Barbara L. Cummings

Barbara L. Cummings Barbara L Cummings, MS, RN, the Mindful Maven, is a sassy Queen-ager, mentor, confidante and trusted guide who provides people with everyday life support.

If not now ...? I am going to be there, every step of the way, right beside you and behind you. You don’t have to figure this out on your own. I was born with a joie de vivre. However, my life wasn’t always full of manicures and martinis. I’ve weathered some of the worst challenges like divorce, career changes, and rocky relationships all around. I've gained experience and wisdom and I'm here to p

ass it on, with love. I'm a mentor, meditator and mindfulness trainer. Change your mind - Change your life. I'm a Travel Whisperer, Free Thinker, Rule Bender, Seeker of Fun. Who are you?! Who do you want to be??

07/30/2026

Believe It…Or Not?

Happy end of July, dear Reader! Another month done in 2026, and the summer is winding down. Last weekend was a BIG birthday celebration for me, and it was delightful. A warm, but not too hot, sunny day, poolside with friends that have been in my life for over 65 years -- who could ask for anything more?!?

Now, as I was sitting down to write this post, the stars and planets aligned and the topic of today came to me with ease and grace. As I was thinking about how much our lives are influenced by what we believe, a podcast popped up on my feed with Oprah and Shawn Achor. Shawn is an author and speaker whose byline is "Bringing the science of happiness to life". His latest book is The Power of Beliefs. This is a subject near and dear to my heart.

Research says that a belief is a lens through which we view the world. Think about it ... if you don't believe something can happen, do you even bother pursuing it? For example, if you think it's impossible for you to lose weight, will you even try? Probably not. Which leads me to the next part of Shawn's investigation. Beliefs are how we see the world and they predict what will happen next. This is exciting. What this means to me is that I can change an outcome by changing my belief. If I can wrap my brain around the idea that something is possible, then I can invest in it happening.

How can we go from impossible to "most likely"? One way that I manage that is by looking for evidence around me. I love reading and watching TED Talks, especially when I hear about someone achieving something they didn't think they could. Or, listening to a person tell their story about overcoming huge odds. During the podcast, Oprah mentioned how, as a young girl, she "knew" she wouldn't be taking in laundry like her grandmother when she grew up. She believed there was something bigger and better for her. At the time, there wasn't much in her life to predict that, yet she couldn't believe that was all there was for her future.

What's really intriguing is how once we have our belief we start making all our decisions based on it. If I believe that I can be more healthy and live a fuller life I will probably start eating better, look into supplements, find an exercise plan that works for me, stop behaviours that don't serve me. On the other hand, if I don't believe it's possible -- perhaps I believe it's all genetics or "my mother couldn't lose weight so neither can I" -- then I'll go for the junk food with abandon, skip the gym, and sabotage myself in every way. When we have a goal in mind that we believe we can achieve, we eliminate anything that doesn't support that objective.

Shawn lists seven core beliefs in his book:

- my behavior matters
- I am not alone
- I matter
- this work is meaningful
- I have something to give
- there is something greater than me
- I have something to be grateful for

The last two are especially significant for me. I've never made it a secret that I don't have much faith (pun intended) in organized religion. If a "church" operates as a source of support in a community, that's great, but my observation is that it's mostly man-made contrivance designed for manipulation. Fortunately, I believe that there is an energy that I can't fully understand that is vibrating in my favor, if I can tune in. When I get quiet and listen to my soul, things fall into place. I also believe in the power of like-minded souls getting together to create positive change. That's why I support animal rescue, feeding the hungry, and protecting the underserved, just to name a few.

Gratitude is huge. As Oprah mentioned in the podcast, she started a gratitude journal around 1992. I remember her talking about it on her TV show, and I'll be honest. I was not having my finest life moments back then. I pushed back against a lot of advice that really could have helped me. Unfortunately, I was in my "defiant" phase and it did not serve me well! Fortunately, a few years later, I dipped into it fully. To this day, I usually review what I'm grateful for just before falling asleep, and I also stay aware of gratitude throughout most days -- those are the best days! When I'm grateful, it's easier to recognize that things are going well and only going to get better.

So what do you believe, and how is that working for you? How have your beliefs kept you down or got in the way of living better? I believe that we can change our beliefs and that might be the best of all.

Read this full post on my blog, https://tinyurl.com/4vzmk6vu.

