23 June 2025 ~ 3 Good Things

Double down

Jun 24, 2025

Every hard thing, every upsetting, challenging, difficult, overwhelming thing makes me want to double down harder on this practice.

This practice that trains our brains to pick up on what’s good in a world where the headlines rarely are. This practice that hones our attention to the points of light in difficult times. This practice that amplifies the characteristics of the world we want to live in. This practice that connects us to each other and reminds us that while we are all so different, we are also very much the same.

The following passage jumped out at me from Mark Nepo’s The Book of Awakening (a gift, originally from my brother, and then later, a second copy from my friend Nancy - clearly I was meant to read this book, and I recommend it highly):

Whether it be physics or architecture or Eastern forms of meditation or Western forms of prayer, every field of inquiry affirms the fact that the wider our view, the less isolated we are. The more connected we stay to everything larger than us, the less turbulent our time on Earth.

This is why it helps to share our journey with others, because in so doing we become a chorus of voices, and the stress of going solo lessens once we discover that we are not alone.

I began this practice as an act of self-preservation nearly 10 years ago, with the desire to rewire my brain to pick up on the good things in my midst. An individual endeavor, yet somehow I knew that the simple acts of noticing and naming good things would benefit from sharing. It turns out that connectivity transforms this practice in profound ways - I had a feeling, but I didn’t realize how deep that ran, how central it was, until here we are now. Together, today.

This is why we practice.

Monday:

My friend Naomi is here visiting me. Such a gift.
Felix went to the groomer today. He’s snuggly and soft, and his bloodwork came back with no concerns. Hallelujah!
Smitten Kitchen Poolside Slaw for dinner. Delish.

Now you? Tell me 3 good things?

Xo.