Why are you holding yourself back from accepting universal, generous grace? Have you convinced yourself that you do not deserve it? Are you aware of the fact that you can change that personal decision right now? What else is stopping you from feeling and dancing in grace aside from your own ego? Nothing. I have […]
Author: a sugjester
Wondersday – 040826
Have you ever wondered… about failing on purpose? I have. How else can you let go of perfectionism and give yourself more grace? Please do not misunderstand. I do not sugjest trying this practice out with any major milestone in your life, but what if you let a small deadline slide a bit? What if […]
Mournday – 040626
I mourn for all the clumsy folks out there. I know I have had my fair share of clumsiness in the past. While I am certainly not immune to it now (if only), I have improved significantly. How? More mindfulness. Centered presence on an increasingly consistent basis. It dawns on me that grace only exists […]
Smarturday – 040426
poise vs. paroxysm poise (noun) – a dignified, self-confident manner or bearing; steadiness; stability paroxysm (noun) – a sudden attack or violent expression of a particular emotion or activity Lead a life full of grace. Forgive any past disgrace. None of it may ever erase, but we can step away from the rat race. Rise […]
Thanksday – 040226
I am thankful for God. In some ways, I am ashamed that it has taken me this long to write this post. In other ways, I know how slowly I have tried to approach stigmatized subjects. After all, I do not refer to God specifically within the view of a single religion because I identify […]
Soulday – 032926
Initially, I struggled personally to differentiate humility from grace or graciousness. Then, it clicked. Humility strikes me as how we view and carry ourselves in the world. Grace reflects how we interact with and treat others in the world. Though, I also suppose we need to account for giving ourselves grace, so I am still […]
Freeday – 031326
I suppose there are many reasons it took me thirty-eight cycles to finally tackle nobility. It can be so broad and all-encompassing of the others. If you effectively embody and employ virtues, then you are truly noble. Your bright light shines authentically for everyone to see when you act in accordance with natural ideals. Many […]
Wondersday – 031126
Have you ever wondered… about the Noble Eightfold Path? I have. I think it paves an ideal for how to approach and live life on a daily basis. It paints a picture of how to improve and peacefully empower your personal purpose. The path breaks down into eight parts or practices. You do not need […]
Mournday – 030926
I mourn for those who move through life with nobility in title only, those who lack truly noble actions and character. Good, strong character seems difficult to build and cultivate when served with a silver spoon. Aristocratic classes and elitist hierarchies thrive off of ladder-chasing. What if the ladder falls over onto its side? What […]
Smarturday – 030726
ennoble (verb) – to elevate in degree, excellence, or respect; dignify; exalt At what point will you stop and pause? Consider upon your true noble cause. As you pray, place together your paws. And relax that tension from your jaws. Purposefully mindful intent. Positively pursue what’s meant to be best for you and all others. […]
Thanksday – 030526
I am thankful for gentlemen. Since this idea feels old-fashioned by now, I will freshen it up a bit by referring to it as gentlepeople for the rest of this post. The noble traits of a gentleperson can be found in anyone, so that is why I am modernizing the modification. Again, anyone can be […]
Soulday – 030126
This cycle is going to stretch me outside of my comfort zone, so I look forward to the new challenge that it presents. In my opinion, the concept or idea of nobility is often corrupted, misconstrued, and misrepresented. I believe it is a very important virtue that deserves a reset and a revival in how […]
Freeday – 021326
How are you honestly doing these days with respecting both yourself as well as others? It may not always be easy, but it will always be worth it. We can show love to ourselves and everyone else by being respectful as often as possible. It will take work sometimes, but it is a worthwhile standard […]
Wondersday – 021126
Have you ever wondered… about the third thing? I have. Marcus Aurelius talked about it. Truly, though, we should only focus on and wonder about the first two things. First, what do we see as our best next action step? Second, will we do it? Those are the only two pieces that honestly matter. How […]
Mournday – 020926
I mourn for all self-masochists. I am a recovering one myself. This battle has been a significant struggle for me for many years. We will unpack that a bit more later. First, more recently and specifically, I also mourn for Lindsey Vonn’s physical body. In my opinion, the writing was on the wall, clear as […]
Smarturday – 020726
venerate vs. irreverent venerate (verb) – to deeply respect or revere, often in a religious or sacred context irreverent (adjective) – not reverent; deficient in veneration or respect Respect is an important and virtuous trait, one to which we should all reliably relate. Being kind to everything on our path, paying our respects requires no […]
