Go Outdoors – Chapter from Twenty Second Smile
Posted On Jul 7 2023Go Outdoors What could be simpler and more natural than going outdoors? Children know this. Your inner heart knows this. The folks with clip boards and questionnaires know this. Why don’t you remember? EVERYTHING in your life gets better when you go outdoors. Parks feed your soul better than concrete does. OK? Another chapter chosen by the synchronous flow of the universe from my favorite book. Get it. You’ll like it. Paperback Version –Very pretty book to own. May you walk in beauty, William PS Pass this post to friends.
How Many More Times?
Posted On Jun 8 2023We’re not supposed to prefer one of our children, and I do. My books can feel like my children and my last book, The Twenty Second Smile: Plus 97 More Engagingly Playful Strategies to Help you be Happy, Wild, and Free, pleases me most. At the beginning of my morning meditations, I read a chapter. I have found it illuminating. I’m going to start giving you chapters so you can play too. Each chapter contains hard earned wisdom. Wisdom I collected by working with masters over the last 50 years or so. Not to worry, I crafted each chapter to …
Compassion
Posted On Mar 12 2022Poets can help sooth your soul, and remind you of deeper truths in times like these. Here’s inaugural poet, Amanda Gorman, on Compassion. This is an excerpt from her recent book – Call Us What We Carry: Poems. I recommend it. (The book has over 2500 reviews – all 5 stars.) Here’s another one from Sir Paul. When I find myself in times of trouble Mother Mary comes to me Speaking words of wisdom Let it be And in my hour of darkness She is standing right in front of me Speaking words of wisdom Let it be Let it …
Move Out of Stress into Heal and Restore
Posted On Oct 6 2021You are aware of how stress affects you. It’s likely worse than you think. That’s because you have spent most of your life, maybe all of it in a stressed out state rarely returning to peace. Good news: you can do something about it. You can shift out of stress into the heal-restore state of health and reside there. Before I tell you how to get out of the stress hole, I’ll talk about some simple neurology. Or if you like to eat dessert first scroll down to the methods below. Some Simple Neurology You have two nervous systems: The …
How to Make Room for Self Care
Posted On Dec 29 2020“I can’t believe it took me so long (during the pandemic) to start painting.” A number of my life coaching clients have the same observation about aspects of their life. It takes time to bring a new self care practice into your life, to create a new habit. Here are some observations and tips so that you can improve your life. First: Be kind to yourself if it takes more time than you think it should. It just does. Keep at it. Persist. As I reported in a recent post, I got a piano. Am I playing it? Yes. It’s …
Let Harbingers Awaken Hope, Love, and Ease
Posted On Oct 1 2020My poet friend, Athena, told me one day that she welcomed the transition into the dark season when she could first see Orion in a certain window in her predawn movements around her home. It brought hope and joy to her in those predawn hours. Yesterday’s predawn walk led me to the top of the hill behind our home. The clouds opened to reveal Orion, my first sighting of the season. Ahhhh. Winter, dark season friend. Once Orion shows up, I love the season and the loss of summer dissipates. In this time of perpetually horrible news, turn away from …
Ooops
Posted On May 16 2020The book promo didn’t go through. I reset it for tomorrow. Go for it => The Eight Fundamental Secrets to Living Well: How to Live a Happy Life and Live Life to the Fullest Sunday, May 17, 2020, 12:00 AM PDT Thursday, May 21, 2020, 11:59 PM PDT May you walk in beauty, William
Book Giveaway – The Eight Fundamental Secrets to Living Well and Trust
Posted On May 15 2020Whilst eating breakfast, I started reading the beautiful magazine – Land + People, Trust for Public Land magazine (TPL). Just paging through the introductory pages, I was tearing up. These folks perform magic. They endeavor to put a public park within a 10 minute walk of everyone in the USA. Some cities already have this. Seattle is close. At a time of deep uncertainty with scared people doing crazy stuff that threatens my health, and yours, I am moved to tears to see people being kind, thinking of the underserved, and planning for the future. My client’s report, the papers …
