Episode 109 Spiritual Wisdom For These Difficult Times
Release Date: 03/24/2020
Enlighten: Uplift & Inspire
On this week’s episode, I join the chorus of people paying tribute to our iconic, American treasure, Dolly Parton. You can’t help but be impressed with how she lived her life, her talent and kindness. She was humble, business savvy, grounded in compassion, invested in humanitarian values, and had a fabulous sense of humor. Dolly had a positively profound impact on and off stage. May we all find ways to honor Dolly Parton by loving more deeply, giving more freely and keeping joy alive. May we all honor Dolly’s love legacy. Check out the Show Notes for links to Dolly tributes from...
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On this weeks episode, I reflect on how intimately intertwined death and life are. One informs and impacts the other. From my childhood to late teens and early adulthood memories, to recent experiences of facing the death of people I love, I have learned to be present, feel the depth of emotions and look for opportunities for acceptance and personal reflection. Nature teaches us about how natural, organic and integrated death is in life. Perhaps, we can envision that our death will inspire new life for others, as the dead trees in the woods give life to 100s of microorganisms. May...
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My guest today is Dena DeRose. Dena Is a compelling, innovative jazz singer and pianist. In addition to her busy international touring schedule, Dena has been a professor of Jazz Voice at the in Graz, Austria for the past 20 years. Dena has led clinics and workshops around the world. Her passionate ability to embody the heart and soul of music as a performer and educator is remarkable. She describes her students as inspiring her, I can only imagine how profoundly Dena inspires her students. Check out the Show Notes for links to Dena’s website, tour schedule and booking manager,...
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On this week’s episode, I share how invigorated I was after 6 days of hiking in Yosemite National Park. I’ve had Yosemite hiking on my bucket list for 50 years and am delighted I finally experienced a section of it’s profound peace and awesome beauty. I felt healthy, strong and empowered walking in the high altitudes, through shaded forests, over sunny granite, and up and down rocky switchbacks. I was so uplifted and inspired by the mountains, meadows and lakes and trust that this intimate communion with nature will live in me forever. May you find refreshment this summer in lakes,...
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On this week’s episode, I describe my appreciation for evening strolls. In addition to the physical benefits of walking after dinner, evening strolls provide an opportunity to process our day, enjoy our surroundings and nurture an easeful, gentle unwinding of the day. When my kids were young, we took evening strolls, that later turned into adventure walks but it has been about 25 years so I am happy to return to this simple practice. I am grateful that my husband and I are carving out time 4-5 days per week to add evening strolls to our self care routine. May you try out an evening...
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On this week’s episode, having just returned from 12 glorious days in Greece, I am filled with gratitude. A week-long yoga retreat, plus 4 additional days on a nearby island were a fabulous way to kick off my retirement. My beloved God-daughter, Aliya runs the retreat and is a gifted, inspiring leader, who creates a very special experience for women from around the world. I am still absorbing all the magic of Greece: sparkling waters, dolphin sightings, delicious food, playful energy, hearty laughter and soul sister connections. How grateful I am to return to Greece after 45 years, to...
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My guest today is Barry Danielian. Barry is an extraordinary musician, playing trumpet while touring with Blood, Sweat & Tears, Tower of Power, and Bruce Springsteen, to name a few. Barry is also a Licensed Acupuncturist and Board Certified Herbalist. Barry is currently a doctoral candidate at the Daoist Traditions College of Chinese Medical Arts and he plans to complete his doctorate this December. Barry describes his affinity to eastern philosophy, his martial arts and his ability to express and integrate Eastern and Western concepts. Barry is jazzed when he can help people cross...
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My guest today is Jocelyn Jane Cox. Jocelyn is a former competitive figure skater, coach and current writer. I was very moved by her recent book “Motion Dazzle: A Memoir of Motherhood, Loss and Skating on Thin Ice”, which was described as “a tribute to her mother, a love letter to her son and a testament to resilience as a caregiver.” Jocelyn’s beautifully written memoir captures her vulnerability, humor and relate-ability. We discuss how the book came about, her focus on one day that embodied both suffering and celebration, as well as the lessons learned when we take a leap of...
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On this week’s episode, I acknowledge my retirement from 47 years of my professional career. I’ve had various roles, responsibilities and titles. It has been an honor to work with children, teens, adults, policy makers, teachers, parents, researchers and social workers from all backgrounds. As I bring my private practice to a close, I am humbled from all that I have learned. I am filled with gratitude as my clients process a wide range of emotions and co-create a healthy, intentional goodbye. I embrace all the ways I will evolve in this next chapter of my life. Enjoy the podcast! ...
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My guest today is Cait Conley. Cait is running for Congress in NY District 17, determined to stop Donald Trump and cowards like Mike Lawler who enable him. Cait was born and raised in the Hudson Valley, graduated at the top of her class at West Point, served 16 years as an Army officer, and broke barriers as one of the first and only women in Special Operations leadership and was awarded three Bronze Stars. Cait’s career as a public servant continued at home, protecting security and democracy while serving as Director of Counter-Terrorism on the National Security Council at the White...
info_outline Instead of a guest today, I would like to share some spiritual wisdom for these difficult times. Addressing and responding to COVID-19 marks an unprecedented moment in our history. Not just for some of us, but for all of us. Because this virus does not discriminate based on geography, culture, race, ethnicity, and socio-economic level, we are all impacted! Again not just in our neighborhood, our town, our city, our community, our county, our country, but all across the globe. Many of us have expressed, that in a strange way, COVID-19 has unified us, and we are all going through this at the same time, together. This is not to dismiss the seriousness of this virus and the devastating, even potentially deadly impact of this virus. That is there, too.
However, despite the the isolation felt from social distancing, there are innovative ways people are feeling connected. Have you seen the videos of quarantined neighborhoods in Italy and Spain, with people standing on their balconies, playing a musical instrument, which inspires another person to bring out their instrument, and before you know it, musicians and spectators are all standing on their balconies creating a spontaneous, uplifting moment of intimacy and community. These creative, courageous people are allowing music and song to transcend the experience of alienation.
I encourage you to check out the web sites of Brother Richard Hendrick, Thich Nhat Hahn and Jack Kornfield, so much wisdom and compassion to tap into!! Enjoy the podcast.
Links:
Brother Richard Hendrick's Web Site
Thich Nhat Hahn's Web Site
Jack Kornfield's Web Site
The Wisdom Of Not Knowing