Word of the day: “Do your best and then relax. Let things go on in a natural way, rather than force them” Paramahansa Yogananda. This is perfect for me, letting go of second guessing myself and of trying hard for things to “work out”
In the last few days I have been listening to a beautiful meditation on Insight Timer: “Anxiety Relief” by Oliver Jenkin, he says that mind habits are hard to break because we have been practicing them for a long time, and also that meditation works because it’s all there within us already

Dear Anna, the word of today by Kristi Nelson expresses my thoughts about what you say:
“The more that we allow our hearts to expand to love, deeply appreciate, and feel inextricably tied to the places, things and people of this world, the more we are likely to take a stand on behalf of what we value.”
This is a work in progress for me, I struggle with anxiety and negative feelings like guilt, but solitude, quiet time and also practicing here on this site is helpful to me to regain that place of love, appreciation and delight for all wordly things, including material and beautiful things because they are also sacred.
“Let the beauty we love be what we do. There are hundreds of ways to kneel and kiss the ground” – Rumi

Dear Anna, thank you for bringing up this difficult subjet which I think deserves reflection. This is a portion of a poem by Jack Gilbert “A Brief for The Defense”:
“If we deny our happiness, resist our satisfaction
we lessen the importance of their deprivation
We must risk delight. We can do without pleasure,
but not delight. Not enjoyment. We must have
the stubborness to accept our gladness in the ruthless furnace of this world.”
Blessings dear friend

Dear Ursula, I have been wanting to write to you since the last time you mentioned your challenges, but I was afraid it would not be in line with gratefulness, so all I want to say is that I understand. You are not alone Ursula, family life is challenging for me too, husband and daughter driving me crazy… but I have realised that I am not crazy, THEY ARE (????) and that I have good common sense in spite of everything conspiring to make me believe I don’t. One thing that made me see this was to read my journals from 10 years ago and see with my eyes that this is not something new, it was really an eye opener. Anyways, I love them and do whatever I can but I will never again fall into believing that everything is my fault. As Diane says, we women want to fix and take responsibility for everything…
I have to go finish with my daughter’s bath ???? but I will be thinking of you dear friend, a big hug