How You Can Use Any Book as an Oracle
Posted On May 7 2020In a time of deep uncertainty, I find oracles can help me to feel into my next good steps. From my book, The Twenty Second Smile – When Clueless… Because these waves passing through me ruffle my cool and boost my fear, I feel lost and rudderless. Clueless as to how to proceed, I consult the millennia-old sage, the I Ching. She gives me the straight poop in her own convoluted way. But it’s enough. I take another step. In my recent Instagram account post, I mentioned using The Twenty Second Smile as an oracle for my day. …
Change to My Practice
Posted On Apr 25 2020When you least expect it, everything changes. My officemate, Annie, reminds me of the first rule of medicine, “First do no harm.” Yep. So that means I won’t be seeing any bodywork clients until Halloween 2020. I will reevaluate at that time. My coaches and my physician all agree – don’t touch people. Some expect the hiatus to last until we secure a cure or a vaccine. Vicky, my doctor, reminds me good people have been working on an HIV vaccine for 40 years. A vaccine might not be imminent. One immediate consequence is that I have given up my …
I’m Giving Away My Book Simply Serene –Get Some Serenity
Posted On Apr 2 2020Since you’re sheltering at home and perhaps hungry for something different, fun, and useful to read, I have another book giveaway for you. And since serenity is at a premium, I feel you’ll like this book. It shows you how you can work with your body to generate more serenity. It’s fun and you’ll find it easy. You can get the book for free starting on April 4th. The offer ends midnight PDT April 8th. Glitch: Not free today, April 5. But FREE tomorrow, April 6th through midnight April 10th. Go for it => Simply Serene: How to Calm Down, …
Free Videos Show You How to Strengthen Your Immune System
Posted On Mar 27 2020Recently I gave away my book – Get Well, Be Well, Stay Well. But… The links to the videos inside the book don’t connect. Bummer. And so far I haven’t been able to repair them. Bummer. The Good News: I have posted them on YouTube where you can watch them for free and get all the benefits. Yeah. Videos => https://tinyurl.com/vudehj2 Pass all them on if you wish. They will be of benefit to people even without the book. The book is great, so people say; you can still get it for $2.99. => Get Well, Be Well, Stay Well: How …
We All Croak – Memento Mori
Posted On Nov 4 2019My friend, Daniel, told me of an app that reminds you that we all croak. Remembering death is an honored practice in all religions. Since the 1950s, we mostly have hidden death away and forgotten this useful truth – we are going to die. Franz Kafka goes so far as to say, “The meaning of life is that it ends.” In this day of the dead season, pay attention. Memento Mori, Latin for remember you must die, has been a practice in the Christian tradition from the beginning and before that, the Greek philosophers. It’s a good practice. This chapter …
Celebrate Women – The World Cup and the Spotlight on Women
Posted On Jul 12 2019One billion viewers watched the World Cup. One billion. Can we still discount woman? Turns out we can. The article, So the President F*cking Hates My Girlfriend by Sue Bird, inspires me and warms my heart. After saying she would never write again… She starts her article with – I remember telling my editor here something like, “It would take the President of the United States going on a hate-filled Twitter spree trolling my girlfriend while she was putting American soccer, women’s sports, equal pay, gay pride and TRUE LOVE on her back, all at once, scoring two majestic goals …
Even the Wisest Choice May Scare the Spit Out of You
Posted On Jul 10 2019When I coach clients, I often show them how to listen to their body. The body always knows the best path to take. However, this best path may scare the spit out of you. How scared you are is directly proportional to how far away from the norm it is. We’re all programmed to conform. Conforming is hardwired at least as far back as our primate selves. It’s OK to have this nudge to conform, but you will have to deal with it. Here’s what you will be doing… Leap into the Void-1960 by Yves Klein Even when you have …
