Kimberly Wilson's Blog, page 117

Tranquilosophy: Practice Acceptance

Week 30:Practice Acceptance

When the vet tech returned to let us know that they weren’t going to need a spinal tap, I knew. They found something during the MRI that explained the sneezing and seizure, and it wasn’t good.

Minutes passed, feeling like days, before the doctor came out to give us the news. There was a large mass in the nasal cavity that had grown into his brain. It was inoperable. My heart raced, head dropped, and tears welled up.

Life as we knew it would never be the same.

Louis had been our baby since he was eight weeks old. We fed him organic grain-free food, rushed him to the vet if anything seemed off, and tended to his every wish. We expected to have him five more years. I mean, 12 to 15 years is the average life span of a pug and he was in tiptop shape.

Or so we thought.

Everything changed that brisk January day and collapsed when we said goodbye in April. The unconditional love of a pet is like no other and he was a special case. I may have been known to reference him as “the love of my life.”

When Tim and I began the adoption process, I said to a colleague, “If I don’t get a dog soon, I may die.” Okay, slightly Scarlett O’Hara dramatic, but also telling of how integrated and important Louis was in my life.

Once we signed the paperwork to adopt our new rescue Mookie {photo above}, I felt joy that I hadn’t experienced since before Louis’ diagnosis. It was palpable. There was a newfound sense of hope and an outlet for overflowing love.

I recently began reading Writing to Heal the Soul: Transforming Grief and Loss Through Writing and the author begins by unpacking expectations. How was it supposed to be? What did you expect? What was the change of plans?

This is an interesting exercise for so many of the losses that transpire within lives. Loss of jobs, friendships, love, family, health, children, pets, etc.

The author notes, “A large part of coming to terms with loss is dealing with our expectations of what ‘should have been.’ Until we articulate those expectations, we cannot move beyond them. We are stuck in the ‘Why me?’ litany.”

For me, I thought if we fed him the right food, kept him fit and trim {not easy for a pug}, showered him with love, took him in for all his vaccinations and vet needs, we’d have him until age 15. This expectation shaped my mind-set which contributed to the shock of a brain cancer diagnosis.

It’s not that we shouldn’t have had these hopes for our boy, but rather a reminder to acknowledge how little control we truly have. What we do have control over is our response to disappointment, tragedy, and loss.

Viktor Frankl wrote in Man’s Search for Meaning, “. . . everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s way.”

And sometimes one’s way is to accept, rather than fight, what’s transpired.

While I miss Louis terribly, I celebrate our 10.5 years together. Although our new boy Mookie will never replace him, he offers a beautiful bond that has been desperately missed the past three months. Again, acceptance.

Is there a situation in your life that hasn’t worked out as you’d expected? You may be asking yourself “which one?!” as life can be full of them! What would acceptance look like in one of these situations?

Remember, acceptance doesn’t lessen the pain, but rather it curbs the continual striving for things to be different than they are. What beckons acceptance in your life?

Share your experience this week in our Facebook group or other social media outlets using #52weekstranquility.

Watch for Week 31 of 52 Weeks of Tranquility delivered to your inbox next week.

Thank you for being here with us. Bisous. x

52 Weeks of Tranquility

This complimentary program is designed to help us stay motivated and engaged in 2015. Each week I’ll send inspiration to your inbox via Love Notes.

Joining later in the year? No worries, read previous weeks here.

To find support and community, join the private Facebook group and use hashtag #52weekstranquility to create additional online connections.

Connect live by calling in to Seasonal Tranquilosophy podcasts. Next one happening Monday, September 21. Can’t join us live? Recordings are available.

May we savor deep moments of tranquility.

 

 

The post Tranquilosophy: Practice Acceptance appeared first on Kimberly Wilson.

Tranquility du Jour Daybook 4.0

1.0 = 7.5 x 7.5 softcover

2.0 = 8.5 x 8.5 hardcover

3.0 = 8.5 x 8.5 softcover

4.0 = ?

 

The creation process of the Tranquility du Jour Daybook 4.0 is happening and I’d love your input.

My vision for the Daybook is to serve as a catch-all for dreams, day’s events, and deepest thoughts. A chance to pause and find pockets of tranquility within the busyness of daily life. To evoke joy when you use it and satisfaction when you check the boxes. And inspiration to get creative with ephemera, colored markers, and washi tape.

Last week I received a request to make 4.0 more like a workbook than a planner. I’ve also heard shout-outs for another hardcover, flexible plastic coils, and coated softcover.

What do you wish for 4.0? Please share. I’m listening and incredibly grateful for your continued contributions to its design. Bisous. x

The post Tranquility du Jour Daybook 4.0 appeared first on Kimberly Wilson.

