Comfort & Joy

Finding Comfort & Joy

What does it really mean: attitude is everything?

By Colette Lafia / Comments Off on What does it really mean: attitude is everything?

Recently my elderly mother, who is going through many health concerns, said to me,  “Our attitude is everything.” She has said this to me many times and usually I just complacently agree, but this time I paused and asked myself: what is attitude? And really, why is it so important.…

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Year-end reflections

By Colette Lafia /

As the Christmas lights and ornaments come off the tree, and I clean out the hallway closet  (finally), a tone of reflection fills the air. Over the past few days, I have been perusing my journals and notebooks from this year, reflecting on what were my greatest satisfactions, my most…

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Truly receiving gifts

By Colette Lafia / Comments Off on Truly receiving gifts

Can gratitude become the foundation of my life? Recently my brother was in town during the Thanksgiving holiday. He is a good guy and I am glad we could spend time together. But after he left,  the old demon of comparison had me in its grip. My brother was fortunate…

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Breaking a cycle

By Colette Lafia / Comments Off on Breaking a cycle

In the last 24 hours, my emotions had become heightened and were spinning out of control. I am feeling anxiety over my mother’s health decline and the uncertainty of her well being. So I know deep inside I am worried and even fearful. Now, I am a firm believer that…

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Meeting “what is”

By Colette Lafia / Comments Off on Meeting “what is”

On my first day of being 50, it turns out my 87-year old mother is admitted to the hospital. We had just spent a weekend celebrating my birthday, with my sisters and my mother, sharing in delicious meals, laughing together, and going through the usual ups and downs, and joys…

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The cycle of life

By Colette Lafia / Comments Off on The cycle of life

There really is a cycle of life. I just turned fifty and I am meeting creation — and it has its own terms. So how do we encounter this meeting of time and nature? I move between openness and anxiety. I think the more I can cultivate the openness to…

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