The Workaholic Meets Mary Oliver’s Poem, The Summer’s Day
Posted On Jun 24 2019Today’s Oracle My software angels choose this oracle quote for you today: 78) Don’t ask a naked man for the shirt off his back. You can use my Potent Quotes Oracle page whenever you need help. Hold a question in your heart, and see what quote comes up for you when you scroll down. It will be a response to your question. Play with it. Get the Wizard’s Handbook on Oracle Creation and have fun with oracles. The Workaholic Meets Mary Oliver’s Poem, The Summer’s Day When I work with clients, I often remind them of poems – The Summer Day …
Free Stress Buster Tool – Guided Imagery
Posted On Apr 25 2019I have a collection of stressors, maybe you do too? Slowly but surely mine were killing me. Literally. I used to deprecate guided imagery as being too airy fairy for me. Give me real Zen meditation or Taiji. Now, I love guided imagery. I’d love all my family and clients to do it. As you may know, I have many self-care strategies, and have used them for decades. I employ taiji, meditation, walking, exploring in nature, weight training with kettlebells, regular therapy, Zentangles and drawing. I recommend all of those, but for me with the challenges and demands of …
Here’s a Resolution that Will Make You Happy – I Promise
Posted On Jan 4 2019Here’s a resolution that will make you happy – I promise. I have been working with it for years now, and I still find it challenging and fruitful. It goes a long way to keeping me truly happy. I lifted this potent aphorism from Martha Beck and have passed it on to private clients, friends, and readers like you. Rest until you feel like playing. Play until you feel like resting. Never do anything else. The challenge for me and maybe you, is to know when to rest. In our 24/7 culture, rest is a sign that you are failing …
Doodling – It’s good for you. It helps you learn and think.
Posted On Nov 28 2018Doodling has been much maligned. Schools and offices squash you and your doodles. I have known for years that it has value in many ways. When you doodle, you open channels in your brain that deepens understanding and makes connections, leading to creative options, and wonderful problem solving. Doodling can calm your stress and restore your spirit. Sunni Brown in her six minute TED talk I recommend defines doodling: “Doodling is really to make spontaneous marks to help yourself think.” In her closing she says, “So here is my point: Under no circumstances should doodling be eradicated from a classroom or a …
All God’s Children Experience Stress – Even the Dalai Lama
Posted On Sep 5 2018“Happily ever after…” Maybe, but not because stress goes away. You will experience waves of stress the rest of your life. Make a plan to handle it or drown. When you have increased stress, you need to increase your stress balancing strategies. What has happened for me this last week or so with a wave of stress including a category five Hurricane Lane bearing down on my first born, a friend going in for open heart surgery, again, unhealthy air quality due to wild fires in British Columbia, Washington and Oregon caused in part by global warming, an administration denying …
Make Something. Make Anything.
Posted On Jun 14 2018If you want to feel better, make something. Make anything. All creativity aligns us with Creation itself, the source of all healing. ~ Martha Beck This sounds right. More, it feels right. I use drawing to bring myself into the Sacred Present Moment. And as I’ve said before on these pages, my current joy is making Zentangles. But… Whatcha think? Whatcha feel? Whatcha know? What making works for you? Making any art connects me to the present moment true enough, and that’s plenty. It also connects me to the Muse. If I want more creative energy, drawing will connect me to …
Current Insights and Inquiries I’ve Uncovered – 2
