Busy
“How had I allowed myself to become so busy? How long had it been since I’d spent a day in the sun, eating sandwiches from a cooler and watching water ripple across the surface of a lake? Why do I so often behave as though there will be unlimited days to sit quietly with my…
Biophilia
“Humanity is exalted not because we are so far above other living creatures, but because knowing them well elevates the very concept of life.” ― Edward O. Wilson, Biophilia “To explore and affiliate with life is a deep and complicated process in mental development. To an extent still undervalued in philosophy and religion, our existence depends…
Wagging my Tail: Rediscovering the Benefits of Play Through Toss and Catch
During the pandemic lockdown I felt lonely and cut off from the usual fun and games with friends and family. I spent far too much time inside my own head, reading and thinking, but starving for the simple nourishment of play.When restrictions eased, all I wanted was to wag my tail at other people and…
Standing at the Center of the World
Mindfulness is loving all the details of our lives, and awareness in the natural thing that happens: life begins to open up, and you relalize that your’s always standing at the center of the world.” Pema Chodron
Good Materialism
“Matlerial objects – silent as they are – can be eloquent sources of important psychological messages; they can prompt, encourage, upbraid, and generally remind us of our better selves — and by doing so they make a powerful, positive contribution to our lives.” A Simpler Life: A guide to greater serenity, ease and clarity –…
Wonder and Awe
According to Brene Brown, awe and wonder are places we go when it’s beyond us. In Atlas of the Heart, Brene Brown recounts how Rachel Carson wished to gift every child a healthy dose of wonder to protect them from the boredom and disenchantment of later years when adults can become preoccupied with artificial things…
Spaciousness of Time
Practice not-doing and everything will fall into place. Lao-Tzu, Tao Te Ching I long for spaciousness of time. I’ve touched it, but it’s always been fleeting. Overcommitting is a hard habit to break. Dan and I have long conversations about cutting back on extra activities at work and at home. He has stopped doing extra…
Here Chickie, Chickie
According to Vivek Murthy, in the post-pandemic world, we have a loneliness epidemic. People are disconnected and isolated on a scale that is unimaginable to our ancestors. The relationship architecture of remote and hybrid jobs is a shambles. I’m compensating outside of work by spending more time in social activities including pickleball. Indeed, I’ve joined…
Do What You Can…
Do what you can, with what you have, where you are. Teddy Roosevelt In a few short weeks, I’ll start a new job at the University of Rochester. In preparation for the transition, I enrolled in an art class at the Flower City Arts Center. Jose, a watercolor artist from Germany, now a Rochester transplant,…
My Relationship With Poetry
Morning light. Skin spread like a sail to the wind. Dogearing what stirs the bodymind.
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Sarah Averill MD 