Photo by Kuno Schweizer on Unsplash Too many times people know how to take care of themselves but don't, for whatever reason. Think about it for a minute. Or, here are some fill-in-the-blank sentences. (Note: these are three examples that I recently experienced). I am so tired, I need to lie down for a minute, … Continue reading Mindfulness: Take Care of Yourself
Author: becksnelson
Mindfulness: Judgment
The definition of mindfulness, according to Jon Kabat-Zinn, is "paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment, non-judgmentally." The opposite of judgment is compassion. In my opinion, there are many roads that lead to compassion, but the one I am finding that has not failed me is the road of curiosity. Curiosity is a willingness … Continue reading Mindfulness: Judgment
Mindfulness: Don’t Look Away
Not two months after being released from the Trauma Institute at the Psychological Institute of Washington (D.C.) my brother passed away suddenly. About a week before he passed away, he had called me to chat. I let it go to voicemail but called back later. He didn't answer, so I left him a voicemail message … Continue reading Mindfulness: Don’t Look Away
Suicide
In February, I read David Foster Wallace’s commencement speech at Kenyon College, entitled This is Water. Wallace told a story at the beginning of the book about two fish that were swimming along when they passed an older fish. The older fish said, “how’s the water?” The two other fish questioned each other about what … Continue reading Suicide
Grab the “Biff Pick”
I recently ran across a thought on the internet from a writer I’ve never met who calls himself “Just a Poet Guy.” “Becoming a highly self-aware person is a double-edged sword. You’ll mostly know how to do better, but be prepared for the punishment you’ll serve yourself every time you consciously make a choice to … Continue reading Grab the “Biff Pick”
Curiosity Killed the Cat
“Curiosity killed the cat, but satisfaction brought him back.” I have wrongly assumed that was the original proverb. Here’s the thing, the original phrase was actually, “care killed the cat.” That meaning had to do with meddling in others’ business. “Care killed the cat” became “curiosity killed the cat,” and it gathered a more general … Continue reading Curiosity Killed the Cat
Linearity Is For Math and Science; Not Life
Physics, Engineering, Geometry, and many other scientific and mathematical fields rely on things being linear. Life is not Math or Science. Life is art. Art is realistic, abstract, and everything in between. Life is subjective and sometimes follows rules. Life is beautiful and messy. Life is random. I started 2022 with a perfect formula for … Continue reading Linearity Is For Math and Science; Not Life
Thanksgiving. A Little Late.
This is a little late, but I want to share a few thoughts about Thanksgiving. The original “thanksgiving” (little “t”) was about being thankful for simple, everyday things. Thanksgiving (capital “T”) was originally a formal feast between colonists and Native Americans to celebrate some of those everyday things. I’m providing that small piece of information … Continue reading Thanksgiving. A Little Late.
Do The Dang Thing
There is a part of me that makes accusations, nasty ones. “You’re not good enough.” “You suck.” “You deserve everything that has happened.” “You are a f*ckup.” “If anyone knows how weak you are, you will be deserted.” “If people know you, they won’t like you.” And so much more. That part feeds shame and … Continue reading Do The Dang Thing
I Needed The “Luckiest Girl Alive”
I understand the importance of trigger warnings for people. I really do. We owe it to survivors of traumatic situations to put a trigger warning on things, but as someone who has experienced some traumatic situations, I need the debate to be less about an attempt to sensor material and more about sensitivity to those … Continue reading I Needed The “Luckiest Girl Alive”
Burn the Boat! 