Posted On May 3 2018Explore, ponder, and play with these potentially life changing ideas so you can be happy, wild, and free. In these periodic posts, I will share ideas that currently move me in some way. I’ll be drawing from the books I’m reading, films, blog posts, conversations, and personal ponderings. I share these to further you on your journey to being happy, wild, and free. The Oracle Quote Quotations act as little doorways into new worlds and new perceptions. They consist of distilled genius. My software angels choose this oracle quote for you today : 316) Our true home is in the present …
Current Insights I’ve Uncovered and Inquiries
Posted On Apr 26 2018Explore, ponder, and play with these potentially life changing ideas so you can be happy, wild, and free. In these periodic posts, I will share ideas that currently move me in some way. I’ll be drawing from the books I’m reading, films, blog posts, conversations, and personal ponderings. I share these to further you on your journey to being happy, wild, and free. The Oracle Quote The oracle quote returns today. Yay. Quotations act as little doorways into new worlds and new perceptions. They consist of distilled genius. My software angels choose this oracle quote for you today : 116) My …
A Lovely Way to Connect to Oneness
Posted On Feb 27 2018When I was sitting down to create a Zentangle, I recalled Thich Nhat Hanh’s sweet idea for recalling the truth of Oneness. We are all one, and everything is in us. When you feel Oneness and your part in it, you feel at home and deeply connected. Unlike social media which serves to make us feel more alone, Oneness connects. Here’s what he said – An artist can see the cloud in the piece of paper she’s drawing on. When you create a Zentangle, first you take a few deep breaths to ground and center, then you place a …
Zentangle – This Focused, Mindful Doodling Leads to Enlightenment
Posted On Feb 21 2018One of my beloved and wise clients told me she was starting to do Zentangles. A Zentangle is a small, 3.5 X 3.5 inch, delightful piece of art that’s fun to create and that looks great. Anyone can do it. So what? Well, it can lead you to moments of deep mindfulness, so deep that you become enlightened. Even people who are sure they have no artistic talent can create pieces they love in about 15 minutes while harvesting the benefits of deep mindfulness play. Benefits Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. –da Vinci Making art can drop you into a …
A Reader Has a Great Suggestion for A Gift
Posted On Dec 13 2017Here’s a suggestion for giving The Twenty Second Smile as a gift. This is William’s best book ever. I love his description, “Engagingly Playful Strategies to be Happy, Wild and Free.” I have just ordered a few more because I can think of so many friends who will love it. Perfect for holiday giving! What a beautiful book! Thank you again William! Another reader gave the book to everyone in her book club. How fun. The book is beautiful to look at on the coffee table or by your bedside. It’s fun, playful, and inspiring. At its best it can …
Amazon’s Happy Now – It Has the Twenty Second Smile
Posted On Nov 8 2017Best laid plans… I told you about my wonderful new book, The Twenty Second Smile: Plus 97 More Engagingly Playful Strategies to Help You Be Happy, Wild, and Free. And that you could get it on the CreateSpace store. Well, they closed the store. I was told I should have gotten an email… Nope. So the good news is that you can get it right now at a discount, below cost, until Amazon changes its mind. JudyAnne – Says on the Kindle page – Even more than William’s other books, I can quickly refer to this one when I need …
Book Trailers Are Cool – Watch My Trailer for The Twenty Second Smile
Posted On Nov 3 2017I’ve just posted my book trailer for The Twenty Second Smile, my latest book. You’ll enjoy the short trailer and the book, too. Here’s the trailer > The Twenty Second Smile You can enjoy other trailers on that page too. You can get the book here – The Twenty Second Smile: Plus 97 More Engagingly Playful Strategies to Help you be Happy, Wild, and Free — Kindle Version I recommend the Paperback Version –It’s a very pretty book to own. Here’s what Kathy said about The Twenty Second Smile: My life is in transition and given the current political/world climate …
What Is the Twenty Second Smile?