07/16/2026

.Helpers

My dear reader, I must start with a confession. I sat at my desk for quite some time before finally starting to write this post. I tend to be a neat and organized person in my home; however, my desk often has little pieces of paper with quotes or random ideas scribbled on them. They are all potential topics, but what might have piqued my interest one day doesn't always inspire me on another. I pulled out a few of those pitches for a hopefully interesting essay and came up empty. My brain just couldn't seem to connect. So, after an hour or so, I decided to take a break and catch up on emails. Whoomp, there it was! A quote from Mr. Rogers that spoke to me out loud:

"When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, 'Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.' To this day, especially in times of disaster, I remember my mother's words, and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers -- so many caring people in this world."

Whether we watch the news or try to avoid it at all costs, there's no way to not hear about disturbing events in the world. We can try to limit our exposure, and I highly recommend doing that, but something is going to slip in.

You know how it's impossible to drive by an accident on the highway without slowing down and gawking? Traffic will often slow down almost as much on the opposite side of the road as the affected side. Now, think about what you're looking at. Probably trying to see who was involved, how bad the damage is, speculating how it happened. It's easy to get sucked into the awfulness and imagine the worst. If we take Mrs. Rogers' good advice, we can shift our energy around. Look for the first responders -- police, fire department, ambulance. Offer a short prayer and rather than letting yourself dwell on a bad outcome, imagine the best possible end result. With practice, you can do this in any situation.

Even more empowering is how can we step up and BE a helper? The truth is, we love to help even from an early age. As a perinatal educator for over 45 years I've worked with women during their pregnancies, labor & delivery, and the post partum months after. There is always an adjustment for a sibling when the new baby arrives. One of the best ways to assist with this new set up is to include the older child and have them "help" out with the baby. Depending on the age of the child, it could be something as simple as getting a diaper so Mom can change the infant or an older child holding and cuddling the newborn.

As adults, it might feel hard to know of a situation and not know what to do. We might not be in a position to pull over to an accident scene and offer assistance, but we might find many other ways to come to the rescue. Even small monetary donations to causes that we support can add up and contribute to doing good. Money isn't the only commodity we can offer -- our time and presence is often valued even more. Some of my best experiences have been volunteering with friends at different organizations. All this gives us an opportunity to be grateful for whatever we have in our own lives and practicing the art of giving back or paying it forward. It also helps if we can find a way to hold some little bit of positive energy around any situation.

If you find yourself feeling frustrated or falling into a sense of hopelessness with whatever tragedy barges into your awareness, pause for a moment. Look for the helpers or see if there's something you can do, either up close or remotely. It doesn't help to get caught up in wishing it didn't happen. "It" did, and now, what can we do? You've got this!

Here's a link to my blog, https://tinyurl.com/3j3b573k.

07/02/2026

New Blog Post
Nervous System Reset

Hello, hello, dear Reader! I'm back from my third trip this year and while I'm happy to stay in Boston through the summer, I'm also looking forward to my annual stay with my daughter in southern Oregon in the fall. At the same time, I'm exploring possible winter jaunts to different parts of Europe.

I used to write a lot about the joys of travel years ago, pre Covid, when I often went on journeys outside of the U.S. Often I'd go for a retreat or seminar and then meander. I loved getting to know a new culture, hearing a different language, trying new food, and even bumping into other Americans (sometimes). I felt energized and enlightened and ever since my first overseas trip to Brazil when I was 16, I've been struck by how much I don't know what I don't know.

Of course I have gone places where I arrived with a preconceived idea of what I would encounter. I have been consistently and pleasantly surprised at how far off the mark I could be. I've heard people say that they didn't enjoy a particular place or country because it was "so different". We've all heard of Americans who look for MacDonald's or Burger King (which sadly are almost everywhere) because the food is "too strange". The author James A. Michener once wrote:

"If you reject the food, ignore the customs, fear the religion and avoid the people, you might better stay home."

I agree with James, however I recommend giving it a try and broadening your perspective. As the actor Alan Alda observed:

"Your assumptions are your windows on the world. Scrub them off every once in a while, or the light won't come in."

I love the feeling of opening up to a new culture, learning more about their history, and letting my mind expand. I like listening and observing. As Ina Garten says in her new memoir, " ...You can't be inspired sitting at home alone by yourself. You have to go out into the world and see what people are doing, and that will trigger something else in you..."

