How Badly Does Tragedy Suck?

When national tragedy strikes we get shaken.

Uprooted from our regular routine, we’re affected, if only for a few moments. It’s underneath the grief and sadness that the depth of reality slowly gets uncovered.

Our instinct is to avoid the pain and run. We want freedom from burdens, so stepping into them seems counterintuitive. It’s easier to turn a blind eye. On a national level we’ve done a great job circumventing the topic of mental illness. Perhaps it’s too daunting a task, an elusive goal with too many variables—a problem too big to face. Or perhaps it’s easier to ignore in hopes that it’ll go away on it’s own.

Freedom from the Trance

Sleepwalkers: the slow wave sleep stage in a state of low consciousness performing activities that are usually performed during a state of full consciousness.

“Am I dreaming?”  A question I’d ask myself often during my pre-adolescent years.  My life was spent in a perpetual haze, daydreaming to get me through the harsh reality that was my world. It was one way of coping – conjuring up fantasies offered relief; other times it made things worse.  I began to wonder if I was walking this world half-asleep.  My inquiry grew and I started noticing others and watching their patterns. I became convinced no one is ever fully awake. “We’re all asleep in a dream together and nothing is real.” The thought made me shudder. I forced myself to stop thinking it.  But as we all know what we resist persists.  There was no letting go.  Not until I sat, embraced the notion and fully understood what it means to be completely awake. 

VALENTINE’S DAY MAGIC RATIO - by Michael Schulder

Michael Schulder writes for wavemaker.me.  His most recent piece: Valentine's Day Magic Ratio was written after interviewing my husband, Pete Dominick, and I.  The piece fits well with Inner Light of Mine's mission and is included below.  Enjoy!

Losing Ourselves to the Age of Distraction: How Mindfulness Can Help

“Mindfulness,” the latest buzzword has recently hit Time Magazine. The word is everywhere; you can’t get away from it.  It’s an adverb (mindful eating, walking, working, parenting), a clothing line, a magazine, and even a tea brand.  The trend has officially gone mainstream.  More and more people are gravitating toward the pull of this ancient wisdom.  Not because it’s the latest fad, but because it’s a means of coping in an overly stimulating, competitive, and demanding society.  Distraction is the leading condition of our age.  And as the Time’s article states, “there are no signs of things slowing down; to the contrary, they’re getting stronger.”  

Overlooking The Edge

It was the first day of January. Standing on top of the world, my breath froze in my chest.  Looking over the edge I reminded myself to breathe, but the second that breath came, fear snatched it away.  A gust of heavy, cold air came toward me in a hurry. I felt as if I was trying to subdue a tornado with my bare hands.  Determined, I stood strong, planting myself with conviction. “I can do this,” I whispered.