Posted On Oct 11 2017The Twenty Second Smile was published today. Early readers find it fun, playful, and filled with wisdom. I included every idea, insight, tip, and Zen trick I could think of that has been helpful to me in my life and it’s what I have been teaching my clients over the last four decades. They’ve been tested. It has everything I know that works really well. The subtitle for the book is Plus 97 More Engagingly Playful Strategies to Help You Be Happy, Wild, and Free. That’s it. 98 chapters, each exactly 50 words long. Each has its own illustration. The …
Learn To Reboot Your Painful Stories
Posted On Oct 4 2017All your painful stories end in your being a bag lady and dying miserably – learn to reboot. I have talked about this before in my books and with clients. I’m talking about it again, ‘cause I need to reboot, again. Current events with this minority president trigger my painful stories. Painful stories are the automatic tapes that play in your head and mine. They’re painful because they always have you losing. The aphorism… Never lose in your own imagination. …Is a good one. Quit losing. This exactly 50 word chapter from my new book – The Twenty Second Smile …
Pain and Suffering –Difficult, Difficult, Difficult
Posted On Aug 20 2017Clearly you can see, pain is guaranteed, but suffering being optional can be less clear. Layman Pang in the Zen Koan says when confronted by life, “Difficult, difficult, difficult.” You and I have long lists of physical and emotional pains in our normal lives. Worries and pains around family. Pain of aging – ours and that of our loved ones. Pains of day to day injuries, and perhaps an occasional surgery. Some of the pain that I experience comes from watching the craziness with our minority president. His statements supporting white supremacy after the Charlottesville murder of Heather Heyer by …
Drinking a Bowl of Green I Stopped the War
Posted On Jun 14 2017Most of my clients and my loved ones are suffering from Donald Trump’s predations, an internal war. People find it hard not to get caught in the swirl of lies, unfairness, and general meanness. People have to scratch the itch asking: What’s happening? What’s he done? What have they done? “Freaking out” we used to call it. Quit it. Drinking a bowl of green tea, I stopped the war. Paul Reps published this in his sweetly potent book, Zen Telegrams that he wrote it during the Vietnam War. I read it in my 20s . It changed my life. And …
Meeting with Trail Angels
Posted On May 31 2017“Are you looking for the marmots?” the trail angel asked. What? “Why yes.” How did she know? Earlier, I had passed this woman doing yoga on the shore of Lake Chelan. I had walked on a bit past her and looked with my binoculars for the marmots further down the shore, but saw none. Know this… I love marmots and I had driven miles to see them in this location. As I turned back, she asked me the question. She told me she had just been down there and had seen at least 20. I was delighted. I continued my …
Playful Tool for Mindful Reflection
Posted On May 10 2017What would Pirate Girl say? Listening to the wild person inside of you can be a great place to make sense of your life. You can play with writing an exactly-50-word story as a way to bring the words to your experiences. When you engage your playful side, you find the deeper wisdom that hides from your serious mind – the one you learned for school. To help open yourself, you can choose a pen name, or a Nom de Mischief, to write under, so you can be free of the judgment of others, even if they only live in …
Book Giveaway Bonanza
Posted On May 4 2017Let’s try this. I’ll give you the schedule of the upcoming book giveaways. You go grab them, pass them on to friends, read them, live happily ever after, then write a glorious review. OK. Drum roll… The Schedule: 5/6/17 Playful Stress Reducing Shortcuts: Fast Drug-Free Ways to Tickle Your Nervous System to Improve Your Happiness, Peace, and Vitality 5/13/17 The Eight Fundamental Secrets to Living Well: How to Live a Happy Life and Live Life to the Fullest 5/20/17 Simply Serene: How to Calm Down, Reduce Stress, Deal with Stress, and Be Instantly Alert and at Peace …
Am I A Compulsive Overeater? No. Am I A Sugar Addict? Yep.
Posted On Mar 26 2017I’m in week nine of not eating any sugar or it’s henchmen – flour. Turns out I’m addicted to these processed foods. In the last nine weeks, I haven’t overeaten. I haven’t been hung-over from eating too much sugar. I feel good – energized and clear. But the big one, I haven’t felt any shame from being out of control with food. Not eating sugar or flour, means no craving and no out of control brain chemistry. What got me started was the Bright Line Eating program. The name comes from the idea of drawing a bright line around certain …
The Twenty Second Smile, Bet It Will Change You
Posted On Mar 22 2017I excerpted this post from my upcoming book – The Twenty Second Smile & Other Playful Wisdom: 37 Exactly-50-Word Chapters & Illustrations to Delight You, to Inspire Your Journey, and to Remind You of What Works. Enjoy this title chapter. I have written about this before in different ways. Twenty seconds may challenge you. I find it difficult. : ) Here’re your guidelines: Smile for twenty seconds as often as you remember to do it. I’m smiling right now because writing this reminds me. Can you feel it? More to the point, can I? Consciously paying attention to anything for …
Quit Resisting Nasty Politicians – What You Resist Persists
Posted On Feb 22 2017This aphorism has stood the test of time – What You Resist Persists We therapists usually think of this as something that plays out in our daily lives – like resisting traffic jams makes me grumpier than if I just go with it. Resisting the current US president or any authoritarian force in your life, ultimately doesn’t work. It doesn’t work for lots of reasons. First you stay in their narrative. They make up the story. They dictate where your mind and heart go, distracting you from what is most important to you. I don’t want you to just give …
Take the QUIZ: Are you addicted to food?
