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I've learned that painting intuitively is a tool that is much bigger than creating a piece of art; it's an alchemy that sparks the release of what is holding you back and becomes a catalyst for healing.

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Twelve months in and you accept that the month she died will always be the hardest. It's been 364 days since you held her hand and pulled the plug, but you still can't bear to listen to old voicemails, afraid of what her voice on tape might do to you (even though you've heard her laugh every day since she died).

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Our full-time jobs require our presence at frequent early morning and late evening events, plus occasional weekends. All of our extended family lives a plane ride away, and paying for a nanny --- not in our budget! We get by by making significant sacrifices to our careers and our pocketbook.

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Why all the fuss over a dog? Ask Nina Pham or Teresa Romero or my daughter, Amanda. They'll all tell you these are not just dogs. They are much more precious. They are members of our family.

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When you start with the awareness that longing and discontent in your life are actually a tool to assist you in getting clear on what you would love, then you are in the driver's seat. It's an easy step to discover what dream is trying to emerge by means of you and the life you are living.

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The most important thing that I've found, however, is to do what you love. I always got distracted from taking the time to truly search my soul with what fulfilled me when it came to work and my passions. I thought about what would be more likely to make me money.

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As a pet living advocate, I'm always searching for unique and interesting perspectives to share about how animals manage to effortlessly better our lives. Learning how pets can contribute to our personal paths to success was intriguing.

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I was here on this earth to learn some really important lessons, some wisdom that I could live by and share with others, and sometimes wisdom comes with a price tag. My price tag felt like incessant failure and that was hard to face.

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I join her in her room and play those beautiful guided meditations I loved so much before I became a mom. I hold the space for us. I close my eyes. I remain present. I focus on the meditation and let everything else go.

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What we need to consider, then, is that chasing external wants requires thought, a lot of thought. And a lot of thought is what causes bad feelings; it detaches us from our own inner wisdom and instincts.

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Let's keep saving and loving the world while we give ourselves the same gift. Let's strive to infuse joy into every detail possible. At times we'll feel like the world is just too crazy and we'll wonder if we can keep our sanity intact, but we can still rally and transform everything from the inside out.

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Our passions are not realized nor developed until we're ready to receive them and handle them. We need advocacy and we need mentoring or support but no one needs to tell us what is right for our soul. We know in our hearts what is right and no one needs to tell us otherwise.

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The ways that your job can impact your life extend far beyond working hours. If you suffer from a significant level of work stress, the consequences can be devastating for your physical well-being, your mental health and even your relationships.

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Life is meant to be lived to the fullest -- at home, at work and at play. Technology can be great, but it can also get in the way if we let it.