Author Archives: April Lee

they become family

one woman curled up on the sofa in the living room, with a blanket and a cup of coffee. another creating a vision board in the library. a third walking the path in the secret garden, exclaiming over the dates on the antique pottery.

thought it would go gracefully

since returning from the states a month ago, i’ve been tending to dwell in a few dark places. (especially during my early-morning-i-should-be-asleep-but-am-totally-awake hours.) struggling a bit with loneliness, which is spilling over into questioning the trajectory of my path. at this point, i’m not sure exactly what i need to pull myself up and out of this overcast-sky feeling.

capable. confident. courageous.

august 15 is an important day in italy.
a widely celebrated national holiday called ferragosto.

introduced by the emperor augustus in 18 BC
and coinciding with a catholic holy day,
it’s considered the height of the italian summer.
kicking off what being “on holiday” is all about.

self-integration

Sometimes we women struggle to keep our self intact. We lose our vital connection to self. We rob ourselves of the magic and exhilaration that make up our extraordinary and unparalleled uniqueness.

There are many ways in which an inauthentic existence might steal from you:

It might steal your feelings.

italy in september? oh so fine! ❤️

hey there! are you still hoping to capture some summer magic this year?
 
 
here are a few things you can do to make that happen:

  • lean back in a comfortable deck chair and soak up the sun’s rays
  • run through a sprinkler and allow your giggles to tumble out
  • finish reading your pile of “beach escape” books
  • enjoy a refreshing ice cream cone (maybe even two scoops)
  • eat fresh tomatoes from the garden or the local market
  • paint your fingernails and toenails in vibrant cheery colors
  • pick a fresh bouquet of flowers for your table
  • take a bike ride to a beautiful lake in your area and skip a few rocks

 
or maybe you should just skip all of the above and extend the magic this way:

  • BOOK YOUR AIRLINE TICKET TO ITALY!

a summoning of strength

8 takeoffs.
8 landings.
with lots of stuff in between.

one piece of luggage still missing,
containing the items of my everyday life.

mixed-up circadian rhythms.
a bit of jet lag too.

joy and laughter, good times.
tears and worry, changes on the horizon.

goodbyes are hard

holding tight to these hugs
until the next time


 
 
 
 

i am alive

“Interacting face to face to face
with different destinations.
Everybody keeps racing
in this fast-paced nation.
     I AM ALIVE IN Los Angeles

The neon crowns glow
above the City of Angels,
haze hovers after another
nuclear sunset, I love it all.

once again, ciao for now.

it was very difficult to say goodbye to these three lovely women.
we had all grown so close to each other during THE ARRIVAL retreat.

phyllis was the first to leave the villa magnolia nest.
it was sad to see her suitcase ready-to-go on the landing.

breathing, 1-2-3.

breathing.

that amazing built-in tool that reflects
or can even guide the way we feel.

our breaths often come in spasms when we’re crying,
quicken and shorten when we’re feeling stressed.

shallow breathing tends to limit our abilities,
both physically and mentally.