Posted On Feb 3 2017I am a recovering food addict. The addiction has caused endless problems. Shame is at the top of the list. Susan’s solutions are working for me. They might work for you and for others you love. Pass all the information from Susan on to them if they seem open or ready, otherwise it can be shaming. Be kind… Back in 2013, Forbes revealed scientific research that showed Oreos were more addictive than cocaine or heroin. Yep, it may be easier to kick a cocaine addiction than it is to let go of those double-stuffed sugar-bombs. But it doesn’t stop …
Get Insight into Everything with Your Inner Sage – Book Giveaway
Posted On Jan 19 2017In changing times, wouldn’t it be nice to have some deep guidance from a sage? You’re in luck, you have an inner sage, and this book giveaway will help you to Find him/her/it, Bring it forth And deepen your connection to inner knowing. Our only job is to look inside and do the next right thing. When you don’t know what that is or don’t feel you connecting to your inner sage, your deepest inner knowing, then an oracle can help. Starting the day after the inauguration, Jan 21st 2017, The Wizard’s Handbook: How to Get Answers and Make the …
Book Giveaway – Simply Serene: How to Calm Down, Reduce Stress, Deal with Stress, and Be Instantly Alert and at Peace
Posted On Dec 9 2016In honor of the season, I have a book giveaway for you. From Dec 10th to midnight PST on the 14th, 2016, you can get this book for free. Yeee Ha! I am giving Simply Serene: How to Calm Down, Reduce Stress, Deal with Stress, and Be Instantly Alert and at Peace. This is my bestselling book and really does help you become more serene. The elections left us all a bit bruised and wrung out. The holidays themselves can stress anyone. Ironically, the dark season of the year can be the time for quiet contemplation. Try to use it …
Beautiful Gifts to Discover the Sacred
Posted On Dec 7 2016Consider giving the print versions of these books at the holiday. Drawing the Sacred: Communing with the Sacred through Drawing – An Illustrated Journey Paper Back Version Kindle version Sketching, Poetry, and the Sacred Present Moment: A Magically Potent Way to Savor Your Life Paper Back Version Kindle version They’re pretty and fun. More, these books can connect people to the Sacred. What better for the holy days? One or both of these books may be a perfect fit for someone you love. Blessings of the season, William P.S. Watch for my gift to you in the next few days …
Taking Care of People
Posted On Dec 1 2016Here’s a complete list of charities for you to consider in this season. These aim at the areas that may fall on hard times with the new president. This list comes from a favorite writer of mine, Leonard Pitts. Planned Parenthood (plannedparenthood.org); The Center For Reproductive Rights (reproductiverights.org); the Natural Resources Defense Council (nrdc.org); the International Refugee Assistance Project (refugeerights.org), the NAACP Legal Defense Fund (naacpldf.org); the Trevor Project for LGBTQ youth (thetrevorproject.org) the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund (maldef.org). I’d also add The Southern Poverty Law Center (https://www.splcenter.org/) and the American Civil Liberties Union (aclu.org). Here’s the …
There but for the grace of god go I
Posted On Nov 29 2016The election of Donald Trump has disturbed people clearly. Some are delighted, of course. My question for myself and for you is how can you find grace in this? (See recent post Another Effing Opportunity to Grow.) I want to stay sane. I want to be kind. If I allow my judgmental voices or my holier than thou inner beings, my holier than Trump voters voices to take over, I suffer. Can you get that? My Quaker mother told me that there is that of Christ in everyone. Even at age 8, I could absorb that notion. It was self-evident. …
Another Effing Opportunity to Grow