Thanksday – 020526
I am thankful for productive and pioneering pacifists. I taught this word (pacifism) to a new friend recently; I was surprised to hear that they were not already familiar with the term and concept. That moment serves as a reminder that there is still plenty of teaching and learning opportunities to be shared. It is […]
Soulday – 020126
R-E-S-P-E-C-T, I will tell you what it means to me… in fact, many things I am beginning to realize, so we will unpack a lot of it during this next cycle. To start, I want to focus on both outgoing and incoming respect. How are you showing it to everything around you, and how is […]
Freeday – 121925
Purpose almost always prompts persistence. Our best path forward will rarely be the easiest, but it will be the most fulfilling and rewarding. Press onward purposefully. Don’t ever give up on life. Life can be so beautiful, especially after you’ve spent a lot of time with it. -Yoko Ono Do you do things for yourself […]
Wondersday – 121725
Have you ever wondered… about the golden thread? I have. This idea existed in my mind for quite some time, but I heard about this specific term for it from one of my teachers. A possible infinite number of lives are at our disposal based on the choices we will make. Within this multitude, there […]
Mournday – 121525
I mourn for the directionless and purposeless people, those who believe there is no point to any of existence. I wish they could each live a day in my life to observe and understand what all I see. It can be a bit much at times, but I have learned slowly over time that these […]
Smarturday – 121325
autotelic (adjective) – having within itself the purpose of its existence or happening Do you know why you are here? Is it to spread lots of good cheer? Can we cultivate less fear? So all peacefully persevere. It’s not so much how busy you are, but why you are busy. -Mary Flannery O’Connor Why do […]
Thanksday – 121125
I am thankful for The Celestine Prophecy. It is a novel by James Redfield. While technically a work of fiction, I think it has many universal truths and takeaways embedded within it. Introduced as insights throughout the story, the best way to advance and evolve is gradually outlined and explored step-by-step. Some of the insights […]
Soulday – 120725
As you may know by now, I love tea, and I often appreciate the sayings that I receive from them. I also deeply value the guidance and teaching that tea provides when I sit with it in formal ceremony. For example, the following two quotes highlight the key focuses that are frequently of most importance. […]
Freeday – 112125
Purity exists in all things. All the precious virtues and beliefs that have been written about can be either pure or corrupted. What is the driving force and motivation in your lane, humble selflessness or selfish hubris? Purity prevails positively and prevalently when you choose compassion for yourself and for all others. Are your actions […]
Wondersday – 111925
Have you ever wondered… about alchemy? I have. Not as an outward practice to develop a philosopher’s stone but as an inner practice to purify my lead and dark parts into bright and shining gold. I suppose you could say that, as a result of my alchemical work, I want to be golden. I want […]
Mournday – 111725
I mourn for all those who believe in original sin. I think babies may be the purest creation in all of existence. To automatically imbue them with some level of impurity feels wholly inappropriate. Maybe those unholy decision makers felt jealous of perfectly clean newborns, so perhaps it is those people who I should mourn […]
Smarturday – 111525
tabula rasa (noun) – a mind not yet affected by experiences, impressions, etc.; anything existing undisturbed in its original pure state If your goal is purity of heart, be prepared to be thought very odd. -Elisabeth Elliot Purity does not mean chastity, but it does require responsibility. Purity could be brevity if saying more prompts […]
Thanksday – 111325
I am thankful for omnism. My partner introduced me to this belief, and it became quickly apparent how strongly it resonated with me. I have struggled with the concept of any one mainstream religion being the one and only infallible truth for far too long. Why is only one group right? That idea does not […]
Soulday – 110925
I am so sick right now as I write this post, so I feel the furthest away from feeling qualified to talk about purity while countless impurities run amok within my body. Regardless, maybe that incongruence is one of the lessons already awaiting me here. Can I still paint the picture of purification while pursuing […]
Freeday – 102425
One of the sayings on a morning tea stopped me in my tracks as I felt the fuller weight behind it for the first time ever. How many times do we hear certain things repeatedly until it finally sounds and hits different? This reason is one of many as to why I remain hopeful. So […]
Wondersday – 102225
