Recently I had a phone conversation that led to someone asking for my forgiveness for a hurt that I truly and honestly had forgotten about. At the time of the apology I said "Of course I forgive you!" with all the cheer and comfort and grace I could shove into my slightly tight voice. And … Continue reading The weight of forgiveness
What security are they afraid of losing? Two instincts drive human behavior: self-promotion and self-protection. (I'm sure there are more, but those are two.) These aren't necessarily good or bad instincts, they're just how we've evolved to evaluate the world and figure out how to move about in it. We always want to improve our … Continue reading The question that makes me less judgmental
For me, one of the hardest things in life is learning how to navigate and set boundaries in relationships. Sometimes I wonder how two people can EVER be on the same page about what they want out of a relationship, or to really agree about what a relationship should be. I can't believe I found … Continue reading You don’t have to accept all love offered to you
You may have heard Hawaii called the Rainbow State. It certainly lives up to its name. I'd say that I see rainbows like this at least once a week. The other day there was a rainbow amidst a bunch of fluffy white clouds, and I wished that I could see that rainbow on a day … Continue reading Happiness with a side of sadness
There are two things about me that annoy me: I am anxious (read: quick) to forgive.I have a terribly memory. (Ok, there are many more than those two, but since my therapist is not here let's not pull too eagerly at that thread.) The adage "Forgive and forget" is how I naturally and effortlessly live … Continue reading When anger is compassion
This summer was weird and wonderful in its own ways. Kind of hard, but good?! I'm still processing some of it. I have some big decisions to make in my life that are scary because they feel final (though it doesn't have to be final, but of course my brain immediately goes to most extreme … Continue reading The best things I read in summer 2019
I recently started a new job, fundraising for a science-based conservation organization. I am loving it. I'm so happy to be doing work that is serving a purpose for Hawaii and the world, and to be working for an organization of its caliber. The boost in pay has been a VERY nice bonus, too! Fundraising … Continue reading My “why” for fundraising
Part II of Jana's tales of "OMG I READ THE MOST TRANSFORMATIVE AND LIFE-CHALLENGING BOOKS WHILE ON OUR PARADISE VACATION." A book about surviving emotional and psychological faceplants, a novel about the Holocaust, a book about how to avoid psychological and ecological disaster, and a book about murder. The only book I didn't get to … Continue reading How to avoid psychological and environmental collapse, by Erich Fromm
As I mentioned in my previous post, I had a rather miraculously wonderful bout of reading on vacation. It was both the worst and best time to read books that forced my self-reflection. On one hand, I didn't have the constant busyness of life to distract and interrupt introspection! Yay, insights! ... on the other, … Continue reading Stories, boundaries, and compassion: thoughts on Rising Strong by Brené Brown
The last couple months have been strangely suffocating. My chest has been tight and my heart rate elevated off and on. It's been purely psychological -- I'm healthy as a freaking horse. (Though I could always stand to eat more veggies and probably drink a little less wine.) I knew it was psychological in part … Continue reading The tension preceding freedom