Week in Review

 

 

 

Week in Review

Road trip from NY to OK {20 hours}

Picked up Mookie the Rescue Pug from his sweet foster

Day trip to Norman, OK {my college town}

Relaxed time with parents while incorporating Mookie into our lives

Sprinkled some of Louis’ ashes at my parents

Road trip from OK to DC {20 hours}

Stopped at Johnny Cash Museum with Mookie

Set up appointment with trainer to assist with barking

Confirmed Writing in the Woods retreaters {one spot left}

Vet appointment with Mookie

Two full days with clients at The Women’s Center

Unpacked 10 days of travel

Created agenda for tomorrow’s Tranquil Space Foundation meeting

Signed up for The Daring Way Weekend for Clinicians

Shipped books and Daybooks

Picked apples and pears from my parent’s trees

Soaked in the tub

Savored green smoothies

Began 14-day cleanse

Began reading Writing to Heal the Soul

Picked up yellow tulips = happy

Got in trouble for jaywalking in Norman {see pic with nicest cop ever}

Penned Week 29 of 52 Weeks of Tranquility

Released Podcast #342 Creating Lucia

Weekend Wish List

Call with Teacher Director

Mammogram

Mani

Dog training

Productive Tranquil Space Foundation meeting

Organize chez moi

Volunteer at Hospice

Tea date with girlfriend

Meet with writing group

Yoga

Time with journal

Read

Et toi? What’s on your weekend wish list? Bisous. x

The post Week in Review appeared first on Kimberly Wilson.

Tranquilosophy: Mindful Eating

Week 29 of 52 Weeks of Tranquility

Take a raisin in your hand. Observe its texture. Smell its fragrance. Squeeze it by your ear and notice any sounds. Put it on your tongue and move it around your mouth with full awareness of the sensations.

Take one bite into the raisin and notice a burst of flavor. Slowly chew it into tiny pieces until there is nothing left. Observe how much time this takes.

The raisin meditation is one of the first practices in an 8-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction {MBSR} course and it never ceases to amaze me. Paying attention to such a small object is a grand reminder to slow down and savor.

Truth be told, most of my meals are eaten at a brisk pace navigating between projects, clients, and meetings. Truly savoring texture, smell, sound, and taste is not as regular a part of my repertoire as I’d like.

However, getting the object of desire into my belly is. And, unfortunately, sometimes a complete meal is gone before I’ve even truly tasted what was consumed. Relate?

During last week’s 6-day MBSR teacher training we spent many meals in silence was a great wake-up call to my tendency to shovel versus savor. Although I continued to semi-shovel my steel cut oats with fresh berries, I did so with awareness and intention to set down the fork between every few bites.

Throughout the day I held a cup of jasmine tea in my hands. Felt the warmth, smelled the fragrance, tasted the floral essence, and noticed the liquid slide down my throat. Mindfulness can also be practiced with our beverages {week 24: sip tea}.

One participant’s mindfulness action plan from last week involved eating a few meals each week without doing anything else at the same time—no reading, talking, Internet, TV, or any other distraction.

This week take time to savor your food and drinks. Eat in silence sans distractions. Notice when you’re hungry and full. Observe what you’re eating. Connect with all your senses—colors, sounds, flavors, temperatures, textures, and tastes. Notice how you feel after eating.

Try a meal solo in silence without doing anything else. Encourage your family, friend, or partner to join you in eating slowly in silence for the first few minutes. Take the first sips of your favorite libation with full attention.

I promise to slow and fully savor a few meals and beverages with you. Share insights and photos of your mindful eating meal in our Facebook group and/or using #52weekstranquility via other social media channels.

Watch for Week 30 of 52 Weeks of Tranquility here next week. Thank you for being here with us. Bisous. x

52 Weeks of Tranquility

This complimentary program is designed to help us stay motivated and engaged in 2015. Each week I’ll send inspiration to your inbox via Love Notes.

Joining later in the year? No worries, read previous weeks here.

To find support and community, join the private Facebook group and use hashtag #52weekstranquility to create additional online connections.

Connect live by calling in to Seasonal Tranquilosophy podcasts. Next one happening Monday, September 21. Can’t join us live? Recordings are available.

May we savor deep moments of tranquility.

The post Tranquilosophy: Mindful Eating appeared first on Kimberly Wilson.

Tranquility du Jour #342: Creating Lucia

Bonjour. Welcome to the 342nd edition of Tranquility du Jour with Laura Lowery. Be inspired by her creation of a beautiful new women’s magazine, hear the inspiration behind it, and how her practice of yoga and mindfulness assists her journey.

 

Direct download: Tranquility du Jour # 342: Creating Lucia

 

Featured Guest:

Laura Lowery is the founder and editor in chief of Lucia. Lucia is a new kind of magazine for women. Independent and advertising free, its mission is to inspire and enlighten the world by giving voice to the heart and celebrating true beauty.