Have you ever wondered… about kaizen? I have. A friend introduced me to this term a couple months ago, and it immediately clicked in my brain as a powerful and hopeful concept. Kaizen is the patient practice of persistently improving upon your thoughts, actions, and behaviors, ideally each and every day to at least some […]
Mournday – 102025
I mourn for all of the people who feel hopeless right now. I wanted to say I mourn for all of the hopeless, but I caught myself because no one is hopeless. We may often feel like giving up, feeling like there is no reason to be hopeful, but that is a mindset choice that […]
Smarturday – 101825
aspiration vs. despondent aspiration (noun) – a strong desire, longing, or aim; ambition; a goal or objective that is strongly desired despondent (adjective) – feeling or showing profound hopelessness, dejection, gloom, or discouragement Are you one to always or often hold hope, or are you quick to give up, saying nope? What will it take […]
Thanksday – 101625
Today, I am thankful for Star Wars for many reasons. I enjoy most of the movies a lot, and a number of the spin-off TV series have been enjoyable as well. I had various Star Wars toys growing up, and I can remember spending hours in my bedroom playing with different action figure sets like […]
Soulday – 101225
Do you hope for the best while you plan for the worst? Personally, I prefer this strategy. While I am frequently quite the optimist, I am also beginning to learn how to better embrace my anxiety in order to identify concerns and points to watch out for. This multifaceted strategy allows me to remain hopeful […]
Freeday – 092625
Faith fuels so much. Faith serves as a catalyst and a multiplier for any and all of our other virtues. Do you want to be more courageous or have more trust? Shore up your faith. Want to practice more acceptance or promote patience? Follow your path faithfully. Faith is unseen but felt, faith is strength […]
Wondersday – 092425
Have you ever wondered… about blind faith vs. built faith? I have. I was raised in a very religious household. I spent summers at church camps that figuratively waterboarded me with Christian Kool-Aid. I was told to believe and accept things as truth without proof. I can easily recall staying up late at night sobbing […]
Mournday – 092225
Today, I mourn for any and all individuals who feel faithless. You may say you do not have faith, but I think it is there. You are simply not feeling it or remaining in tune with it. When will you be ready to feel it? Can you at least fathom the idea of faith? Why […]
Smarturday – 092025
steadfast vs. treachery steadfast (adjective) – fixed in direction; steadily directed; firm in purpose, resolution, faith; unwavering, as resolution or faith treachery (noun) – violation of faith; betrayal of trust; treason Keeping busy and making optimism a way of life can restore your faith in yourself. -Lucille Ball Wherein lies your faith? In God or […]
Thanksday – 091825
I am thankful for the Gnostics. They were an early group of Christians before the more widely-known and prominent branches or sects rooted them out and hunted them down. I have faith in many lessons within the Bible. Do you really think it is the only holy book, though? No. It was carefully curated by […]
Soulday – 091425
I will try my best to be gentle with this next cycle, but it is time to finally broach this big subject. How is your faith right now? Where and in whom do you place your faith? Do you have a lot of it, or do you need to spend some time shoring it up […]
Freeday – 082925
Gentleness does not come easily to me. I have so many years of intensity to offset and counterbalance now, though it will not all be corrected in this moment. A key here is to be gentle with myself during this transition and improvement process. I am already appreciating and being aware of more moments when […]
Wondersday – 082725
Have you ever wondered… about grounding? I have, and no, I am not talking about the classic punishment parents assign to children who have misbehaved in some fashion. In my opinion, it is a fascinating technique, and it can also be referred to as earthing. If you take some time to settle into nature, then […]
Mournday – 082525
I mourn for tactless tactics. How heavy-handed are some plans and operations? Why do some people feel the need to be so blunt and obtrusive? What does it take for a person, group, company, or organization to not be harsh and unempathetic? Is a bit of gentleness too much to ask for? Do we care […]
Smarturday – 082325
Do you feel like you have something to prove? Does that feeling justify your supposed need to look big or sound loud? How often do we try to present ourselves in the best light? What if we stopped caring so much about what others think and focused on our own thoughts and feelings? How much […]
Thanksday – 082125
I am thankful for Roald Dahl’s creative writings. His imagination and storytelling exceed many expectations. Despite countless difficulties in his life, he still embraced a childlike ideal for best actions and behaviors. What is a common denominator among a lot of his main characters? Gentleness. Charlie. Matilda. Sophie. Life’s challenges and difficulties did not break […]