My recent two trips to Europe, Iceland and Ireland, also offered me a beautiful gift I didn't expect. It is very stressful living in the U.S. with our current government. I am constantly aware that I go back and forth between avoiding the insanity on news broadcasts and social media and looking for the best ways to be proactive and protest the injustices. I grew up in the 1960's and 70's which was a time of turmoil marked by demonstrations, marches, rallies, and sit-ins. There was a sense of justified outrage that I currently find woefully missing while I find some comfort in small pockets of anger and indignation. While I am aware of this state of confusion, chaos, and uncertainty, I didn't realize just how much it was affecting me until I left. I landed in two countries that immediately enveloped me in kind, tolerant, inclusive, caring surroundings. They expressed concern for our situation and I felt myself let out a great sigh of relief. I started to believe in the goodness of humanity again and I embraced the opportunity to feel safe and relaxed, even if only for a week at a time.

Travel has become like medicine for me. It offers the opportunity to step back, unwind, calm down, and decompress. It gives me a new perspective and it resets my nervous system. I give it a big thumbs up!

Read this full post on my blog, https://tinyurl.com/3xku74p6.

06/18/2026

Better With Age

Greetings, dear Reader. As this post goes out I will be embarking on another trip. There was a time when I traveled out of the country at least twice a year. I loved my trips and I must admit, I took my travels for granted. Of course I would return to Paris or spend a month in Portugal or have a decadent retreat in Tuscany -- that's what I "did". When my foreign travels stopped abruptly, there was a good reason -- COVID. As a nurse, I was deeply involved in the pandemic and my new reality seemed justified. Suddenly, five years had gone by. I travelled a lot between the east and west coasts, but my passport was sitting in a safe spot, getting dusty. I went to St Maarten last year and began to feel the urge for more. This week I am embarking on my third international journey in six months and I'm looking forward to seeing new places, meeting new people, and challenging my own view of the world. I highly recommend it!

I often get ideas for topics to write about when I'm outside on a walk. Sometimes an idea might come from a podcast I'm listening to or if I'm not plugged in, all kinds of random thoughts find their way into my consciousness, especially if I deliberately ask the question, "What would be a good thing to present to you?". My writing often comes from questions people ask me regarding how I look at life, especially how I maintain a positive attitude. On a recent neighborhood meander I reflected back on how that wasn't always true.

It took me years and lots of pain to realize how much anger I began storing at an early age. Much of it had been passed down through generations of women feeling oppressed by a patriarchal system without even knowing it. When I started studying with Regena Thomashauer, aka Mama Gena, at the School of Womanly Arts (SWA), I was already in my 40's, nearly 50. When she said:

"We women are currently all living in a cloud of repressed emotion ...
I also know from personal experience how anger can be pushed down for years, and the toll such suppression can take. I was angry at the spiritual, physical, and educational consequences of being a girl. I felt alienated, lonely, ungrateful, exiled, and disgusted.
These are times of great change and of conflicting and seldom-met expectations. Women have more opportunity and freedom than ever before, but we're still raised to subordinate our desires to those of others around us."
I identified with it all.

I grew up with women burning their bras in protest and singing the praises of women's lib. I sang the song from the Broadway musical "Annie Get Your Gun", Anything you can do I can do better. I "learned" to feel like I needed men in my life while at the same time, resenting them. I thought it was ok to blame men primarily (although I was pretty much an equal opportunity blamer) for not being happy. Another lesson I learned in the halls of SWA was how much a patriarchal system doesn't serve women or men. It simply creates adversarial relationships that bring the worst out in each other and these "roles" can be played out whether you're straight, gay, bi, or trans.

Coming into my own, accepting my feelings, taking responsibility for my actions and behaviours was awkward, to say the least. Once again, from Mama Gena:

"...it's so easy to listen to the little voice of doubt that whispers, 'You are not beautiful enough. You are not smart enough. You are just not good enough.' ...getting from that comfortable spot on the floor to that stage of unlimited potential is a challenge. Many women are so terribly scared to experience their full emotional, spiritual, and sexual range because they are intimidated by their own innate power."

I knew I had to change and this is the journey I have been on for more than a quarter of a century. For the first 40 years of my life I took hostages whenever possible, burned bridges, raged at the world, closed myself off from love and connection, and covered up my anxiety and fears. I often seemed nice on the surface and I like to think those were glimmers of potential, while on the inside I was filled with anxiety and fear. I didn't know there was any other way to exist and that was a huge barrier that almost kept me captive. Once I started opening up to new possibilities, things started to shift, although I clung to the familiar from time to time. Even when it doesn't serve us anymore, we can revert to what we "know", mistaking it for comfort.

