Powered By Pleasure
Maybe I can’t do everything, but I can do something!
Years ago I remember a naked summer swim in a large, beautiful, and very private lake in the wilds of Quebec, with a couple of friends. I don’t remember what inspired my outburst, but I do remember feeling very expansive and shouting into the wide, open sky above, with great fervor and gusto “I want to have it all”. I often have a really good chuckle with my younger self, because back then I truly believed that was possible! For years I would expend great amounts of energy trying to have it all and do it all. But I’ve learned that as enjoyable as those expansive sentiments can be, pleasure and fulfillment don’t necessarily come with volume. Read more >
Aug 25, 2015The Pleasure of Companionable Weather Spirits
Sometimes we think pleasure is a complicated thing. Do I have time to take some pleasure? Do I ‘deserve’ to do what feels good? Shouldn’t I work more before I take some pleasure? But when you enter the natural world and you gear down your mind, you’ll find pleasure couldn’t be simpler. My five days on a canoe camping trip last month helped me understand this simplicity. Read more >
Aug 19, 2015The Sky is Your Roof
Last month I spent five days canoe camping with my 28-year-old daughter on a lake in the Canadian wilds. Enjoying the pleasure of time spent in nature is something we share in common. And how great it was to get five whole days with one’s adult child! Quickly we settled into a lovely rhythm of cooking, eating, swimming, paddles, reading in our quiet spots in the hammock or stretched out on a rock, naps, campfires with music or close conversations, more naps and paddles. Just what such times should be about. Read more >
Aug 05, 2015What Does It Mean to Live a Spirit Led Life
This summer my friend and colleague, Lorie Carson, invited me to commit to 100 days of creativity. Creativity is one of the most potent doorways to pleasure. So this invitation made me say YES immediately. The only instructions were to do something creative for each of the next 100 days and to try to contain the practice to specific activities. Read more >
Jul 06, 2015A Doorway to Pleasure - Be Creative
Since starting this blog on pleasure, I’ve explored what opens us to pleasure; what I call pleasure’s keys. I’ve looked at the importance of tuning into sensory awareness and getting in touch with your body. And I’ve explored another important pre-requisite – giving yourself permission for pleasure. Others can’t truly give you pleasure, you make it for yourself, most often by finding what pleasure uniquely means to you. Read more >