A dedicated yogini and explorer of mindfulness and the body, Laura received her 200 hour certification to teach yoga from Seattle Yoga Arts with Denise Benitez. She teaches yoga at a women’s shelter in Seattle for survivors of domestic abuse.

Prior to starting Lucia, Laura spent 20 years as a communications and PR professional, including a decade working for global firms in Washington, D.C., and another decade in Seattle as an independent consultant aligned with LyonSHARE Group. Laura is also a photographer and spent 10 years running her own small business capturing portraits, weddings, children and babies.

She is currently working on a long-term portrait project called Moving Into Light capturing portraits and words of wisdom from women & men who have experienced intimate partner violence in their past, and are now thriving.

Savvy Sources:

Websites: luciajournal.com and lauralowery.com
Facebook: facebook.com/luciajournal
Twitter: twitter.com/luciajournal
Instagram: instagram.com/luciajournal/
Subscribe: luciajournal.com/subscribe/
Huffington Post piece
Magazines mentioned: Bella Grace , Flow , Remarkable , and Womankind
Join my complimentary 52 Weeks of Tranquility Program
Seasonal online book club: I Know How She Does It by Laura Vanderkam
Tranquilosophy Seasonal Podcast: Monday, September 21 at 3pm ET
Podcast app: Tranquility du Jour iPhone and Android

Stay Connected:

New? Peruse my FAQs.
Join moi for a retreat, workshop, e-course, or seasonal podcast.
Read along on Goodreads.
Connect on Facebook.
Follow on Twitter.
Pin along on Pinterest.
Eye candy on Instagram @tranquilitydujour.
Browse my books.
Receive weekly Tranquility du Jour Love Notes.
Read about my passion for pigs.
Pen a review on iTunes.

Techy:

To listen, click on the player at the top of the post or click here to listen to older episodes.
New to podcasting? Get more info at Podcast 411.
Do you have iTunes? Click here and subscribe to the podcast to get the latest episode as released.
Get the Tranquility du Jour apps to get the podcast automagically on iOS or Android.

The post Tranquility du Jour #342: Creating Lucia appeared first on Kimberly Wilson.

Week in Review

a shot of the babbling stream on my last night at the retreat center

our route to Mookie

Week in Review

Packed for 10 days away

Took yoga

Date night with Tim

Finalized and ordered TranquiliT’s four new fab fall colors {reveal forthcoming}

Traveled from DC to upstate NY for training

Soaked up six days of MBSR teacher training

50+ hours of seated meditation, mindful movement, and practice teaching

Connected with a lovely group of fellow trainees from all over North America

Shared a peek at the training

Released Week 28 {PM Routine} of 52 Weeks of Tranquility

Traveled from NY en route to OK to get Mookie

Slept a few hours at a rest stop in Missouri

Penned in my journal

Read more of Spinster and Full Catastrophe Living

Saw a fuschia-infused sunset in Indiana {possibly the most beautiful I’ve ever seen}

Weekend Wish List

Meet Mookie {still on the road, 5 hours to go}

Help acclimate Mookie to his new world

Savor time with parents

Enjoy an Oklahoma sunset

Prepare for Monday’s return journey back to DC

Et toi? What’s on your weekend wish list? Bisous.

The post Week in Review appeared first on Kimberly Wilson.

Tranquilosophy: PM Routine

Week 28 of 52 Weeks of Tranquility

Picture yourself curled up with a journal, candle lit nearby, and taking a few moments to exhale after a productive day. Ah, the joys of an evening routine.

Your PM routine is the bookend to your AM routine {week 17}. This time offers an opportunity to tie a bow around the day and set the tone for what’s to come tomorrow.

For many, it’s an important decompression time to unwind, restore, and replenish. Ideally with a cuppa tea and furry friend nearby.

How do you spend your day’s finale?

Do you flop on the couch, kick up your heels, and surf the Internet? Make a meal, pull out a book, and connect with loved ones? Channel surf looking for entertainment while eating processed food mindlessly? At times, guilty as charged.

No judgment, just observe your pattern. Is it serving you? Does it set you up for success or leave you drained?

The moments before we close our eyes offers time for self-care to prepare your body {and mind} for the following day. Design an evening routine that works for you and your lifestyle.

Create a no-more-electronics time to shut down computers, TVs, and phones. This allows your mind to unwind without external stimulation. Instead of technology, connect to your breath or try a few restorative yoga poses. To avoid random text messages and phone calls, set your smartphone to Do Not Disturb {my favorite iPhone setting}.

Write in your journal. Soak in the tub. List gratitude and lesson’s learned from your day. Connect with loved ones—fur babies and humans. Prep for the next day by choosing your outfit, packing a healthy lunch, and setting out any workout gear or necessary supplies. Avoid alcohol or caffeine {yes, that means chocolate} within a few hours of bedtime.

