Laura Lavigne
  • Home
  • COACHING
    • COACHING PACKAGES
  • THE SCHOOL
  • Blog
  • ART
  • MORE
    • Happiness Retreats >
      • Sacred Joy Gathering 2023
      • La Dolce Vita Happiness Retreat 2019
    • THE HAPPINESS SPRINKLING PROJECT
    • THE CENTER FOR HAPPINESS
    • HAPPINESS SPRINKLING CARDS
    • BOOKS BY LAURA
    • Laura's YouTube Channel
    • Essence Facilitators

That Look.

5/23/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture

This morning, I am thinking about how different our "down" moments look, or rather the way we all look in our down moments.

Some of us hide, some of us seek company and an ear, some of us eat, some of us can't eat. And then, this: for some of us, the way we show up at these times is somehow sweeter and more attractive (openly upset, vulnerable) than the way others of us may show up (shut down, aggressive).

I don't know that we can choose that "look," that way of responding to our Lizard freaking out or to our heart breaking. I think maybe we just default to our own way of being in the world.

But maybe, we can change the way we react to that "look," when it comes our way. Maybe, just maybe, if we remember to try, we can manage to have as much compassion for someone whose composure is defensive and challenging than to someone who melts in our arms and openly asks for love.


I think I am going to give this a shot.

Good morning!

0 Comments

My baby

5/21/2017

3 Comments

 
Picture

25 years ago, I was hours away from meeting her for the first time. These were not fun hours, and when after a day and a half of labor I was told to "push," I knew for sure that everyone in the room was crazy. I remember feeling so helpless being at the mercy of people who had lost their minds, and were trying to make me do something impossible.

I  tried to convince them that there was another way (maybe a secret zipper, somewhere) - and when that did not go anywhere, I begged for a C-section.

But they were stubborn, and I was in their hands. So I pushed, and at 2:15 pm, on May 21, 1992, she arrived. Her dad wept as she was placed on my belly, all perfect and pink.

That night, with her in my arms and everyone else asleep, we locked eyes and the rest of the world faded away.

Just hours old, she held my gaze for close to an hour as we melted fully into one another one last time. That night, a wordless promise was made.

25 years later, this promise is upheld over and over again.

And today, it includes  finding my way towards making her a vegan tiramisu.




3 Comments

Old Churches, and Humility.

5/10/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture

Walking through the old, old church, I immediately fall into an automatic reverence, a cellular awareness of the sacred. I was sort of raised Catholic (and sort of not at all), and something about entering a Catholic church always gets me.

This little church is nestled into the 10th century hill town of Ventimiglia, Italy. Turn after turn of tiny streets, basil adorned windows, laundry hanging artfully from balconies, kids, dogs, and just a couple of stores for the locals. A pastry shop, of course.  There are seven of us climbing the hills and exploring the turns,  and for some reason, even before we enter the church, we all start using our library voices and pointing quietly.

When we arrive at the church, we become even quieter and when I guide our group to the back,  we silently take the stairs to the crypt. If I have this right, the crypt is from the VIII century and well... there’s something about this that makes you think - or maybe just stop thinking.

Across from the crypt, is the baptismal area and just by touching the stone vessel, I sink deeper into the reverence mode. I mean ... how many babies have been lowered into this thing? By how many parents who felt deeply about the importance of the gesture? No matter what I believe personally, I am always moved by being in the presence of anyone’s sacred spot. It’s kind of like my sacred gets to brush up against their sacred and for a moment, they share a kiss. I love that.

Climbing the steps back up from the beautifully lit underground of the church, I detect a familiar scent. Having had my nose-ego greatly stroked the day before at the Fragonard Perfume Factory (I aced the smell test, thank you very much), I allow myself to go with it. And I start waxing poesy about how-many-years-of-burning-incense-it-must-have-taken-to-get-to-this-perfect-smell. I whisper about the incense having sure permeated the stone walls, one sacred mass at a time. I close my eyes. I see them all, these centuries of incense smokes making magnificent curls. My inner Catholic girl is waking up from a long sleep and stretching her arms up to the vaulted ceiling.

