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Dear Subscriber First Name, As an author whose first book came out during the depths of the pandemic in 2020, these last two months - since Wake Up Grateful came out in paperback - have offered me a restorative wealth of opportunities to finally be with other human beings…in person!! In bookstores, auditoriums, restaurants, yoga studios, churches. In silence, conversation, and insight. Sitting here today, I realize how much soul-nourishment this contact has provided me. I have a deeper sense about the longings, grief, and questions that so many of us are holding right now. Also about the ways that people are actively seeking out, nurturing, and finding hope in those things they are most grateful for. And while it may often seem that we are navigating the balancing acts of well-being alone, gathering with others can allow us to see more clearly how we truly carry them collectively. It reminds us that we always share in the felt-burdens and blessings of Life, and that their weight distributed among many hands and hearts can help to make our hardships more bearable and our joys even brighter. Knowing that we are holding fast to what truly matters, in concert with one another - especially in the challenging times our world is facing now - offers such a needed balm to the heart. Today I leave to teach a weekend workshop at Kripalu and I am looking forward to this immersive time with those making their way from all over the country today to join me in diving into the transformative practice of living life gratefully. I know the power and beauty of this kind of deep learning in community, and I know the impact it has on people’s lives. It is such a privilege for me to be a part of it. This workshop is the perfect capstone for a season of wanderings and then I look forward to once again diving into some solitude and stillness this winter, and my own transformative practice of writing. This season, may you find many an occasion to feel held in meaningful connection. Even and particularly when you are alone, may you note the abundance of ways that you belong to this world. I am so grateful that you are here. Thank you for helping to create a felt-sense of community in my life. Happy Holidays to you and yours. Till 2024, with love -
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