Jul22
Posted on Jul 22 by Ruth Davis
A client, Joan, recently shared that she was having a rough week. She felt she wasn’t getting the “right things” done, and she felt alone in the work she had to do. Joan thought the roller coaster she was on was “normal” but she was hoping for a way to get off the ride. Another client, Annie, shared how, one week she was feeling very motivated and productive and on fire, and then the next week she had fallen into a deep, unsettling funk. And she had lost all sight of the importance of the work she was doing. Both women are involved in big projects. They are doing big work from their hearts. And yet, they had forgotten to acknowledge how hard they’d been working. No wonder they landed in a funk. We all move from high to low. It is as natural as the tides, ebbing and flowing. It is in this flux that we experience movement. We couldn’t possibly sustain always feeling high and we couldn’t possibly survive if we were always feeling the lows....
Jul15
Posted on Jul 15 by Ruth Davis
Sometimes we get stuck making a decision, whether it’s saying yes or no, we just can’t choose. We swirl around in a circle of doubt and then we force a choice and it usually doesn’t work out. Instead, consider this: if you are having trouble deciding, perhaps it’s because you aren’t ready to choose, or this may not really be what you want, or something else is in the way. Instead of charging forward just to get it over with, I invite you to explore the resistance. Ask yourself “why am I having so much trouble deciding? And then step back again, breathe and listen in. Maybe you don’t have everything you need to decide. Maybe it’s something you really don’t want to do, Maybe there’s something ELSE CALLING YOU, or a different way. Or maybe you really want to say No instead of yes. So many people don’t know how to say NO. So they say YES to everything. Because they don’t want to offend someone, or rock the boat, or make the wrong choice. If you...
Jul08
Posted on Jul 8 by Ruth Davis
This past week I’ve been reading and thinking about the meaning of freedom. Folks are talking about freedom of speech, of being able to live without working, freedom to do what they want, when they want. Circumstances aside, it seems to me that, our biggest need for freedom is from our negative thoughts and limiting beliefs. From the outside it may seem like I live the ultimate free life — I have wheels underneath me and can travel wherever I choose, I work for myself so I can set my own hours and rates, I don’t have children or elders who I need to take care of. It is just me and Laddy and what do I want to do with my life. And yet, I sometimes find myself struggling with my own self-defeating thoughts. I fall into worry about finances, I stress about generating new business. I fret about what I want to eat for dinner. And all of this negative mind chatter is anything but freedom. Last week, after mucking around in a week of worry,...
Jul01
Posted on Jul 1 by Ruth Davis
It is my last full week here in Asheville, NC. Next Wednesday I begin the journey westward. And so it is a balancing of staying present and planning forward, without getting too far ahead of myself. I am consciously choosing to get my feet in the river every day, to connect with the energy of the moving water, to do my modified sun salutations and to practice my river walking skills. Walking in the river is not like walking on pavement, or even sand. The bottom is uneven. There are hidden rocks, and they are slippery with slimy moss. And so you have to take a small, sturdy step and then pause, plant your foot and make sure you are stable. Then you can step your other foot to find another secure landing. River walking is slow. Purposeful. You have to be fully present. I wear sturdy water shoes. I even bought a new pair, since I bought my old ones when I moved to the CA beach, almost 3 years ago. My new Keen sandals, are purple....
Jun24
Posted on Jun 24 by Ruth Davis
I am still in Asheville, North Carolina, camped along the glorious French Broad River. I am so grateful that this stretch of river is wide, and that I can see so much sky. I’ve been renting a car so it’s easier to run errands, meet people, and explore some places around Asheville without having to worry about Cody and parking. It’s been great. So great that I rented the car for a second week and will probably do a third. Because it’s freedom. There have even been a few days that I didn’t even go anywhere. But knowing that I can if I want to, has been so stress relieving. One by one, I’ve been eliminating all stressors and distractions, settling into being in this beautiful place to make space for what is coming. And of course, with all of that letting go, things got uncomfortable. Last week, two of my friends were out of town and it was a quiet work week, so I had a lot of time to be with myself and my thoughts. Yes, I...
Jun17
Posted on Jun 17 by Ruth Davis
Because this coming Sunday is Father’s Day, I wanted to share a story about my dad. Growing up, he was a playmate, an advocate, and always, a big supporter of whatever I have wanted to do and be. My dad will be 85 this September. He still lives in his own home, drives, shops, cooks, and he even has a girlfriend! I’m so grateful to still have him in my life. For most of my childhood, my family lived on Long Island, the fish-shaped peninsula east of New York City. In sticky summer traffic it was an hour’s drive to Jones Beach. Weekdays, when my mother took us, we went to the bay. At low tide I could wade out for practically a mile and the water never got higher than my bikini-bare waist. Far, far out, the bottom finally dropped to where I could stretch my feet to tippy toes, tilt my chin back and still be able to breathe. Even on the brightest day, the water was a thick, murky brown. I kept my eyes...
