The Decoding the Year workbook is here!

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Year end planning workbook decoding the year 2019

It’s that time of the year again! The time when you cozy up with pen and paper, a hot cup of your favorite beverage {black coffee without sugar for me, please}, some soft music, and start reflecting on the year gone by and planning for the coming year.

As an avid journaler, I really cannot let this time of the year go by without spending some time in quiet reflection. But I haven’t always been super successful with making new year plans – not by a long stretch! There have been many years when the change of the year was met with a dreary ho-hum, couldn’t care less attitude. Because just idle reflection and day dreams are really not enough to help move you forward in any sort of direction.Continue reading→

On building a mindfulness practice

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On building a mindfulness practice

I thought I’d share this month’s issue of Gypsy Wanderings to give you a taste of the kind of letters I share in my monthly emails. I enjoy writing these letters every month – it feels so much more intimate than blogging, and somehow, a lot more personal too. I imagine you, my dear Wanderers, sitting with a cup of coffee and reading these words, and I hope they strike a chord with you each month too. You can sign up for Gypsy Wanderings at the bottom of this post. xx

Hello loves,

I’m watching the sunlight dappling through the window; the gentle swaying of the leaves outside creating a flickering, fluttering pattern of shadow and light on the white marble floor. The boys {my two tom cats, Simba and Loki} are fast asleep by the balcony door. The house is quiet – all I can hear is the soft whirl of the fan and the chirping of the birds on the windowsill.Continue reading→

On being seen

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On being seen

For most of my life, I’ve been afraid of being seen.

I’m the girl who likes to sit quietly on the sidelines – observing, listening, silently taking everything in. When I am thrust into the spotlight, I get tongue-tied. My heart starts racing, I’m never sure what to say, and I end up mumbling something incoherent and try to escape.

This fear shows up more starkly when I have to talk about myself and what I do, which is not helpful given that I also have a deep desire to share my work and my words. Continue reading→

How to navigate Twitter as an HSP

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How to navigate twitter as an HSP

Twitter used to be my happy place – conversations, camaraderie, the occasional inside joke and sly tweets; books, blogs, art, life – most of the discussions were centred around those topics. There were also the complaining tweets and the feeling sorry for myself tweets, and there was always someone who was ready to respond with some love or a funny gif.Continue reading→

How to tap into your inner wisdom

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I thought I’d share this month’s issue of Gypsy Wanderings to give you a taste of the kind of letters I share in my monthly emails. I enjoy writing these letters every month – it feels so much more intimate than blogging, and somehow, a lot more personal too. I imagine you, my dear Wanderers, sitting with a cup of coffee and reading these words, and I hope they strike a chord with you each month too. You can sign up for Gypsy Wanderings over on this page. xx

Continue reading→

Journey of a seeker: Devotion as a spiritual practice

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devotion as a spiritual practice, spirituality

Devotion: what images does the word conjure up for you?

Until about a decade ago, it brought to mind images of the prayer room at home, of the temple I visited as a child, the church I sought refuge in during my teenage years when I was looking for peace.

Over the years, though, this image has changed. Devotion, for me, is no longer limited to prayer; it has become much vaster and deeper than that.

For me, devotion is about the tending of the flame: being deeply aware of my own needs and desires, inner  impulses and self care. Because it is only when I am nourished and looked after on the inside that I can devote myself to the outside.Continue reading→

Three benefits of keeping a gratitude journal

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Gratitude – it is a simple concept that most of us have grown up with: to give thanks for the many blessings we have in our lives. Be it through prayer or by saying a heartfelt “thank you”, gratitude is something we have been practicing since childhood.

There are also numerous scientific studies outlining the positive effects of regular gratitude journaling, ranging from improved self-esteem and athletic performance, to better relationships and reduced suicide risk, among others. There are websites devoted to gratitude journaling, ecourses to teach you gratitude, special gratitude planners, and a variety of blog hops devoted to monthly and weekly gratitude lists.Continue reading→

On the importance of doing nothing

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winnie-the-pooh-doing-nothing-quotes

So, how often do you do nothing?

There was a time, a couple of years ago, when my standard answer to “what are you doing over the weekend?” was “Nothing”.

Of course, doing nothing is never really nothing. It’s what the Italians call “Dolce far Niente”, which translates to “the sweetness of doing nothing.” It’s not about being lazy, rather, it is the pleasure of savoring moments of idleness. There are a lot of simple things that we do when we are doing nothing – reading, dreaming, taking a nap, going for long aimless walks, watching the changing shapes in the clouds, having a leisurely brunch with friends.Continue reading→