People in mindfulness circles love to quote Portia Nelson’s “Autobiography in Five Short Chapters.”  It’s a little work of wisdom about the patterns we habitually bring to the challenges in our lives. We’re all familiar with helplessness, victimhood, and denial of the unpleasant.  One of these may be our fallback.  That’s why I appreciate this […]

Tags: autobiography in five short chapters, breast cancer, cancer, humor, kindness, mindfulness, parable, Portia Nelson, survivor, wisdom

I spent the past couple of days noting how often my children laugh. They’re awesome at it (most of the time). Giggles turn into cracking up, which turns into unstoppable belly laughs. And just when you think they’re done, it starts all over again. I want to recapture this sense of lightness. I want to be amazed by subtlety, and to be reminded not to take this waning life too seriously.

Tags: awareness, being present, belonging, comedy, connection, family, gratitude, hope, humor, laughter, mortality, parenting, relationships, smile