It’s a cold and blustery Sunday in June – windy, rainy, overcast. A perfect day for sitting inside where it’s warm, having no place to go and thus some time to spend simply contemplating the meaning of life. (Did you fall for that? I actually haven’t been contemplating any such thing, really.) Or have I? What I’ve been doing is realizing how joyful I am when I am not busy, not in a hurry, and not worried about anything in particular. I am just happy to be happy with my completely ordinary existence. Grateful for all the simple, ordinary things in my life that I try to remind myself every day should never be taken for granted.
What brought all this on? you may very well ask. And also know that whether you ask or not I’ll still go ahead and tell you anyway. I’ve spent the morning watching You Tube Videos of Dr. Brené Brown.
Brené Brown, Ph.D., LMSW, is an American scholar, author and public speaker, who is currently a research professor at the University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work. Over the last ten years she has been involved in research on topics ranging from vulnerability, courage, authenticity, to empathy and shame. She has written notable books like The Gifts of Imperfection (2010) and Daring Greatly (2012), and she and her work has been featured on PBS, NPR, TED and CNN. (Wikkipedia)
I’m so impressed by what she has to say that I’ve downloaded her books to my Kindle. Reading them is going to be next on my agenda for this lovely lazy day.
If you’ve never heard of her, here’s a Super Soul Sunday video with Oprah to get you started listening to her very wise advice about being enough, having compassion, and whole-hearted living. It will lead you to many more links, and if you have the time, her TED talks are well worth the twenty minutes or so it takes to listen to them.
Listening to her talk has made me appreciate even more all the incredible people who are brave enough to tell their stories here in the blogging world. What an incredible way this is to reach out and express how we feel, to give and receive empathy and understanding. To know that none of us is ever alone.
Breathing Space 