Category — Find Your Flock
Finding Kind
A while back, one of my Flock members asked for help around the idea of being kind. She works in a field that tends towards the snarky, and the atmosphere of cynicism was wearing her down.
We live in a society where criticism is a major past time. We spend hours serving as armchair critics as we watch competitions on reality TV. A highly polarized political climate has us lobbing our opinions at each other like so many emotive grenades. And as we move further and further away from the “be a good girl” era of the 1950′s housewife, we continue to struggle with the idea of kindness — because we don’t know the difference between being kind and being “nice.”
That’s why we are looking at Kindness as our core value in Flock next month. What is genuine kindness? Is kindess ever a truly altruistic act (and does it matter if it isn’t?) What is the difference between obedient nice-ness and authentic kindness?
While I was researching Kindness for the video lesson I’ll teach on Monday, I got an email from my girl’s middle school. They are screening the indie film Finding Kind. The film asks women to acknowledge that we have all, at some point, been unkind and catty to one another. And it asks young women to let go of the snarky inhieritance they’ve been give and to create a Kind Way.
The film itself is pink and perky, with blonde California Pepperdine co-eds leading the way. Right away the asthetic brought out the catty girl in me. I had to do quick act of soul-wrangling to get back on the Kind wagon. (Sometimes your spiritual practice is also a spiritual discipline.) As I got past the pink and clicked “play, ” I was touched by the passion the filmakers have to create a culture of kindess within girl culture.
I’m curious. What response does this trailer bring out in you? What does it tell you about your realtionship to Kind? And how do you encourage kindess amongst the young people in your life?
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Want to nurture Kindness in your world? Join Flock and practice with a kind crew. Kindness practice begins Monday, February 6th. Click here to join us.
Are you poised to be kind?
You and I, we want to live real lives.
Lives that are rich with meaning, but easy on the angst.
Lives that serve others without burn-out.
Lives that nurture joy, yet are present to sorrow.
Lives that are kind to others, and gentle to our own tender souls.
In my online community, Flock, we are creating that kind of life, one simple value at a time.
Today, while I was preparing to get behind the pulpit in front of the webcam with the Flock, I read a story about a woman in NYC who bought a sandwich for a homeless man. The woman said she kept an eye out for ways to be kind. The author of the article pointed out that the woman wasn’t just hoping for the opportunity to perform some random act of kindness, “she was poised to be kind.”
This February in Flock we are poised to be kind. We are practicing kindness in doable, everyday ways. And we’re reaping the scientifically proven benefits of kindness – like a double shot of encouragement for others, and increased happiness for ourselves. And really, who couldn’t do with extra happiness during the grey, grey month of February? (*raises hand*)
Don’t let the grey midwinter push you around. Come with us and let kindness fill you up with joy.
Our Kind adventure begins Feb 6th. Click here to join us.
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February is Kindness Month in Flock. We’re re-visioning Valentine’s Day, spreading some authentic kindness, and having a cheerful good time. Click here for the full monty, or just join now.
Testify!
Isn’t this a beautiful star, Magpies?
Flock member and in-real-life friend, Leanna Ramsey-Corrales of Which Way is Home Again, made it with my daughters and I around our kitchen table. I love how she’s allowing mystery to draw her into the wild unknown of a new year.
The Flock Year meditation (free) has brought so many insights — from big bright energetic words, to gentle prompts to fuller living. Several Magpie readers have told me the name of their guiding star and they said I could share these beauties with Y.O.U. Here are just a few samples. (I love them all!)
BOLDNESS is most definitely the name of the star that I see in my sky. I’m getting on my camel, ready to follow wherever it leads in 2012. Wish me luck!… My star is hanging right where I’m guaranteed to see it every morning as soon as my eyes are open enough to pay attention. I’ll definitely be seeing you in Flock.” -Karen Coverett, Recreating My World
BOWL. I loved your telling of the story and the yearning it opened in me. I could see that curving path through the desert so clearly. I almost cried when I reached out my hand for my star. Oh please, I thought, because my mind was so wordless this morning and I was suddenly afraid there would be nothing there for me. Oh please. The star landed and I pulled it to me and looked down into the cup of my hand and there it was: bowl. … This is what my star looks like: be the golden bowl, be a vessel of light, and hold it out to the world in offering. -Lisa King, Tell This
SELF says to me that I need to spend time thinking about who I am – authentically – not who I think I should be or who I think I want to be. It’s time for me to understand I understand that I am enough. -Karen B
SERENITY. Thank you so much for that beautiful epiphany reflection. It really spoke to me. My guiding star is Serenity. It’s something I desperately need in my life and it’s a pretty word. :) I’m really excited to join the Flock. And I want to thank you also for making The Flock group so affordable. -Sarah
What is your word? Please come and tell me at my new Magpie Girl Facebook Page. I’d love to hear your unique story.