Now, after 3/4 of a century of living, I can barely recognize who I was then. Lately I find myself frequently referring to not having the "bandwidth" for certain things. I love the Google definition of this phrase:

"Saying 'I don't have the bandwith' is a polite, professional way to say you do not have the time, energy, or mental capacity to take on a new task, problem, or request. If you exceed your bandwith, you risk overloading, stressing out, or burning out."

This can mean many things. I learned not to watch the news on a regular basis years ago. I recently discovered that I can't handle certain tv shows that are a reflection of what is "wrong" in society. I look for things that are uplifting and hopeful. I travel because I want to listen to how other people think and have experiences different from those in my local environment. I do my best to put out into the world what I want to see come back to me. I don't give my attention to big situations that I can't personally change, but if I can offer something positive to my immediate environment, I will. Sometimes older people are stereotyped to be grouchy and grumpy. I could have been that unhappy senior except I chose to accept the offer to change and now, I'm better with age.

You can read this post on my blog, https://tinyurl.com/2bs8hx3v.

Hello again, dear Reader! Well, I’ve been vacationing again … here’s something from the archives, (Circa 2020). Flashi...
06/04/2026

Hello again, dear Reader!

Well, I’ve been vacationing again … here’s something from the archives, (Circa 2020). Flashing back to when we were all living through a worldwide pandemic. I cant wait to share all of the details of my trip with you guys very soon!

Sparkles & Love Blog Post (June 10, 2020)

Embracing, Learning, Changing

Good Morning, Good Afternoon, Good Evening -- wherever you are and whatever time it is, I am so happy you are "here" with me. When you stop and take a moment in your day or night to read my humble blogette, it makes my heart sing. Honestly, I swear I can often feel the connection. Thank you for being part of my community.

Come, be present, take a deep breath in and out ... these are times that we did not necessarily expect, and yet, they are not entirely surprising. It's as if we've been living with an undercurrent, sometimes unsettling, sometimes "just there, in the background". When I've taught a course in stress management and mindfulness, we've often talked about feeling like we are waking up. Naropa University is a private school in Boulder, Colorado that describes itself as Buddhist-inspired and I heard that their president once said that their students were awake. Lately, at times, I feel like I'd rather be asleep. But, I know that won't result in a good feeling. It's like staying in bed after shutting the alarm off. It might seem hard to face the day and I might even fall back asleep, however I never wake up the second time feeling well or rested. I usually feel like I wish I had jumped out of bed when I heard the first notes of, "Love Is In the Air" by Count Dee (yes, that is my alarm ringtone!).

I call my Monday Quotes "Divine Downloads" because they'll come to me, often while driving, and out of the blue (or pink or yellow or green ...). Often they will come in batches, as if I've somehow plugged in for a bit and I'm getting some important information. I send them along to my assistant and she pulls them from the ongoing file every other week. I love the element of surprise when she sends me a quote that I've completely forgotten about and this week was no different except that it was particularly relevant:

"We learn from difference, not from sameness."
- Gloria Steinem

"Especially when we look at difference
with interest and curiosity,
not fear. Then, we expand and evolve."
- BLC

It would be incredibly boring if everyone and everything were the same. Many times when we look at a couple we might think, "opposites attract" and it makes sense that there is an interest in finding each other exotic. There would be no conversation worth having if we all thought exactly the same. Contrast is what propels us forward, helps us to understand what we like or don't like, what makes us feel good or not so great. Being different should not be a basis for fear and yet, many times, it is . The phrase "agree to disagree" should be a platform where we can respect one another and also be open to expanding our awareness.

At the same time, there needs to be room for appreciating the sameness. If we are all human beings, all spiritual entities having a human, earthly experience together, can we start there? If we put a group of crawling babies of every shape, size and color together in a room, wouldn't they want to approach each other with wonder and interest? Where do we learn to hate and why? If it's because we become wounded and we learn from scarred adults, how can we begin to heal? I don't have too many answers, yet. I do know that we must find more love within ourselves and self-compassion and then open up our hearts. The solution to any problem never comes from the same energy as the problem itself. Whether it's a pandemic or outrage at injustices, we need to wake up and look for what we want and what we can do differently and examine our desire for change . It will probably feel uncomfortable at first, but that's just the new, unfamiliar energy stirring within. We must continue to inform ourselves and evolve and expand. As Maya Angelou said,

"Do the best you can until you know better.
Then, when you know better, do better."

