Episode 428 Blue Joy
Enlighten: Uplift & Inspire
On this week’s episode, I am riding the blue joy wave of hope, relief, and a vision that moves our country forward. From intentional positive mantras, meditations, and mindsets to boots on the ground volunteering, I am joyfully celebrating all the efforts across the country that brought about the sweeping Democratic wins. Being at Cait Conley’s watch party on election night was turbo-charged with enthusiasm, solidarity and incredible joy. Even though there is hard work ahead, it feels important, for now, to enjoy the joy! Enjoy the podcast!
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Episode 427 Off The Couch
Enlighten: Uplift & Inspire
On this week’s episode, I urge you to get off the couch and vote in tomorrow’s midterm election. Vote for healthcare, women, immigrants, people of color, for the poor, the disabled and trans kids. We are facing the greatest existential crisis in our nations’ history and it's an inside job. Vote to reign in the abuses and violence against our own neighbors. Vote for civil and human rights to be restored. Check out the show notes for IG links to John Pavlovitz, Jenifer Lewis and Amanda Gorman’s poem about the importance of voting. Hearing Amanda say her own poem is more powerful...
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Episode 426 Autumn Colors
Enlighten: Uplift & Inspire
On this week’s episode, I share an inspiring writing by Omid Safi that moved me deeply about the magic of autumn colors. Safi who studied medicine before he became a scholar of religion, explains that the leaves don’t turn or change colors. Once what has been masking the colors die off, the magical golden, reds and oranges which have been there all along, can shine through. What might need to die off for your hidden jewels to be revealed? Literal and metaphorical deaths can illuminate colors and gifts we didn’t expect. May we all let the divine colors of compassion, kindness, mercy,...
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Episode 425 “BE RE”
Enlighten: Uplift & Inspire
On this week’s episode, I made up a new phrase that captures my early chapter of retirement. BE RE is the easy-to-say phrase, that represents some relevant words that begin with RE, like reset, renew, realign, remind, replenish and remember. I’m learning to do less and be more, while I embrace the RE words. BE RE is helping me be present, trust my worth, and take a deep breath of gratitude. May you take time to reflect on how you can BE RE. Enjoy the podcast!
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Episode 424 Wayne’s World
Enlighten: Uplift & Inspire
On this week’s episode, I honor my dear friend Wayne Warnecke, who died on October 6th. Wayne, affectionately called his recording studio “Wayne’s World” before Dana Carvey and Mike Myers created the Wayne’s World SNL skit that later became a 1992 comedy film. Wayne was a gifted audio engineer and music producer and in “Wayne’s World”, every musician, amateur or acclaimed professional, was treated with respect and dignity. The magic Wayne generated reached beyond his music studio; anyone in Wayne’s presence experienced his humor, positivity, and gratefulness....
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Episode 423 Absorbing The Love
Enlighten: Uplift & Inspire
On this week’s episode, I describe the outpouring of love that was generated at my Retirement/Birthday Party on September 28th. I’ve spent the week swirling in that love, breathing in that love, and humbly absorbing that love. In addition to the abundant love that was showered on me, I was struck by the love being exchanged in interactions with everyone there. May we generate kindness, curiosity, warmth, respect and love in whatever circles we walk in, with whatever exchanges we have. Let’s fill ourselves with love, absorb more deeply that love and radiate that love out into the...
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Episode 422 Birthday Love
Enlighten: Uplift & Inspire
On this week’s episode, I acknowledge my September 23rd birthday, which is also the Autumn Equinox. I let the themes of the Autumn Equinox: equilibrium, release, and gratitude be a spiritual reflection. Perhaps the questions I journaled about will be helpful to you as we enter this Fall season. I received and felt so much birthday love that I want to share it with all my listeners and see if we can radiate it out into the world. May this Autumn Equinox bring us into balance, help us shed all that no longer serves us and may we collectively cultivate new joy, new peace, and better...
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Episode 421 Reflections and Routines
Enlighten: Uplift & Inspire
On this week’s episode, I reflect on the fullness of my summer and the welcome of comforting regular routines. May you take a moment to reflect on your summer and notice what fills you with gratitude. May you welcome the return to the Fall routines. Let these routines comfort and ground you this season. Enjoy the podcast!
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Episode 420 Here To Stay
Enlighten: Uplift & Inspire
On this week’s episode, I answer the question I’ve often been asked in the past couple of months: “Now that you’ve retired, does that mean you are ending the podcast?” And my reply is “No! I am here to stay and so is the podcast!” In confirming that the podcast is here to stay, I explain what motivated me to start the podcast, what the podcast means to me and the gifts this podcast provides. I am committed to continuing to focus on the light and all that uplifts and inspires me, even through all the challenges we face. Enjoy the podcast!
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Episode 419 Love Legacy
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...
info_outline I took a break last week and didn’t post an episode. You may not have noticed, and that’s okay. I know how busy life can be, how full many of our lives are and how hard it is to keep up with all that is in front of us. What I did notice was a different energy within myself when taking a break last week. I was kinder, gentler to myself. How lovely! An old energy that I am letting go of is the judgment and rigidity that sounded something like this: “You have to post an episode every week, you need to be consistent, it’s confusing for listeners if you skip a week.” Mmmm, not sure any of those statements are true. I do care about being consistent and I certainly don’t want to confuse my listeners, but I also think it is more important to be honest and authentic and take a break when necessary. So I figured I would mention my break, just in case you wondered why you didn’t receive an email announcing March 22nd’s episode :)
Focusing on the positive meaning of a break, particularly in our capitalistic culture that rewards work-a-holism, busy-ness, and productivity, what is your perception of taking a break?
How do you handle breaks?
Is it easy for you to give yourself a break?
Is it hard for you to give yourself a break?
What makes it possible?
What stops you?
How do you treat your self when taking a break?
How do you treat yourself after taking a break?
Part of the reason I took a break from posting a podcast episode last week, was due to the fact that my husband and I had just returned from having taken a larger break. Thanks to the generosity of our dear friends, Matt and Margaret Balitsaris, we were in the Bahamas for nearly 3 weeks. Believe me that was a deep, glorious, healing break. Let go of the guilt trip and drop into the gifts that a break offers. Whether you need a break from screens, devices, social media, a break from conversation, certain people, a break from unhealthy patterns, from the violence and chaos in our world, please give yourself a break. And while taking a break, check out the show notes for a link to Memphis soul legend Rufus Thomas’ song “Break Down” and let it move you to join the phenomenal dancers in the audience who truly break down! As well as a link to Shaun King’s podcast “The Break Down” to stay present to social justice issues. May we all honor and embrace taking breaks; small breaks, large breaks, daily, weekly, monthly and seasonal breaks - it’s good for the soul! Enjoy the podcast!
Links:
Rufus Thomas “Break Down”
Shaun King’s podcast “The Break Down”