Posted On Nov 11 2016The election the USA has just gone through provides you with another effing opportunity to grow. To start with, you get to study the grief cycle from the inside. So I notice, I spend time in DENIAL. Shock, stunned, and numb are other ways to describe this state. ANGER – I find everything irritates me. Blame is a subset of anger. I blame all sorts of thing for the election results. None of it needs to be based in fact, by the way. I am upset disproportionately to the stimulus. Sasha put the plastic spatula in the dishwasher – grrrr. …
Comforting Thoughts and Ideas on What to Do Next
Posted On Nov 9 2016This came to me this morning the morning after Trump’s victory. I found it comforting and it helped me to reboot. Wayne Muller wrote it and he has been one of the inspiring voices in my heart for years. A Time for Planting (Written before learning the final results of the U.S. Presidential Election.) For everything there is a season, And a time for every matter under heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; A time to plant, and a time to pluck up what has been planted; A time to kill, and a time to …
Winter Is Coming – Get a Neck Gator
Posted On Nov 3 2016Every spring, I urge people to go outside and exercise. As a holistic therapist, that’s my job. Next, I tell them, even while spring explodes, October is coming. Winter is coming. Get your mind right, do not be lulled into lassitude by the lovely weather, prepare. The acupuncturists and my Taiji teacher have this aphorism – “Keep the vile and pernicious winds from your neck.” If I can keep my neck warm, I’m a happy guy. I think I could go out in the cold rain in a tee shirt if my neck was warm. Welcome to the neck gaiter. …
Walking Prayers — Art and Poetry Celebrates Women
Posted On Oct 17 2016AMEN and Hallelujah for strong women. I’ve been wondering if I should or how I should respond to Mr. trump and all the men who have turned a blind eye or ear to his behavior for decades. This is it. A beloved and wise client sent me this. Be Happy, Wild, & Free, Dear One. I Love You William P.S. In this election cycle it would be obviously useful to pass this on.
This Is O Rated for Older
Posted On Oct 13 2016This will mean nothing to you if you haven’t reached a certain age. O for Older people. A client asked me for some tips on surrendering in the middle of facing scary medical challenges. I shared a very simple idea that has given me great comfort. Dear Athena, My favorite way to surrender at our age is to recall this instruction – “Relax, you’re going to die.” I love this. Clearly, we’re going to die. We don’t know when, so we can relax. It will happen and it will happen the way it happens. We can’t get it wrong. …
Learn about Fear
Posted On Sep 8 2016A friend wrote saying, “I’m freaking out about not having enough money. Lots of clients recently have experienced similar fears. My response might be useful for you. Dear Friend, We all need to find a strategy or strategies to handle fear. Your current freak out about money raises the point. What I tell clients is that the minute you know you’re scared, notice that you’re freaking out, you’re 90% home free. Until then, you’re just driven and possessed by it. The recent construction downstairs below my office put me into fight-flight that I’m still digging out of. I’m not scared …
Mysterious Madam Ling
Posted On Jul 3 2016After I named my studio, Suzanne felt she wanted to get in on a good thing. (See post.) Since I named by studio the Chuckling Ferret Studio, Suzanne played with words, swirled them around and Chuckling became a guy – Chuck Ling, hence Chuck Ling Ferret Studio. And since she is married to my nom de studio self, she felt that necessarily she became Mrs. Ling. Further word play led to Madam Ling, then to The Mysterious Madam Ling. Now, it needed a favorite critter, marmot won the prize. Finally, she has The Mysterious Madam Ling’s Marmot Studio. Play is …
Nature Rx
Posted On Jun 9 2016Enjoy these two fun videos. They’re tongue-in-cheek spoofs of the omnipresent pharmaceutical ads on TV. Spoofs they are, but they advertise a real benefit that research incontrovertibly supports. That’s cool but more importantly – your common sense will recognize the truth. Fact: Nature heals you. Just like medicine, only better. : ) My New Book in Progress I’m writing a book with the working title – Finding Home – How the Love of Place Restores You. I’ll tell you more about this cool book in later posts. Note the on-screen text that zips by in these videos for more humor. …