This is what I wish for you and for all of us.

05/21/2026

The worst that could...

Late spring greetings, dear Reader. I'm still gushing about all the lush signs of spring here in New England. What a reminder of resilience!

I'll be honest with you -- I had no idea what to write about this week. Sometimes I have so many ideas, I have a hard time picking just one. Not this week. I almost decided to just re-post something I wrote a few years ago, although even that wasn't really coming together for me. Then, I heard something on a podcast and I knew, this was it. It's short and tangy and I hope it lands with you like it did for me.

I'm sure you're familiar with the saying, "What's the worst that could happen?!?" We use it when we're perhaps questioning doing something that feels like it might be stretching our boundaries or being outside the box (and, btw, don't forget that we are the creators of "the box"). What a great idea. We usually try to add a little lol, because, one of the first things we'll do after saying that phrase, is imagine the worst that could happen! Something that should be a form of encouragement --come on, or go on, let's do it -- becomes a prophecy of doom. It's amazing that we don't sabotage every new venture with a tagline like that and to be honest, we might be sinking some before they even start.

Therefore, I suggest we all start saying, at the beginning of any escapade that involves a little increase in heart rate and a certain level of excitement ...

WHAT'S THE BEST THAT COULD HAPPEN?

And then, let your beautiful imagination run wild!

As always, please feel free to share with me any "bests" that come your way, now that you're opening the path.

Check out my blog, https://tinyurl.com/47bkmhbe

05/07/2026

Adventure Is Worthwhile

A big, Spring hello, dear Reader! I have been enjoying my neighborhood walks more than ever with all the blooms popping every day. It's my favorite season in New England. Check out my recent Instagram posts.

The title of today's post is a quote from Aristotle and it relates to my love of travel. Before the world shut down in 2020, I would often take two or three trips a year. Flights between Boston and Europe were especially convenient. One year, I convinced myself that since I was already on the west coast in Oregon I was closer to Australia (!). Crossing the Pacific Ocean was quite a bit longer than a hop across "the Pond" as we used to call the flights from the northeast to London. The sixteen hour flight was totally worth it!

Often, I chose to fly on Icelandair since the flights were affordable and it was a lovely airline. Since all flights to Europe first stopped in Reykjavik they always offered me the chance to take a few days to explore the island, at no extra airfare cost, before continuing on to wherever I was ultimately landing. I never took them up on it for various reasons, usually time constraints.

Last year, after five years of no international travel, I had a vacation in St. Maarten. It was lovely and it re-awakened my desire to explore. This longing grew and grew until I felt like I had to plan a trip and last week's journey to Iceland was created.

The trip almost designed itself. I've often encouraged others to take all the small steps that eventually lead to something you want. A dream or a yearning can seem overwhelming until you take the first small step. Once I decided that Iceland was my destination, it all began to unfold.

I often, even usually, travel solo. This time I mentioned it to a colleague who quickly said she was on board. I had never travelled with her before and it worked out beautifully (you never know how that will pan out 😬). She was a great companion and solved the problem of solo travel add-ons. From start to finish, the adventure went above and beyond any expectations.

Iceland is a volcanic island sitting on the diverging tectonic plates of North America and Eurasia. It's often referred to as the "land of fire and ice" because of its glaciers, geysers, hot springs, and ... volcanoes. A fair amount of the interior of the country is uninhabitable and over 60% of the country's 390,000+ population lives in and around the capital of Reykjavik. That doesn't mean there isn't much to see or do. We packed in five days of fascinating exploration.

The first day, after flying all night, we headed out on a walking food and general information tour of Reykjavik. From the minute we touched down, the adventure began. I once read a quote from the fantasy author Ray Bradbury: "Stuff your eyes with wonder ... See the world ... It's more fantastic than any dream ..." Iceland did not disappoint.