Soulday – 081725
I try to be kind because I have worked on it a lot, and I know it is best. However, I recently realized that I also want and need to be gentler. It is my understanding that rough kindness is not always well-received. Gentle kindness feels like a perfect pairing to me. How well will […]
Freeday – 080125
Within the world of Buddhism, there is a concept known as the Seven Factors of Awakening. Do you know what one of those factors is? Joy. I am so grateful for my curiosity leading me to research the difference between happiness and joyousness or joyfulness. Like all the others before, this cycle has proven to […]
Wondersday – 073025
Have you ever wondered… about mudita? I have. It is another one of the four brahmaviharas in Buddhism. Mudita stands for empathetic joy, being able to relate to and revel in the good fortune and delight of those around you. Are you quick to be happy for others, or are you more prone to jealousy […]
Mournday – 072825
I mourn for those who do not allow themselves to feel joy on a regular basis, if ever. I do not believe that we are here to punish ourselves. If you are not in a place that promotes peaceful joy, then what can you begin to change? How can you establish boundaries to protect your […]
Smarturday – 072625
In my mind, I held a negative connotation for the word and emotion “ecstasy.” For a while there, I convinced myself that it was bad and undesirable to reach a state of ecstasy due to falsely viewing it as a corruption of joy. At the end of the day, these are all only words trying […]
Thanksday – 072425
I am thankful for the traditional healers that exist across so many societies in the world, people like mystics, oracles, seers, and shamans. While watching an informational video earlier this week, my interest was piqued when I heard the mention of a healer’s amount of joy being related to their effectiveness of practice. A healer […]
Soulday – 072025
While exploring some of my curiosities to prepare for this cycle, I found it fascinating to see descriptions of the differences between happiness and joy. Happiness can often be fast and fleeting, but joy can even persist amidst problems. Joy frequently represents our outlook on and approach to life. If we feel fulfilled and purposeful, then […]
Freeday – 070425
It dawned on me this morning. Which do we most commonly start with? When we are young, we spend so much time listening before we can even speak. Why should that pattern ever change? Only once we have learned how to listen well do I then think we can speak well. Well, I believe we […]
Wondersday – 070225
Have you ever wondered… about pratyahara? I have. It is the yogic practice of turning inward. Interoception is a related western or scientific word for this idea. Can you shut off your external senses in order to recognize and pay attention to more of your internal senses? How is your heart beating currently? What is […]
Mournday – 063025
I mourn for all the people who have tuned out their partners and loved ones. Why do you no longer listen? Why have you voluntarily chosen to exist on an island all alone? We all want to feel seen and heard, and we all deserve to be seen and heard. Therefore, we should all see […]
Smarturday – 062825
Read between the lines. Clue in on subtle signs. Do you stop at surface level? Can you start to see a bevel? Do you only listen to respond? What if you can coax beyond? What happens when you delve deep? Listening to understand, a secret to keep. Deep listening is the kind of listening that […]
Thanksday – 062625
I am thankful for great therapists, both licensed professionals and unofficial stand-ins. You could even be your own therapist at times if you can step back and objectively assess your situation from a neutral standpoint. It is not easy, but it can be a useful and valuable skill to hone since therapists and friends will […]
Soulday – 062225
How well do you listen? Why do you listen? How do you listen? Can you pause and listen to your own answers? Do you have good reasons and explanations? To start with a classic adage from one of the Stoics, think about the proportions that we have been given: two ears and one mouth. How […]
Freeday – 060625
I will ask again – how free are you? Has this cycle helped highlight where you may be trapped currently? Can you begin to make moves in order to reclaim and reestablish your personal freedom? Similarly, are you impeding upon the personal freedom of others? The moment we choose to love we begin to move […]
Wondersday – 060425
Have you ever wondered… about dishabituation? I have. We often accumulate a variety of habits with little to no thought, or we worked on them so long ago that we forgot about a time before they seemed to be an essential and integral part of our lives. What if we want to rework or unwork […]
Mournday – 060225
I mourn for all the captive victims. It upsets me deeply whenever I recognize that my own mind has once again been trapping me in an unproductive and harmful negative loop. I used to stew in these states for far too long, but now I acknowledge the observation, learn the lesson, and move forward. Contaminated […]