. And while I continue learning from my past, I love the lesson of the butterfly. 🦋⬆️ So, here’s to moving forward. Making this next chapter the greatest one yet. With light and love, m 
“To this day, I believe we are here on Earth to live, grow, and do what we can to make this world a better place for all people to enjoy freedom.” ~ Rosa Parks Hello beauties!
Our puppy Javier is one little guy who is THANKFUL that the 4th of July is over. Fireworks ae NOT his thing. And yes, he knows that Venetian Festival is coming up soon. 🎆 Sigh. Today, a shout out to EVERYONE who makes it all happen. Our towns are small. And for several months of the year, they are pretty quiet. But at this moment, it seems they are bursting at the seams. Because of this seasonal fluctuation, most businesses have lots of new employees. And, if you’ve ever worked in a restaurant, or retail, or hospitality, then . . . you know. When I talk with small business owners, they have so much positive to say about the people, and the vibe, and the energy of it all. They also have a few nightmare stories of what happens, and how people behave, and what goes on behind the scenes. So, no matter where you are, give your small business owners some local love. I promise you, they’re working really hard, and they have hardships. Your kindness, and patience, and gratitude? Really does help. For some, summer season may feellike one long-running vacation. For others, the busy season can wear a person out. Rosa Parks said it really well. ⬆️ Yep. Let’s embody that. Love and light, ~m 
“To love oneself is the beginning of a life-long romance.” ~ Oscar Wilde Hi everyone!
I know this Holiday week is really busy for many of us, so I’m going to be brief. I had a powerful conversation with someone last week that has remained with me. This is a person I trust, so I was there with an open heart and a lot of curiosity. Part of what the person shared is that they see when my layers of protection come up. Those layers can keep me distant, and they noted that I have some weapons I use to ensure my own safety. Hmmmm. There’s a lot to unpack in all of that. ☺️ I’ve been giving this concept some spaciousness, and I’ve been investigating with a soft internal gaze. I’m sure my protective layers, and my weapons, have served me well at certain times in my life. I learned those things for a reason. However, do I still need these? Are these habits still supporting me? Or, are they hindering me? As the conversation continued, we also talked about knowing “what we’re up to.” That when we have focus, and purpose, and fulfillment, life sure is better all the way around. I’ve been thinking about that, too. So, as we continue enjoying these long days of light, why not create one thing we want to shift before the end of this year? We’ve passed the half-way point, so it’s a great time to get clear. 🤩 When we reach Winter Solstice, or New Years, won’t it be fun to look back at this moment and exclaim, “Wow! Look at what we did! Look at far we’ve come!” Reminder: this shift does not have to BIG in order to be impactful. Why not start small . . . and see how significant a small shift can truly be? Me? I’m going to try and shrink both the moat and the walls that I use to “protect” myself. I don’t think I need them all any more. 🥰 The Oscar Wilde quotation above sure says a lot. No matter where we are in this moment, here’s to loving ourselves! With love and light, ~m WAHOO! Yacht Club Yoga is going strong! 💪🏽 Join me on Saturdays | 8:30 - 9:30 A ♥️ This Saturday and EVERY SATURDAY in July! ALL are welcome. You do not have to be a member of SYC to attend. 🙌🏽 |
AuthorMichelle Shaw: Archives
December 2025
|
RSS Feed