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 […]
Author: a sugjester
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 […]
Smarturday – 053125
disentanglement vs. engulfment disentanglement (noun) – the act of separating or freeing something from a tangled or confused state engulfment (noun) – the state of being surrounded or submerged in something that can feel crushing or overwhelming What is your current state of involvement? How wrapped up in your own thoughts and feelings are you? […]
Thanksday – 052925
I am thankful for the Stoics (like Epictetus, Marcus Aurelius, and Seneca). They sought and explored the dreams and ideals of personal freedom in great detail. Many think of them as boring and emotionless people incapable of expressing themselves well. However, that concept is quite false. Stoics do not ignore or suppress their emotions. They […]
Soulday – 052525
I sugjest strongly considering the following – how free are you? Are you a slave to your attachments, aversions, desires, or emotions? Do you struggle with codependency with others? How many addictions might you be battling? Step back and recognize any and all of these current situations first. Do not beat yourself up for any […]
Freeday – 050925
Are you mindful with your generosity? How else do you know when and how to find the right balance with it? If you are not mindful of your generous acts, then I think it is too easy to check out on facts. Generosity should be directed where it is needed most. Sometimes that means taking […]
Wondersday – 050725
Have you ever wondered… about giving others the benefit of the doubt? I have. How sure are you that you are 100% right? Are you making any assumptions that could later be proven false? As a friendly reminder of the third guardrail, we should avoid assumptions. Maintain an open mind. Channel a constant curiosity. What […]
Mournday – 050525
I mourn for all the hoarders out there. What are you holding on to too much of – wealth, resources, knowledge? Why do you feel the need to keep so much of it if it can be more freely shared with others? Have you ever considered how freeing it can feel to share your bounties […]
Smarturday – 050325
munificent vs. maleficent munificent (adjective) – extremely liberal in giving; very generous; characterized by great generosity maleficent (adjective) – doing evil or harm; harmfully malicious Are any of us immune to generosity? Perhaps only victims of precocity. I think those who are generous should abound around as plenteous. We can all give back and do […]
Thanksday – 050125
I am thankful for Gabor Maté. He generously shares his history and knowledge with us. As a teacher-turned-doctor, we can learn a lot from his examples and studies. In addition, his childhood was riddled with traumas and upheavals that molded and shaped the man he is today. Gabor’s generosity highlights true, authentic honesty. Insights instruct […]
Soulday – 042725
Kindness paves a progressive path towards generosity. Adopting and augmenting a generous spirit is one way to give back to a world that gives us so much. We all continue to have days to spend here. How are we filling that time? Are we being generous with ourselves and with others? Personally, I know I […]
Freeday – 042525
I felt such warmth and joy as I began this cycle because it delighted me immensely to discover how many different quotes about kindness I already had. Many virtues are typically covered well across the ages, but the amount for kindness caught me by surprise. I was not prepared for such focus on something that […]
Wondersday – 042325
Have you ever wondered… about metta? I have. It is a Pali word for loving-kindness. The original metta meditation practice is attributed to Buddha himself. We have an ancient art that we can practice to spread loving-kindness near and far, both inward and outward. Generosity is the most natural outward expression of an inner attitude […]
Mournday – 042125
I mourn for all of the mean and unkind moments in the world. We do not need to say the nasty and hurtful things that we sometimes feel compelled to utter. Silence can be better and kinder at times. If you are not about to help someone, then why go to an opposite extreme and […]
Smarturday – 041925
goodwill (noun) – friendly disposition; benevolence; kindness Goodwill: Requires little to no skill Provides a genuine thrill Will ward off any chill One kind word can warm three winter months. -Japanese Proverb Goodwill fits any bill to help you fulfill a meaningful drill. No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted. -Aesop […]
Thanksday – 041725
While the approach to Thanksday for this cycle is odder, please do not be grumpy with my dopiness. I am thankful for Snow White and the idea that she represents. While the four main virtues that are taught to her by her father are fearless, fair, brave, and true, I think kindness is something that […]