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Ready for year-round soulcare? We’re saving a seat for you in the Flock. Won’t you join us? Need more information first? Come over, let’s chat.
Magpie Moment: How a ten minute meditation changed my work, my body and my parenting.
What if ten minutes with your eyes closed could flip on a light switch in your life?
What if stepping into a story lead you to an “ah-ha moment”?
What if you could start out your year with a strong guide?
Still with me? Watch this 3.5 minute video to hear how I accessed all of these things. Then click here to do it yourself!
Much Warmth,
Rachelle
P.s. Want this kind of soulcare all year long? Your invitation awaits you here.
A Guided Meditation for New Year’s from Magpie Girl
Hello Magpie!
I so want to give you something sweet for the new year! One of my Flock members, Marie, says Flock emails “are like a piece of caramel. I …*sigh* {with} comfort.” So on Marie’s advice, I’m sending you one of my Flock email lessons as a special gift. Click here now to get your goodies right away, or read on to find out more!
Flock is my experimental relig-ish community. In the past it’s been open to women only. This year we are throwing the doors open wide so everyone we adore can discover their right-fit spiritual practices.
For 2012 we’ll be focusing on The Flock Year — a set of soulcare practices that reflect the changing seasons, and embody a set of core values. My goal is that by the end of this year you will have at least one soulcare practice each season that is 100% authentic to your unique belief system.
The first Monday of each month in The Flock Year you’ll receive:
- a video lesson explaining the history of that month’s practice, and how to engage in the practice.
- an invitation to email me for help adjusting the practice so it’s right-fit for y.o.u.
- space to exchange ideas about creative spirituality on our private Facebook page.
- the option to book individual spiritual direction sessions with me as needed. (This offer is only available to Flock members.)
In February, The Flock Year will begin it’s subscription price of $15 a month. The January lesson is my gift to you.
Find the name of your guiding star for 2012 with a free video lesson (8 min) and guided meditation (10 min). In less than 20 minutes, you’ll have a guide that will help you feel grounded and focused the whole year through. There’s no charge for this lesson, and you won’t get more than a handful of emails from this mailing list.
To receive Epiphany: follow your star please click here.
(This is an updated version of the meditation for 2012, along with a brand spanking new video lesson.)
Thank you so much for being here today. May your new year bring you fresh breezes, soft light, and many unexpected joys.
Much Warmth,
Rachelle Mee-Chapman
*your magpie girl
Flock Sampler: Good Shabbos
Anyone who says sunshine brings happiness has never danced in the rain. Author Unknown
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Tammy Lee Bradley is the founder of Mortal Muses, a photography collaboration with female photographers from around the globe. She is also a wife, mom to three beautiful young men & four crazy dogs, and former corporate accountant turned kitchen designer at the Cabinet Cottage . You can find her daily at her blog… “wandering through life in search of moments of bliss and folly.”
Flock Sampler: Good Shabbos
Home, the spot of earth supremely blest, A dearer, sweeter spot than all the rest. -Robert Montgomery
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Tammy Lee Bradley is the founder of Mortal Muses, a photography collaboration with female photographers from around the globe. She is also a wife, mom to three beautiful young men & four crazy dogs, and former corporate accountant turned kitchen designer at the Cabinet Cottage . You can find her daily at her blog… “wandering through life in search of moments of bliss and folly.”
Flock Sampler: Good Shabbos
Animals are such agreeable friends – they ask no questions, they pass no criticisms. -George Eliot
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Tammy Lee Bradley is the founder of Mortal Muses, a photography collaboration with female photographers from around the globe. She is also a wife, mom to three beautiful young men & four crazy dogs, and former corporate accountant turned kitchen designer at the Cabinet Cottage . You can find her daily at her blog… “wandering through life in search of moments of bliss and folly.”
Flock Sampler: The Art of Noticing
Nobody can be uncheered with a balloon. -Winne the Pooh
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Tammy Lee Bradley is the founder of Mortal Muses, a photography collaboration with female photographers from around the globe. She is also a wife, mom to three beautiful young men & four crazy dogs, and former corporate accountant turned kitchen designer at the Cabinet Cottage . She can find her daily at her blog… “wandering through life in search of moments of bliss and folly.” .
Flock Sampler: Good Shabbos
Hope begins in the dark, the stubborn hope that if you just show up and try to do the right thing, the dawn will come. -Anne Lamott
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Christy Vidrine Bauman is a photographer and counselor living in Seattle. She and her husband Andrew run a non-profit called Collective Hope which starts small sustainable businesses within third-world communities to help aid with jobs and empowerment to the native people of these countries. Collective Hope is currently in Malawi, Africa and has begun a farm, medical clinic and community water well to provide work and resources for neighboring villages in the district of Kaduwa, Malawi.
