Damn but this time of year is beautiful.

The sun in the morning. The flowers blooming. The trees against the sky.

The yellow birds.

Yes, my yellow birds are visiting my bird feeder every day.

They were coming for a while; they seemed to go away; and they’re back.

Damn they’re beautiful.

There are so many reasons to feel joy. So many ways to let joy in. So many moments of peace and ease.

In full disclosure, I am looking for them actively, because in full disclosure, and no surprise, there are moments that the joy inside me is harder to find.

So I breathe through. I practice RAIN (which I first heard from Tara Brach, and I highly recommend) – Recognize, Allow, Investigate, and Nurture (nurture being my favorite part). I sit with the “bad” and “tough” emotions that are coming up…and offer myself compassion and love.

Then I find the joy. As best as I can, in every moment, I look for and find the joy.

It is all around me, when I can pause and breathe and notice. It is inside of me, when I can pause and breathe and notice.

I am breathing through and finding the joy.

I’d love to hear your thoughts, and please share this post with others if it resonates with you!

Photo by Taylor Heery on unsplash


If you have been in ANY high control group or religion, share your story with the hashtag #IGotOut. Share on your own platform OR if you need to be anonymous and/or would like support, there are resources at the @igotout_org website.

When you see a survivor share their story, let them know they have been heard. This is such a meaningful part of the movement. We all need to know we’re not alone.

If you know someone who has been harmed by a high demand group, share #igotout posts or stories you think would help them.

Together we can bring awareness to how many of us have been harmed by high control organizations and end the shame or stigma we might feel about our experiences.

Tell your story
Impact lives
Change the world

Find out more at igotout.org

Start reading 'to the moon and back' today!


Subscribe to my weekly newsletter and receive a FREE sample from my new book, 'to the moon and back'!

You have Successfully Subscribed!