Wow! I love reading about your path and open-hearted-ness.
Here is something sweet ~ I was working at the Phoenix Veterans Medical Center as a certified hospice and palliative RN when I was fortunate enough to befriend Hospice Fellow Britt O. and was honored to watch and her apartment and her cat when she trekked Mount Kailash with Joan Halifax!
She brought me back some beautiful sacred gifts from her trip there, and I was the recipient of her stories from her journey. She planted a prayer flag on the mountain w the Wind Horse I chose when she asked me to pick.
I’ve been enjoying your musings for a month and a half or so. What’s the most important thing, you ask? Love, kindness, compassion, gratitude — I know, that’s more than one, but through the many and varied chapters in this book of my life that has seen great light and equally great darkness, and has spat me out at 54 as a newly employed after a many years hiatus, disabled, non binary human, the most important thing is putting out *good*. Love, kindness, compassion, gratitude, all the *good* I can put out to the Universe. It’s my WHY and the hope that takes me through the physical pain daily. I’m here, on this small blue planet to help people and that falls nicely under the rubric of putting *good* out there.
ooooh, very nice, Heather! I have a special place in my heart for folks who have been through dark times, and the darkness deepens us, but doesn't fully define us. I love reading your 'why' -- and of course it's totally fine that it's more than one word. I think they kind of all wrap-around and rely on each other anyway: Love, kindness, compassion, gratitude.
Maia, I greatly appreciate your good heart, positive intentions, and writing. Glad we've reconnected on Substack! Looking forward to reading more of your thoughts, both new and flashes from the past.
I know, right?! It’s been so lovely to re-discover good folks like you and Chris Guillebeau and others from past social media experiences. The best things always re-surface somewhere ; )
Maia I look forward to participating with you and other fellow travelers in finding ways to navigate the tough times. I have leaned into Buddhism for many years but it wasn’t until I stumbled upon the Pure Land lineage that I put my cushion down and stayed. For me it explains things in a way that resonated with me and helped me find the better parts of me. I look forward to your sharing views and ideas. Thank you for your warm welcome. 🙏🪷
Thank you for the lovely introduction and welcome, Maia. I began what I solely deemed a mental health journey a year ago, after denying I needed it for many decades. It has become much more since finding the unexpectedly perfect fit therapist and with the support of my soul-friend. I have embraced mindfulness practices, sobriety, and recently acknowledged this is a spiritual awakening journey accompanied by addressing the mental health/trauma stuff. As I find my voice in writing, I am finding writers in this community such as yourself and am so very grateful.
Welcome, Sally! Isn't interesting how we can start off with one idea of what something is and then a whole new world opens up to us? I'm glad you've set off on this path and that you're finding the support that nourishes you. Grateful that you connected here!
Hi Larry, I have not Mitra Bishop Roshi. Actually, I didn’t even know about that Zen center until you put it in your comments. I looked it up and it’s not super far for me. Will have to visit it someday!
Well, my goodness, I can get on board with that tag line: "a place to slow down, befriend yourself, and connect with the world from kindness and awareness." Thanks for filling up the world with a little more goodness, Maia!
Oh, I’m so happy you like it, Kelly! It really just kind of came through out of nowhere, I didn’t spend any time thinking about it. Those words just flowed. Which is always a good sign.
What a fantastic welcome post Maia! I love that you describe yourself as having a free-range mind, it’s perfect. It’s my goal to also have a free-range mind!
well that's my most generous way of describing it! believe me at times it has not felt like an asset in a world that encourages you to find your 'niche'!
Good point but I think when you look at it from the free-range perspective one can see the many possibilities. The niche thing is highly over-rated (this from someone firmly ensconced in an accidental niche!🤣)
When Kelly Flanagan writes I listen. So this id how I found you and so glad I did. I am in between employment at age 64 and have 2 interviews Monday. What is important to me is communication, kindness, love, compassion, enthusiasm and gratitude! I love people!
Thanks for the welcome. Looking forward to learning, sharing and growing here.
Me too!
Wow! I love reading about your path and open-hearted-ness.
Here is something sweet ~ I was working at the Phoenix Veterans Medical Center as a certified hospice and palliative RN when I was fortunate enough to befriend Hospice Fellow Britt O. and was honored to watch and her apartment and her cat when she trekked Mount Kailash with Joan Halifax!
She brought me back some beautiful sacred gifts from her trip there, and I was the recipient of her stories from her journey. She planted a prayer flag on the mountain w the Wind Horse I chose when she asked me to pick.
This was probably circa 2002.
