Wow of the day.

02/20/2025

"My husband and I have gone through so much together over these last 34 years. A whole life worth of stuff. And yet I still find myself on occasion in these states of feeling like he did not do enough for me. Or that I chose the wrong person for me..."

I also forget that this feeling is much older than my relationship with my husband. I have a memory of traveling on a night train with my father. I was

02/20/2025

I heard these words a few days ago, but they've been on repeat in my mind ever since. ~ Molly, Ed.

A speaker at the St. Paul Capitol reminded me of this when he spoke about hope. He said,

02/19/2025

"Dharma is for everyone, but what it is that will benefit each of us is unique to each individual and her situation. Dharma comes in many forms, and it is not necessarily true that it is confined to rules, discipline, meditation, scripture, whose aim it is to achieve blissful states."

A large part of the world’s population is miserable and views meditation as a surefire way to deepen all the wounds that make life unlivable.

02/18/2025

"An Old Man’s Poem. (This made me cry.)"

And this old man, with nothing left to give to the world, is now the author of this 'anonymous' poem winging across the Internet.

02/17/2025

Let's honor and respect our children and their role in society—their intelligence, their caring. Let's invest in children as little princes and princesses and future stewards of this beautiful world.

Take a gander at these photos of Tippi Degre' and see if you don't have a touch of communing-with-nature-at-it's-most-spectacular envy.

02/12/2025

In case you missed it...

Last night's Super Bowl Halftime Show was many things—bold, entertaining, and full of layers—but above all, it was a

02/11/2025

"⁠I would like to care more about you than about my feelings for you.⁠

I would like to go to sleep each night by thanking you for being with me,

And wake each morning pleasantly surprised to find you are in my life,

I would like to feel admiration for the littlest things you do, and how

Forever is not important to me—but this is." ~ Waylon H. Lewis, Things I would like to do with You.

Valentine's discount is here:

The official Elephant Journal shop, offering Waylon Lewis' book "Things I Would Like To Do With You" and a variety of eco and artisan goods and apparel.

02/06/2025

I share this not because it’s a vanity-boosting story, but because I had a (not great) idea about them, and then they turned out to be soft and open and friendly.

While I still take great exception with MAGA…supporting an awful human being who is awful to others, who lies, who cons, who hurts others and our planet…it’s a reminder.

There's a middle way: care about others, care about self. Care about others, care about self.

02/02/2025

This morning: We invite you to join our community event. It'll be a group hug in this dumpster fire of a world. Come find your voice with us. Together, we'll put words to the swirling of emotions inside our hearts and our brains after a rough start to 2025.⁠
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We’re not here to put words in your mouth, but to give you an opportunity to put words to whatever you’re going through—and share them. ⁠
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RSVP to join us:⁠
🔥 Price: Free—or, pay it forward a little. ⁠
🔥 Date: Sunday, February 2nd⁠
🔥 Time: 10 a.m. MT⁠
🔥 Learn more:

Register now for Elephant’s Free “Find your Voice” Community Writing Event—with Waylon Lewis. on crowdcast, scheduled to go live on February 2, 2025, 10:00 AM MST.

01/29/2025

#9: Insecure truck owners who fall into the macho big grill fad suck. "11 Things that aren’t the Flex many People think they are." Read the rest: https://www.elephantjournal.com/2025/01/11-things-that-arent-the-flex-many-people-think-they-are/

Photo taken this morning: for reference, Kelsey, my wife, is 5'9.

01/29/2025

1. “Do you truly know what is positive and what is negative? Do you have the total picture? There have been many people for whom limitation, failure, loss, illness, or pain in whatever form turned out to be their greatest teacher. It taught them to let go of false self-images and superficial ego-dictated goals and desires. It gave them depth, humility, and compassion. It made them more real.”

Exactly one month ago today, I drove tentatively into the fog and watched the old and familiar landscape I called my life dissolve discreetly into the mist. Although the path

01/28/2025

Things are overwhelming, now. Things are scary. And yet many of our friends continue to lie to themselves, and others, and argue for hate and prejudice and lies in comment sections online. ⁠
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Elephant isn’t having it.
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It’s time to gather. ⁠
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Community is a powerful force for good in this world. For years, during trying times, or happy moments, we’ve offered Community Gatherings, hosting the likes of Senator Cory Booker and Jane Elliott—but most importantly hosting you, and me, and you, and you, and you.⁠ ⁠
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We’ve hosted many thousands of Mindful Lifers just like you. It’s time we show up for one another, now, again.⁠
⁠
And so: we invite you to join our community writing event. Together, we’ll be inspired to put words to the swirling of emotions inside your heart and your brain after a tumultuous start to 2025—and do it with Elephant’s community of like-minded troublemakers. ⁠
⁠
RSVP to join us for a community writing event with Waylon H. Lewis, this Sunday, February 2nd at 10 a.m. MST: https://www.crowdcast.io/c/communitywritingjan2025⁠

We’re not here to put words in your mouth, but to give you an outlet and an opportunity to put words to whatever you’re going through. To write your heart out.

Register now for Elephant’s Free “Find your Voice” Community Writing Event—with Waylon Lewis. on crowdcast, scheduled to go live on February 2, 2025, 10:00 AM MST.

01/25/2025

“Love your neighbour as yourself.’ ~ the actual Bible.

If Donald Trump had to listen to a sermon from Jesus Himself, what do you think Trump would tweet, afterwards? Love your neighbour as yourself.' ~ the actual Bible. Her speech was pure humility and l...

01/23/2025

* opens Oligarch-controlled internet *
* closes Oligarch-controlle internet *
* opens up Blue Sky + elephantjournal.com *

01/23/2025

"Far too many Americans are breaking their backs while voting for candidates who are happily striping away their freedoms. Trump has a well-documented history of union-busting and anti-worker policies."

A divided working class is easier to manipulate and exploit, and it’s the ruling class that benefits when workers are too fractured to act collectively.

01/21/2025

Here’s the reality: You are not like them, and you never will be.

Read the rest of "Reclaiming America for the People—in the Age of Trump." on 🐘⁠👉🏼 https://elejrnl.com?p=4122900
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Every time you are inspired to click and read a link, you're investing in your mindful life—and keeping what's left of mindful, independent media alive and thriving. 🐘🧡⁠

Art: Grant Wood's American Gothic/Google Art Project on Wikipedia

01/20/2025

We must never be afraid to step into the discomfort to find the truth:

I heard a term recently that really stuck with me. It was an expression spoken by a then-38-year-old Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during a keynote speech to the American Psychological Association in 1967.

01/20/2025

"They are a way of saying that despite it all, I choose beauty. I choose hope. I choose love."

Life, with all its joys and struggles, can feel overwhelming. The constant push and pull of emotions—fear, worry, turbulence—can leave us gasping for a moment