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This is the kitchen where we talk about food, life, and recovery—a spiritual path to healing and peace.

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You are invited to keep coming back to A Cup of Kindness to share your experience, strength and hope; fears, doubts and insecurities; and to pick up information, inspiration … and have a little fun!

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In January 2007, at the age of 51, I joined a 12-step program and began my recovery from food addiction, losing 75 pounds in the process. Read more…

In January 2011, at the age of 55, I began my recovery from a multi-trauma accident, 36 fractures, damaged lungs, and post traumatic stress. Read more…

I am deeply grateful for all the kindnesses, large and small, offered to me in recovery. Here I am... alive… still making progress … still not perfect … finding a new way forward in a growing community of women and men who share a lot in common around food and life.

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Staying sane… relatively

Here’s my little chart for what I am doing on a daily basis, as best I can, to stay relatively sane, to cultivate connection and peace. It’s going well. Not perfectly. It is progress though.

I wake up and look for a sense of gratitude.

I choose one word as my intention for the day saying, “I want to feel… “ Today my word was “connected.”

I read from Psalms for Praying: An Invitation to Wholeness by Nan C. Merrill and Meditations with Teresa of Avila: A Journey Into the Sacred by Megan Don.

I sit quietly for 20 – 30 minutes, returning to my word as often as need be.

I prepare and enjoy healthy food.

I look for opportunities to help others and I ask for help when I need it. Asking for help can be a gift to someone.

I do some art now and then. I’m hoping to get a daily art practice going.

I walk Miranda-the-labradoodle, often with a friend; and join friends for yoga and Gyrokinesis via Zoom.

I listen to music and sometimes play the flute or sing.

I pray and hold the world in the Light.

I get in bed and my husband and I each read a psalm aloud.

I find something about my day that makes me smile.

I go to sleep.

The more I practice, the more moments arise of profound peace, even in the midst of the crisis we are facing. I notice that my heart is eased.  I look out and see beauty. I see people being kind. I see stars in the sky, Miranda-the-labradoodle, and my good husband. I feel grateful.

May we all be well, happy and peaceful.

Love and Light,

Valerie

6 Comments to Staying sane… relatively

  1. nicola's Gravatar nicola
    March 26, 2020 at 12:49 pm | Permalink

    formerly,
    my comment would follow your mother’s beautiful and loving words;
    now imagined, she is glad for you
    and so am i
    lovely routine to follow
    Inspiring
    for one
    who has practically none.
    love
    nicola

  2. EM's Gravatar EM
    March 28, 2020 at 9:29 pm | Permalink

    This is so inspiring, Valerie. I’m finding myself living the “sheltering” part of sheltering-in-place these days … and you have captured that sense of slowing down, breathing, inhabiting the moments of slower days.

    Yes to the moments of profound peace. ❤️

    Thank you.

  3. March 29, 2020 at 6:47 pm | Permalink

    I think of these words.

    “The infinite space hidden between your thoughts.”

    Eckhart Tolle

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