Many blessings to you ~
Hi Pat, for some reason I can't 'like' this post, it looks like you may have blocked me?! But I appreciate your comment!
Thank you! Looking forward to being with you all in virtual community.
So good to have you here, Suzanne.
I’ve been enjoying your musings for a month and a half or so. What’s the most important thing, you ask? Love, kindness, compassion, gratitude — I know, that’s more than one, but through the many and varied chapters in this book of my life that has seen great light and equally great darkness, and has spat me out at 54 as a newly employed after a many years hiatus, disabled, non binary human, the most important thing is putting out *good*. Love, kindness, compassion, gratitude, all the *good* I can put out to the Universe. It’s my WHY and the hope that takes me through the physical pain daily. I’m here, on this small blue planet to help people and that falls nicely under the rubric of putting *good* out there.
Nice to meet you. Thanks for the introduction!
ooooh, very nice, Heather! I have a special place in my heart for folks who have been through dark times, and the darkness deepens us, but doesn't fully define us. I love reading your 'why' -- and of course it's totally fine that it's more than one word. I think they kind of all wrap-around and rely on each other anyway: Love, kindness, compassion, gratitude.
Thank you, Maia. I have the great privilege of having a lot of like minded people in my life. They are part of my WHY as well!
Maia, I greatly appreciate your good heart, positive intentions, and writing. Glad we've reconnected on Substack! Looking forward to reading more of your thoughts, both new and flashes from the past.
I know, right?! It’s been so lovely to re-discover good folks like you and Chris Guillebeau and others from past social media experiences. The best things always re-surface somewhere ; )
Thank you Maia, for this warm and open welcome. Looking forward to spending time with you and this community. Love the tree! 🙏
Thank you, Sally! Look forward to getting to know you as well.
Maia I look forward to participating with you and other fellow travelers in finding ways to navigate the tough times. I have leaned into Buddhism for many years but it wasn’t until I stumbled upon the Pure Land lineage that I put my cushion down and stayed. For me it explains things in a way that resonated with me and helped me find the better parts of me. I look forward to your sharing views and ideas. Thank you for your warm welcome. 🙏🪷
So good to have you here, Kim!
Perfect 🤩
thank you, Becca!
Thank you for the lovely introduction and welcome, Maia. I began what I solely deemed a mental health journey a year ago, after denying I needed it for many decades. It has become much more since finding the unexpectedly perfect fit therapist and with the support of my soul-friend. I have embraced mindfulness practices, sobriety, and recently acknowledged this is a spiritual awakening journey accompanied by addressing the mental health/trauma stuff. As I find my voice in writing, I am finding writers in this community such as yourself and am so very grateful.
Welcome, Sally! Isn't interesting how we can start off with one idea of what something is and then a whole new world opens up to us? I'm glad you've set off on this path and that you're finding the support that nourishes you. Grateful that you connected here!
Hello! I just read your introduction, my first encounter here.
Have you crossed paths with Mitra Bishop Roshi at Mountain Gate in Ojo Sarco NM? She is remarkable.
Hi Larry, I have not Mitra Bishop Roshi. Actually, I didn’t even know about that Zen center until you put it in your comments. I looked it up and it’s not super far for me. Will have to visit it someday!
Well, my goodness, I can get on board with that tag line: "a place to slow down, befriend yourself, and connect with the world from kindness and awareness." Thanks for filling up the world with a little more goodness, Maia!
Oh, I’m so happy you like it, Kelly! It really just kind of came through out of nowhere, I didn’t spend any time thinking about it. Those words just flowed. Which is always a good sign.
That's exactly how my tagline came to me. Like all good writing. A good sign indeed! 😊
Love what you are cooking up here. I’ll be in touch.
Thank you, oh Chocolate Taoist friend!
What a fantastic welcome post Maia! I love that you describe yourself as having a free-range mind, it’s perfect. It’s my goal to also have a free-range mind!
well that's my most generous way of describing it! believe me at times it has not felt like an asset in a world that encourages you to find your 'niche'!
Good point but I think when you look at it from the free-range perspective one can see the many possibilities. The niche thing is highly over-rated (this from someone firmly ensconced in an accidental niche!🤣)
agree!
When Kelly Flanagan writes I listen. So this id how I found you and so glad I did. I am in between employment at age 64 and have 2 interviews Monday. What is important to me is communication, kindness, love, compassion, enthusiasm and gratitude! I love people!
Great to meet you, Rae!
Lovely to meet you here again with your new Welcome page, Maia
I am reading your book right now, so many wisdoms so I am making a lot of notes at the margins… thanks for sharing your stories!!