Over the next four days we were offered the opportunity of taking in thundering waterfalls, gorgeous craters, black sand beaches, adorable horses (known as the Fabios of the equestrian world for their flowing manes), stunning glaciers, and lichen covered volcanic fields. Our tour guides, without exception, were charming, funny, kind, and a wealth of fascinating facts. Yes, tourism does play a big part in Iceland's existence and therefore is an important part of their identity, however not once did it feel like anyone's hospitality was forced or phony. Here are some highlights and don't forget to check out the attached photo album:

- While I'm not a big fan of American hot dogs, I was strongly encouraged to try Iceland's famous hot dog. It's made with lamb and covered with ketchup made from apples, crispy and raw onions, mustard, and remoulade. It was delish!
- Puffins are adorable, small birds that come to islands just off the coast of Reykjavik after eight months of living at sea to nest from late April through August. They beat their wings around 400 times a minute (their bones aren't hollow and so they are heavier than many birds) which helps to identify them. They mate for life and their bills become very colorful in the spring.
- Earthquakes are constant, although usually of such low magnitude they are hardly perceptible.
- All top leadership positions are currently held by women 😁 and Icelanders take great pride in this. There is a palpable level of tolerance, acceptance, and compassion throughout which was a welcome respite from the current political climate here in the U.S. My nervous system relaxed and healed a little during the trip.
- The Blue Lagoon -- this is a geothermal spa found nowhere else on earth rich in silica, algae, and minerals. The water is milky blue and you are given a mud mask to treat your skin while soaking in its incredible, healing warmth.
- Much of Game of Thrones was filmed in Iceland -- the perfect backdrop!

As you can guess, I highly recommend visiting this captivating destination. I often say that I am motivated by my awareness of not knowing what I don't know. This is what drives me to travel and explore. I always come back with new thoughts, ideas, and awareness. I am so looking forward to the next adventure and I highly recommend finding your own.

To see all of the pictures from my adventure in Iceland, click on this link, https://tinyurl.com/4y2hfpmu.

Hello again, dear Reader!I’m heading across the Atlantic tonight and didn’t get a chance to write this week. Please enjo...
04/23/2026

Hello again, dear Reader!

I’m heading across the Atlantic tonight and didn’t get a chance to write this week. Please enjoy a repeat of one of my posts from exactly a decade ago (April 25, 2016).
I’ll fill you in on my trip in a couple of weeks!

My Thoughts on Others' Wisdom

"It's better to walk alone than with a crowd going in the wrong direction."
- Diane Grant

"Every single time!"
- BLC

Here is the link to my blog where you can find all of my posts, https://tinyurl.com/4t7xx9hm.

See you soon!

04/09/2026

Compare and Despair or Repair?!

Welcome to April, dear Reader! It's still quite chilly here in New England, however a few hearty little flowers are bravely starting to bloom. It's such a lovely time of year here, even if the weather still keeps us guessing.

At least once, quite a while ago, and maybe more, I've written about the danger in always comparing oneself to others. Social media has turned it into a blood sport with seemingly no good outcomes. According to research, 60% or more young people struggle with body image issues, anxiety, and a false sense of inadequacy based on an unrealistic promotion of beauty and lifestyle standards. I can't even imagine what it's like being a teenager these days with the prevalent influence of Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. Another perk of being a senior citizen though, is seeing through the BS and looking for another way to respond.

In this new age of AI, it's hard to distinguish between what's real and what's absurd. It's also wonderful to celebrate others' accomplishments. My sense of what's happening on social media is that there's a belief that there's only a limited amount of good fortune out there. If someone else has some great stuff going on, there mustn't be enough left for me. And one more part of this big ball of confusion -- we're letting someone else tell us what we should like, accept, dislike, and reject. It reminds me of a beautiful quote from Jim Rohn, an American business philosopher:

"If you don't design your own life plan,
chances are you'll fall into someone else's plan.
And guess what they have planned for you?
Not much."

About a month ago I had someone comment on my energy level that they thought was high "for my age". They asked what my secret was and made a comment about doing something to improve their own vitality and using me for inspiration. What an honor to be regarded as a good example and how exciting for them to think that what I "had" was attainable.

My point is, we have the option to always compare ourselves to others with the expectation of coming up short. OR, we can observe, perhaps admire, assess our own situation with regard to another's, and consider doing something about improving ourselves, all within reason. Noticing someone else does not have to mean sizing ourselves up against them. It can simply be noticing. An observation is not necessarily an invitation to compare and if we do find ourselves comparing, it definitely doesn't have to end in despair. Perhaps it's a gentle nudge to do a little repair, not to be just like someone else, but to be a slightly improved version of ourself. Go for it!

Here is the link to this post on my blog, https://tinyurl.com/mhuew8zm

Address

Boston, MA

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Barbara L. Cummings posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Barbara L. Cummings:

Shortcuts

Featured

Share

Category