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Do you have a Korean tour guide in your head?

Recently, some American journalists traveled to North Korea and were assigned a tour guide for the duration of the visit. The guide denied many of their requests for sightseeing and talking with the locals. They were forced to spend much of their time in the hotel!

It occurred to me that, at times in my life, I have had a “Korean tour guide” living in my head, telling me things like:

You can’t … because it’s not allowed.
Don’t go there, it’s not safe.
Don’t do that, you’ll fail.
Don’t ask questions.

Many such messages began as well-meant guidance from parents, teachers and loved ones. I heeded them and they protected me. As time wore on, however, Continue reading “Do you have a Korean tour guide in your head?”

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Breathe …

How often has someone reminded you to breathe? Usually, it’s when they notice you are racing, off-balance, ungrounded, anxious and likely full of fear. When fear is dominating our thoughts and actions, it is impossible to come from, or to be, love. And love, that open, accepting embrace of self and others, is often precisely what we need more of.

Breathe with me now. Take a long, deep, full breath into your lungs. Let it go. Take another. This time, Continue reading “Breathe …”

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Without the Mirror

Once upon a time, mirrors did not exist. Dates vary, but one account says that the mirrors we know today were invented a mere 183 years ago. Imagine with me now a world without mirrors (or photography for that matter):

  • no reflection of your morning face in the bathroom mirror
  • no full-length reflection of your toned, untoned, thin or not-so-thin body
  • no reflection of your body dressed in the latest fashions of this year or last year or the last decade
  • nothing to show you your own exterior

Stay until you feel it – NO mirrors – NO reflections

Were you able to sense what else is missing in this world without mirrors? Continue reading “Without the Mirror”

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Vacation

I am about to leave town for a family vacation. Truthfully, my brain is already in vacation-mode and my willingness to write to you is waning. It occurred to me that perhaps I need to write about what is most present for me! Since we are heading into summer, a time when many folks take vacations, this actually makes sense. So, here we go!

What is your relationship to “vacation”? Continue reading “Vacation”

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I am not strange …

… I am a limited edition! A friend shared this with me earlier today. When I looked up the source, I found the original quotation from author, J.T. Geissinger:

“I’m not weird, I’m limited edition.”

My friend and I were talking about expressing our true selves, daring to live “my” life, and not some watered down version of life based on who “you” think I “should” be.

Yet, I bet you all have met some eccentric folks, living their lives, their way. Continue reading “I am not strange …”