It is a word that matters deeply to me and for me. Because really, it is not just a word – it is a way of living. Recently, I stepped into the experience of being out of integrity and the struggle in that moment was telling. I share it with you because it gives purpose to my next steps.

Just over a year ago; after knowing I was stressed at work; not in the best health; and still trying to “do everything”, I sat with a friend and her family in my Kids’ Yoga practice and were talking  about meals at home – an always telling feature of how a family connects (or doesn’t) around food. This family went on to describe that although they are often pulled in different directions that they do their very best to have family meals when possible.

“Commendable,” I observed. And as that special word left my mouth my body; my heart knew that I was out of alignment… not in posture, not in position, but in life. For there I was, sitting at 6:30pm celebrating a family that was doing their very best to hold up the value of togetherness while my own family was at home…eating dinner without me; while my friends were out having fun, without me; while relationships were blossoming and there were weddings and baptisms, and I myself, was not in a relationship because I did not have time.

Nine years after my own Awakening after my mom’s passing; the clarity that if healing was to come, it would be because of kindness. I kept saying I wanted kindness, compassion. So I stopped longing for it and started to become it.