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Are You on a “Caterpillar to Butterfly” Journey?
On a recent walk along one of my favorite Cape Cod nature trails, I noticed a butterfly crossing my path. It stayed with me for a few minutes, eventually landing on a gorgeous pink azalea that had just bloomed. I began thinking about this butterfly – and the transformation it had taken to become one. It reminded me of a favorite quote by beloved poet Maya Angelou. “We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.” Every great transformation – whether personal, professional or creative – involves a process that isn’t always pleasant. There are many twists and turns, lots of creating and adjusting, and a necessary willingness to see it all through. It’s…
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Journal Writing for the Tech-Savvy Creative Woman
When most of us think of journal writing, we picture ourselves sitting in a big, comfy chair by a window in a coffee shop. We have a hardbound, maybe spiral journal in our hands and our favorite pen – and we’re scribbling away. This creates the space we need to let our thoughts pour out of our mind and onto the page. But what about those who aren’t so keen on the traditional journaling method of writing by hand? These are individuals who would rather type out their thoughts on computers – perhaps even moving notes around so they can keep them grouped in a particular way. These days, digital journaling is picking up momentum. It’s a form of collecting and documenting one’s thoughts on…
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Celebrating the Winter Solstice
Over the past few weeks, I’ve been hearing more and more women talk about emotions that are related to some aspect of grieving. And I don’t mean the death of a loved one, but the death of some part of their life that they’ve come to know intimately – or the death of something inside of them. For some, they’ve lost jobs or seen unexpected changes in their businesses that they weren’t prepared for – while others have experienced divorces or an empty nest for the first time. And then there are those who are going through physical changes like a pregnancy or menopause – while others are finding themselves stuck in an emotional rut and craving some form of clarity. Whatever the case may be, it’s…
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Gratitude – One of Life’s Greatest Teachers
Thanksgiving is just around the corner here in the United States – and at the heart of this national holiday is gratitude. Take a moment, as you’re reading this, to reflect on what it is that you’re most grateful for in your life. Allow yourself to focus on any images, words, and emotions that capture this energy of gratitude – and make note of them in a journal or a notebook. Now think about the parts of your life where you could use a bit of inspiration – to spark an even deeper sense of gratitude. Even challenges can be inspiring when you take the time to examine them through a lens of possibility, seeing the lessons they bring into your life. Are you able…
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What Masks Are You Wearing?
As we approach one of my favorite times of the year, Halloween – I’m reminded of all the costumes and masks people wear to celebrate this festive occasion. It triggered my thinking this week about the many masks we have all worn in our lives – and may still be wearing. How many of these masks serve as an authentic expression of who we are? And how many of these masks are a cover-up for drowning out our own inner voices? Have you ever stopped to think about the many labels that you wear in life – maybe you’re a wife, a mother, a grandmother, a teacher, a loyal employee, a neighbor – and the different masks that are required to show up in these roles?…
