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Neither pride nor shame …

Today … may we trust love, God, the universe enough to simply be real. May we be present enough with who we are to revel in our majesty. And may we share it with neither pride nor shame. … More

The media hosts an ongoing parade of beautiful people. They even offer commentary on the most beautiful eyes, lips and buttocks…helping us to embrace both a false sense of normal and a false sense of ideal.

There is no ideal. And there certainly is no ideal for everybody — 5’10” cannot be ideal for a woman who is 5’4″. I know this!

Yet studies show that the vast majority of women are uncomfortable with their looks, particularly their bodies. But women are giving men — who live longer, stay more active and marry women half their age (I’m funny, not bitter, really) — a taste of how it feels to be gawked at, reveled in and critiqued.

Still, women are more apt to be trapped in their innate desire to please men (the creation story in Genesis nails this). Measuring up to the ideal they think men want weighs on them, the way being strong and powerful weighs on many men.

Think about it, though. The average man is less than 5 feet 10 inches tall. Do you really think he prefers a 5-foot 10-inch woman to make him feel big and strong? There is no ideal match, either; I think God made my husband, Sam, 6’3″ just to remove any doubt.… More

Feel the wonder of growth in your relationship … whatever the season

I was in paradise wandering from one little alcove to another, with angel trumpets cascading overhead and roses perfuming the morning air. The wonderment of spring in a garden is unmatched, except maybe by the wonderment of spring in a relationship!

In the spring, we see the miracle of what’s growing. We are intrigued by the newness and the wonder of flourishing possibilities. We tend what’s blooming, so we can celebrate more flowers; and taking advantage of Mother Nature, we plant annuals to create a virtual carpet of color, knowing they won’t survive the winter.

There is always something we can plant, though. Every season has its own magic. And in relationships, we direct the flow from one season to the next. We don’t have to jump to another relationship or warmer climate to find paradise; we can just stay connected with the wonder.

We can shine our own light and spread our own colors. We can add freshness and possibility and awe. We can cultivate the relationship of our dreams … and appreciate the ongoing, albeit changing, splendor.

We can welcome each transition. We can find sanctuary to refuel our body, mind and spirit — without feeling guilty or distant!… More