The “Poor Me” Post-it

Laurie Gardner Attitude adjustment, Difficult situations Leave a Comment

Plucky and freckled, my neighbor Lana is a young Irish gal who’s always making wisecracks and is quick to lend a helping hand.  Lana grew up poor, raised by a quirky single mom whom she says dated men “with more criminal charges than teeth.”  To help make ends meet, Lana’s mom would take her daughters dumpster diving.  Since Lana was the …

You Already Know

Laurie Gardner Intuition & inner knowing Leave a Comment

My mind was full of questions and my body empty of food as I sat overlooking the canyon.  During recent months, I had lost faith in myself and my life dreams.  Was I really good enough to write a book that would inspire others?  Would I ever meet “the One” and fall in love?  I took myself to the place where …

How to Be Happy When Your Life is Crappy

Laurie Gardner Difficult situations, Happiness Leave a Comment

How to be happy is no easy question, nor is there a short answer.  Great philosophers and spiritual teachers have spent centuries tackling the quest for human happiness.  Letting go of struggle and negativity and freeing yourself to joyously love and be loved is a lifelong journey.  Meanwhile, there are a few basic check-points on the road map to happiness that …

Should I Stay or Should I Go?

Laurie Gardner Difficult situations, Intuition & inner knowing Leave a Comment

In difficult situations, it’s often hard to know whether to stay in the situation or walk away, emotionally or literally. Playwright Tennessee Williams advises, “There is a time for departure even when there’s no certain place to go.” On the other hand, Buddhist nun Pema Chodron recommends that we “sit in the fire” until our powerful urges to run away …