“The journey of a year is drawing to a close. Cherish the moments, all of them, even the ups and downs. Honor the lessons you’ve learned, and the people who helped you learn them. Honor the journey your soul mapped out for you. Trust all the places you’ve been. Make a scrapbook in your heart to help you remember. Look back for a moment. Reflect in peace. Then let this year draw to a close. All parts of the journey are sacred and holy. You’ve learned that lesson by now. Take time to honor this ending though it’s never really the end. Go to sleep tonight. When you wake up tomorrow a new adventure will begin. Remember the words you were told when this last adventure began, the words whispered quietly to your heart: Let the journey unfold. Let it be magical. The way has been prepared. People will be expecting…

This week’s theme is simply the word RELEASE. What comes to mind when you hear the word RELEASE? You may feel a sensation of opening, of letting go, of freedom. Releasing has the power to free you from anything in life that may be bothering you, or weighing you down. You may be gripping onto a stressful situation or relationship, a strong emotion or desire, an unhealthy temptation or personal struggle, an unfulfilled expectation, a difficult loss, or even a big life-changing decision. It’s time to fully let go and release your grip. From deep within the sweet space inside you, a voice can be heard. Its loving words echo in your mind — trust in the natural flow of life, all your needs are taken care of. You are freed from all concerns about the past and the future. Your life is unfolding according to a perfect plan. Receive…

Jennifer Pastiloff, L.A. area yoga teacher and motivational speaker, wrote a blog entitled 10 Rules for Daily Living. She challenged her readers to think about their personal rules for daily life. Here is one of her favorite responses from a 14-year-old:

Don’t take things too seriously.
Make fun of yourself (but not too much!)
Sleep in sometimes.
ALWAYS have a dog.
Be nice to everybody because you never know who is going to be your next best friend.
Just don’t wear shoes sometimes.
Go on a trip somewhere at least every year.
Don’t look in the mirror too much!
Don’t spend too much money on one thing.
Sometimes it’s OK to just not want to talk to people.

We can gain wisdom from listening to youth! As we mature, our aim is to move from rules to relationships. Loving and trusting relationships filled with open and healthy…