Get Good Answers, Fast – Read Books for Children
Posted On Apr 20 2016I’m working on my new book titled – I Know I’m Crazy. Naturally, I will show ways for you to not be crazy and how to be enlightened, at least for moments. I have observed that people make up painful stories that hold little truth. Even though the stories aren’t true, their bodies and minds and behavior all respond as if the stories were fact. Quick examples of painful stories – “I can’t do anything right.” “I’m such a failure.” “Nobody will ever love me.” “I have such ugly darkness in me.” Yikes. Worry My craziness often takes the form …
The Kindness of Wayne Muller
Posted On Aug 30 2012As you may have read, I like Wayne Muller. One of my beloved clients found this podcast. I think you’ll like this from Wayne Muller. => Podcast Enjoy these videos – they’re wonderful and short. I recommend regular viewing to reboot your soul. On Enough On the 23rd Psalm On Being A Care Giver On Becoming Spacious On the Sabbath – Probably not what you think. Walk in beauty, William
This is the real thing…
Posted On Jul 29 2012Brother David Steindl-Rast narrates this short video. This is the real thing. He will guide you into how to live a life you love more fully. The film shows a simple daily practice that will help you to live happily ever after. Listen to his voice… Does he sound happy? Yes. Gratefulness, The Heart of Prayer: An Approach to Life in Fullness will help you, too. Walk in beauty, William
How The Karate Kid Ruined The Modern World
Posted On Jul 17 2012One of my beloved, teachers showed me this article – How The Karate Kid Ruined The Modern World. I recommend that you read David Wong’s article all the way through. Here’s why… You’ve been sold a bill of goods. A lie. This lie leads to shame in a big way. And it can ruin your life. You know what I’m talking about; the main character is very bad at something, then there is a sequence in the middle of the film set to upbeat music that shows him practicing. When it’s done, he’s an expert. All of it comes …
The Art of Life
Posted On Mar 27 2012The Art of Life? Well, you can use this brilliantly for most of life anyhow. I just heard this and it reminded me of this principle: The art of meditation is beginning again. When you meditate, you will be distracted. Guaranteed. Your mind will wander. You might be caught in a worry cycle. You might think of the best way to accomplish your to do list. Somehow and some way, you’ll be pulled away. You won’t even know it. You’ll be just stumbling, racing, falling along a thought train, watching some movie, attending to some internal story. Now Here …
How to Thrive and Be Enough
Posted On Feb 19 2012When I start to give the same recommendations to numerous clients, I realize I need to send you the information, too. These goodies will help you to live a life you love wholeheartedly — body and soul. Really, they’re golden. You’ll love Thrive: Finding Happiness the Blue Zones Way by Dan Buettner, a bestselling author for the National Geographic. He distills years of research on happiness into something you can consume easily. He reveals the secrets to happiness by looking at happy people from all over the world. We’re drilling down into the essence of what makes humans happy. And …
Drink Coffee – Talk to God
Posted On Jan 25 2012Drink coffee. Talk to God. Tend your own garden. Live a good life. Serve. I recommend you try this simple practice my friend and fellow member of yours, Brian Steiner shared with me. Every solstice and equinox, Brian and I talk a walk, share nature, and talk. This season, he told me about his morning coffee and affirmation practice. Here’s what Brian says – My coffee and affirmation practice has become very important to me. I do it in the mornings. I grab a cup of coffee (organic French Roast in my case), and sit in my rear yard. I have my …