Clear clutter and review tomorrow’s priorities. Set your alarm to allow seven to nine hours of sleep. Create a setting conducive to relaxation. Lower the thermostat to keep your body cool. Spritz your pillows with lavender spray. Dab lavender oil on your temples. Insert earplugs and don your eyepillow.

This wind down process can be accomplished in five minutes or, if you have the luxury, 60 minutes. Clarify how you want to close the day so it complements your morning routine in a healthy, holistic way.

The few hours you have post-work/pre-sleep may vaporize if a routine isn’t in place. Plan ahead to make your evenings intentional. Get the sleep you need. Use your personal time to ground, reflect, and gear up for the opportunities granted the next day. Nighty night and happy slumbering.

Share your experience this week in our Facebook group. Snap a photo of your evening routine and share it using #52weekstranquility.

Watch for Week 29 of 52 Weeks of Tranquility here next week.

Thank you for being here with us. Bisous. x

52 Weeks of Tranquility

This complimentary program is designed to help us stay motivated and engaged in 2015. Each week I’ll send inspiration to your inbox via Love Notes.

Joining later in the year? No worries, read previous weeks here.

To find support and community, join the private Facebook group and use hashtag #52weekstranquility to create additional online connections.

Connect live by calling in to seasonal Tranquilosophy podcasts. Next one happening Monday, September 21. Can’t join us live? Recordings are available.

May we savor deep moments of tranquility.

The post Tranquilosophy: PM Routine appeared first on Kimberly Wilson.

A Peek at MBSR Training

Greetings from my 6-day Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction teacher training at Chapin Mill Retreat Center. The journey has been oddly exhausting and incredibly tranquil at the same time.

Here’s an idea of our 9.5-hour days:

7-8am practice

8-9 brekkie

9-12:30 class

12:30-2:30pm lunch

2:30-5:30 class

5:30-7 dinner

7-9 class followed by silence until 9am

The setting is stunning, my fellow 26 participants are a mix of therapists, teachers, physicians, and business people, and my teachers {Char Wilkins + Susan Woods} embody a beautiful presence.

Confession: it’s tricky to stay fully present when I’m jumping up and down inside about this weekend’s adoption of Mookie Monet Odin Wilson Mooney from Homeward Bound Pug Rescue in Oklahoma. Ommmmm.

Insights from this week’s journey, pics from the road trip NY > OK and, of course, lots of pics of Mookie forthcoming.

My hope is that these photos will encourage a pause, deep breath, and connection to the moment. Life is full of them. Bisous. x

 

 

The post A Peek at MBSR Training appeared first on Kimberly Wilson.

Tranquility du Jour TV: Tee

with vintage crinoline

More made in LA oh-so-cozy Tranquility du Jour tees with gold lettering {in the design YOU helped choose} have arrived.

This week’s video shows multiple looks for the tee with tutus {but, of course}, a vintage ball gown, blazers, and more.

What are your favorite ways to wear graphic tees? Bisous. x

with TranquiliT palazzo pants + vintage sequin blazer

The post Tranquility du Jour TV: Tee appeared first on Kimberly Wilson.

Week in Review

Morning view

Yummy green smoothie

Introducing Mookie Monet Odin Wilson Mooney

{our soon-to-be adopted pug from Homeward Bound Pug Rescue in Oklahoma}

My super cute pig watering can birthday gift

Awkward pic snapped by my friend as I waited to devour this birthday brownie crepe

Week in Review

Two volunteer shifts at Hospice

Saw clients at The Women’s Center

Reorganized my bookshelves by category {took 6 hours}

Dinner date with girlfriend

Art + dinner date with girlfriend

Dinner date with dear boy friend

Date night with Tim

Audrey exhibit at National Portrait Gallery on wrong continent {um, it’s in London}

Packaged and shipped orders

Held a mentoring session

Took two yoga classes

Taught a mindfulness class

Got a mani/pedi

Signed adoption contract and paid fee for new rescue pug {pic above}

Coordinated pick up of Oklahoma rescue pug

Conducted podcast interview with Laura Lowery

Released Everyday Mindfulness podcast with Annie Mahon

Penned Week 27 of 52 Weeks of Tranquility

Tranquility du Jour Tee video

Call with accountability buddy

Call with webmaster

Savored green smoothies and juices

Biked 12 miles

Signed up for Farm Sanctuary Hoe Down

Savored a foot massage

Penned thank you notes

Finalized Costa Rica 2016

Sent details to Penning in Paris 2016 registrants

Weekend Wish List

Pack

Safe travels to New York for 6-day MBSR teacher training

Drop in {let go of distractions} to training

Et toi? What’s on your weekend wish list? Bisous. x

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