Soulday – 041325
How do you think of kindness? Is it your default behavior, or does it only appear later after you have already established an idea that someone is safe or unthreatening? Why should kindness depend on anything at all? I believe we can always be kind. It is not easy, but it is worth it. I […]
Freeday – 041125
To express oneself honestly, not lying to oneself…now that, my friend, is very hard to do. -Bruce Lee Honestly, I am exhausted, so I am excited to exercise my freedom this Freeday to write whatever I want. Who knew past me was padding these cycles so wisely? How honest have you been with yourself today? […]
Wondersday – 040925
Have you ever wondered… about radical honesty? I have. It is a term that involves committing to living a life with no lies. Some people spin the idea of little white lies as being “harmless” or in someone’s benefit. You cannot truly prove that, though. You are making excuses to justify your actions. What kind […]
Mournday – 040725
No one can prove that at times a lie is necessary. -Saint Augustine I mourn for the dishonest parts of us. How often do we deceive ourselves, acting like everything is ok while ignoring so much pain? I sugjest we all slow down and take an honest look at ourselves in order to fully acknowledge […]
Smarturday – 040525
veracious vs. insidious veracious (adjective) – habitually speaking the truth; truthful; honest insidious (adjective) – intended to entrap or beguile; stealthily treacherous or deceitful They look the same with how they end, Yet their last syllables each do bend. What on the surface may seem couth May be backed by many a sharp tooth. Trust […]
Thanksday – 040325
Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom. -Thomas Jefferson I am very thankful for Honest Abe. Abraham Lincoln was a simple and self-educated man from the midwest. He demonstrated an ideal and true potential of human development when you apply yourself positively and productively. His level of self-awareness and pursuit of the […]
Soulday – 033025
Let honesty be as the breath of thy soul. -Benjamin Franklin Can I be honest with you? Why does someone even need to start a conversation with that question? How far have we strayed if the default is now dishonesty? When can we remove our masks and honestly be our authentic, beautiful selves? Right now. […]
Freeday – 032825
One of the spiritual leaders in Buddhism is called the Karmapa. I heard some beautiful stories about the current one. He demonstrates how we can all see plenty of beauty in our surroundings. When visiting a new city on a dreary day, he commented with honest fascination on all the tones of gray interwoven amidst […]
Wondersday – 032625
Have you ever wondered… about ullassa? I have. It is a Sanskrit word, representing any heartwarming feeling that arises when you observe and appreciate natural beauty. It could be a sunrise, a sunset, a tranquil forest, or a captivating storm. Maybe you really like the view of a brick wall or a stone path. Earlier […]
Mournday – 032425
I mourn for all of the vain folk out there, those who care more about external beauty than inner beauty. You probably think this post is about you. Why invest so much in something that is fleeting and will definitely leave you at some point in the future? Instead, you can hone inner traits and […]
Smarturday – 032225
exuberant vs. deficient exuberant (adjective) – effusively and almost uninhibitedly enthusiastic; abounding in vitality; extremely joyful and vigorous deficient (adjective) – lacking some element or characteristic; insufficient; inadequate Can you wake up full of joy, or do you grumble aloud “oh boy”? Does sun streaming in bring delight, or do you try to shut your […]
Thanksday – 032025
Does your life spark joy? Can you see the beauty in all of the little things around you? I am very thankful for Marie Kondo. She has seen the beauty in organized and purposeful placements for the majority of her life. She also recognizes how her sense of beauty has changed over the years. Beauty […]
Soulday – 031625
Authenticity creates natural beauty. As long as you see it for yourself, that is enough because beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Would you rather behold your own beauty and feel beautiful yourself? I would. How empty must it feel to only hear about it from others without believing it yourself? Only you […]
Freeday – 031425
Authenticity is not something that others bestow upon you from the outside. You should learn to listen and let it bubble up from the inside. What is your shadow trying to tell you? How is your inner child attempting to direct you? Are you thriving in your lane while adhering to the guardrails, or are […]