All That Exists is This Moment

“To stay with that shakiness – to stay with a broken heart, with a rumbling stomach, with the feeling of hopelessness – that is the path of true awakening. Sticking with that uncertainty, getting the knack of relaxing in the midst of chaos, learning not to panic – this is the spiritual path. Getting the …

Living With Pain, Feeling Through Pain: Tips on Healing and Self-Care

"Storms make the oak grow deeper roots" - George Herbert (1593-1633) These past couple weeks, I've had a string of days where I have been completely immobilized with all-over body pain and heavy fatigue, my body forcing me down against my will. I'm still learning to listen to it, to let go, to honour its …

Breathing Room – Creating Space Between You and Your Pain

I have been writing "morning pages" everyday for the past three weeks. This act has been so loving, comforting, and illuminating. When I was young, I used to write furiously in my journal almost every day. It was mostly complaining and general angst. I didn't glean any insights from it at the time, it was …

Sharing My Story

Why do I write? Why is there urgency in my words? Why do I hungrily capture images every day?  Most people who really know me, know that I've been struggling with (currently undiagnosed) chronic pain. It began about a year ago in my neck and shoulders, causing almost daily debilitating headaches. It began wearing me …

Love is…maintaining balance in the presence of pain & a ginormous dose of self love! (also, my apparent fixation on trees)

So, a rough week in bodily aches, stiffness, and pain has left me a little exhausted. It's so frustrating when I get these pain flare-ups (especially when it inhibits my desire to walk anywhere). It's frustrating to not know exactly the source of these sensations and exactly 'why' it is happening (it's funny how we always need to …

Love is….a whole lot of uninhibited, gushing out laughter

"we stretched out side by side on the bed and began. By pretending, of course. Forced laughter. Laughable laughter. Laughter so laughable that it made us laugh. Then it came, real laughter, total laughter, taking us into its immense tide. Bursts of repeated, rushing, unleashed laughter, magnificent laughter, sumptuous and mad...And we laugh our laughter …

Love is…a pen, journal, and lots of caffeine

So, it's been quite awhile since I've been here. I had taken a hiatus that was both intentional and unintentional. An intentional move,in order to give myself some space from the pressure of always having something to say, and unintentional, due to some pretty tough physical and emotional experiences I've struggled through these past few …

Love is…liquid pick-me-ups & crossed legged slow-me-downs

going into work feeling like utter-shit...then getting the day off to rest & recover surprise visits and couchsurfing exploration (seriously, if you've never done it, check out that site. cheap way to travel and connect at the same time) new skirt that looks foxy with brown tights after a few days of feeling completely listless, …

Love is…old photos & new celebrations

nostalgia and reconnection lights off, white sheets pinned to wall, old projector, glass of wine, the four of us gathered on the couch, a large box of slides you didn’t know existed, family history of photographs dated 1973-1989 (my mum, aged 20, skinny like me, long hair in pig tails, tiny bikini, model-esque poses, shy …

Love is…heart shaped tomatoes and imaginative travelling

After a busy, busy work week (though it's not over yet), here are some good things: watching (free) movies in bed spicy chips delectable smells coming from the kitchen cleaning the shit out of the apartment (goooo teamwork! high five!) and feeling accomplished when awesome friends have hot dates when my partner plays music and …