This year has already packed in highs and lows in one month. Let’s take time to soak in some good today.
Your Pep Talk 💖
After our last pup passed away, I swore I'd close off my heart to another dog. I told my husband Brendan that we'd wait until our twin daughters turned 5 to adopt again. I wanted to wall off my heart from heartbreak.
I lasted 6 months. When Chewie, a pug, curled into my lap, I knew he was coming home with us that night. At the end of December 2020, Chewie was diagnosed with prostate cancer. And I thought, No, I can't survive this heart break.
I share this with you because I thought I could control love. Tell it to go away. I would not be heart broken again. But the truth is: When you love something or someone, it is bound to hurt at some point.
Take a moment to fill in this sentence: I’d love it if I could ____________________.
Whatever or whomever you love is worth the inevitable loss, heartbreak, or disappointment. Even if it scares you. Even when you cradle your pup's sweet face after a radiation treatment. Because I would've missed the cuddles, the snorts, the joy of my girls throwing the ball for Chewie.
Today, promise me that you will pursue what you love with your full heart, even if it cracks wide open. It is worth every single second.
My Latest News 🔮
My feature story for Yoga Journal about new year's rituals to inspire change is now online. If you enjoy a dose of woo-woo, dive in.
Check Out This... 🙌🏼
POEM: "The Hill We Climb," by Amanda Gorman. I was not prepared for the power of the 22-year-old’s words. Here's the transcript and video of the Inauguration Day poem that moved many of us with hope and joy.
BOOK: What Would Frida Do? by Arianna Davis. A self-help book meets art history in this enjoyable tome devoted to the iconic Mexican painter Frida Kahlo.
PODCAST: 88 Cups of Tea. Yin Chang's positive vibe while interviewing a diverse range of authors is infectious!
NONPROFIT: WriteGirl. This LA-based nonprofit offers creative writing and mentoring for teen girls, and counts National Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman as an alum.
I'm Grateful For... 🐶
My pug Chewie. Ever since the moment we adopted him, he's been by my side. He loves everyone he meets. And I discovered this summer, he enjoys eating cherry tomatoes straight from the vine.