We have been here two weeks, Lila-the-pup and I. Years in the making, I am in Mexico for an undetermined amount of time. It took some work, perseverance, trust, help - and a dash of craziness to get here. And as with most things these days, we must add “in the middle of a pandemic” at the end of this one sentence as well. But here we are. Tucked into a tiny yellow-orange cabin surrounded by a small and gentle tropical garden. Most of our hours are spent outside and each day includes a lesson of sorts. I am learning to cook in a very (very) simple kitchen and I am hoping that Lila will eventually learn to not eat poop on the beach. So far, I am a better student than she is. I am learning that “I’ll be there in 20 minutes” does not always mean today. Lila is learning that she is very attractive to Mexican dogs. I am learning that a vet will see us with 30 minutes notice if we need him to, send us home with just the 6 pills we need wrapped in a little plastic bag and that we will see many chickens on the way to his house. Some of them on roofs. I am learning that here, pretty much everything has a simple solution. I am learning that tropical gardening is a bit like cut and paste. Most everything will grow where you plant it, if you water it. I am learning that VW bugs are not as spacious nor as comfortable as they seemed 30 years ago. Lila is learning that some cars don’t have windows that open in the back. And that she is still up for a ride. I am learning that choosing an environment that supports whatever Essences we seek is a great Gift to give ourselves. Walking out of my home each day, I am bathed in the Essences of Joy, Life and Beauty. Simplicity, too. I am learning to cook really good Mexican food, to heat up water to do my dishes, to walk more slowly, to sit longer, to trust time, to breathe more deeply. I am learning that wherever I am, an idea for a community project will usually find a way to catch me. And that I can take my time birthing it. There is much more to learn, much to live and breathe in. A lot of it still is believing that we really, really are here. Sending you all a big warm hug from over here. I have lots of little stories to tell already and will be uploading them to my YouTube Channel as soon as I get access to faster internet - which may be in 20 minutes, or not today. I will share the recipes I learn, too! (meanwhile, you can subscribe to it HERE) Here's to life, living it, staying safe, and sane, and smiling. XOOX - Laura
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You know how Life has this knack for just ... being "round," circular, symmetrical in a way that we can only see in the rearview mirror or from way up above, like a wildly perfect mandala? Of course, you know.
Well, as I see this new platform created for us by Ecologistics, our fiscal sponsor, I look back and one little pebble at a time I get to see how this all came to be. How, in the early WEEKS of the Happiness Sprinkling Project, Feneesha, one of our very first Ambassadors wrote to me that she had read about this new organization called The Pollination Project and how we may want to get in touch with them. Very soon after, we became one of their first grantees - and they have blessed us over and over and over, since that day. Blessed us with funding, with learning, with growing, with lifelong friendships (Liz, Chris, Alissa), and also with making it possible for us to receive tax-deductible donations - which is kind of a big deal. So you see, it's so much magic and often, we just have to start. Show up. Know in our guts the WHY and trust that the HOW will follow. One phone call at a time, one person at a time, one idea at a time. I will put this on the website this weekend but for now, I wanted to show it to you. It's kind of amazing. And then... not. ![]() Maryn and I were talking last night, during a sweet baby visit, and I got all kinds of passionate about what I know to be the power of Happiness School when it comes to giving us tools to navigate life's wild ride. I know about it, and my students tell me about it, especially in the last few months as we are being asked to stay grounded, just as everything around us twirls around madly. Tools. Practical tools. And magic, too. That's what we need, and that's what Happiness School gives us. Gently, powerfully and forever! All of a sudden I started to feel a little funny (or is it guilty?) about not having talked about Happiness School enough these last few months. I think I have been wrapped up in my own world of painting and getting ready to leave for Mexico. And shingles. And closing the Ballroom. That stuff. Last night, I got fired up about fixing this, and part of me wants to just give everyone access to the class so that you can all start 2021 seeped in this good stuff, spend 90 days transforming your inner terrain, and be in a whole new place by the time April arrives. But I can't really do that and respect the hundreds of hours I have put into this work. So, I thought of something. Something which might be a great plan because it involves an Essence a lot of us are hungry for, right now: Connection. Ta da! Enters The Happiness School Buddy Pass. I think you are going to like it. Here's how it goes: Until December 29th, when you sign up for Happiness School, you get to bring a friend to class, for FREE - and you can get a 25% discount on your tuition, too. This means that get to choose someone you love who lives anywhere in the world and 1) give them a way important and life-changing gift and 2) you two will spend 12 super powerful week "together" growing a whole new way of living. By the time spring comes, you will have gone on this big, magical journey together, and have
Listen: this is a RICH course. And taking it together will bring you so much closer to each other, as well as empower each one of you to deeply absorb the work. Including many parts which I know you will want to share with other people in your life. I am so glad I thought of that last night and I hope it feels exciting to you. You have till December 29th to make this happen and give the two of you an amazing way to start 2021. Let me know if you have any questions. I think it's going to be awesome. (The way to do it is to first register yourself for the course using the BUDDYPASS2020 coupon and then email me with your friend's email address. Within 24 hours, I will send you a 100% off coupon code for them so that you may register him or her for free) https://happyu.teachable.com/p/happinessschoolevgn |
My new book
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