My friend Jim is near me. He listens. And then, quietly, he suggests:
“OR, it could be this” - and points to ... (oh man, I can barely write it) ... a freaking plug-in. A smelly pluggy thing. The kind you find in airport bathrooms and government buildings. A plug-in. Right there in the thick holy stone wall. Still hoping that there is a mistake, I get down on my knees and I give the thing a good sniff. Yup. Sure enough. Scent of Catholic Church. Delivered right to our noses through the power of electricity and chemicals.
Picture
All of a sudden, I can’t stop laughing! Humility takes over the reverence and I am brought back to now. The contrast between my words of seconds ago and the vision of this beige plastic gadget somehow tickles my funny bone to the max.  Laughing so hard, I take a fuzzy photo, and then I have to step out of the church and let the hilarity out all the way.

Contrasts. Surprises. Reminders to stay humble, I love them all.

Today, I invite you to play with life. To be ready to see your words turned on their heads -  to be surprised by things not being the way you thought. And to allow the delight to tickle you!
0 Comments

    ♥️
    SUBSCRIBE
    TO MY BLOG HERE 

    ♥️

    SCARED OF THE SACRED

    Picture
    Picture

    HAPPINESS SCHOOL:
    90 days to up-level your life in a FOREVER way.


    My Elephant Journal Articles:


    Scared of the Sacred - Texas, Afghanistan and Sea Turtles

    What Happens When We Half A** Our Apologies

    I wasn't Expecting to Lose my Emotional Virginity on Lesvos

    Becoming One With My Backpack, at 53

    Some Days We Have to Mow the Lawn Twice


    The Lesson I Learned from a Moroccan Street Market

    Dear Man Who Says He Wants Intimacy

    How to Not Abandon Ourselves When the Going Gets Rough

    Just Sitting There Doing Nothing: What I Learned From an Italian Balcony
    Picture
    "Every time I read your blog I am so profoundly happy I did.  The truth you speak is just mindboggling.  The real, real voice you have.  It makes me almost crazy how much I love your words and your way of telling stories that cut to the quick- and I never have the words to really say how much this all means to me. 

    You put out so many heartfelt blog pieces that touch my heart and move me down the right path at the right time.  Pure beautiful magic girlie. I love you for this.

    Thank you for digging in there and finding the gems of wisdom and then just sharing them out as if there's an endless supply ... which with you, there is."


    "Thank you for sharing your wonderful, heartbreaking, exhilarating experience with the world."

    "Thank You Laura for sharing, for teaching and spreading loving kindness. "

    "I think I love you. You bring good things into my life, or remind me of things I love and know, but have let go of."

    "Laura, you are so good for me. I laugh and sniffle and get the shivers when I read your essays. Thanks so much for letting all your wonderfulness run around loose."

    "Heart-achingly beautiful, your words and how you reveal your truth."

    "Thank you so much for who you are and what you share with the world. Your mere being transforms lives as it has transformed mine. This particular post did to my heart what water does to parched soil."

    "Thank you for your gentle words that are packed full of wisdom. I have been struggling with the concept of what words can do to another person when they are negative words. Your words are the flip side of our word power, and shows how delightfully powerful kind words can be. Thank you."

    "Once again Laura Lavigne takes you on an adventure of the heart. She has a way of pulling you right in the car with her. Asking you to consider changing a fear to taking thoughtful action. Whether she's teaching a class, leading a retreat or heading for a happiness sprinkling, Laura will invite you to shed old ways of thinking and be completely authentic. Join in!"

    "Essentially pure love.
    I enjoy how Laura is kind to herself and to us other humans who dance in and out of each other's lives. "


    "Don't miss a post!
    You can count on Laura for warmth, humor, charm, and a lift to your day and your heart. She inspires me to be braver than I am, and to love the world out loud. She's a gem, and a generous one at that!"

    Me

    I write because this is the way I am able to  taste life more deeply.

    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016

Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
  • Home
  • COACHING
    • COACHING PACKAGES
  • THE SCHOOL
  • Blog
  • ART
  • MORE
    • Happiness Retreats >
      • Sacred Joy Gathering 2023
      • La Dolce Vita Happiness Retreat 2019
    • THE HAPPINESS SPRINKLING PROJECT
    • THE CENTER FOR HAPPINESS
    • HAPPINESS SPRINKLING CARDS
    • BOOKS BY LAURA
    • Laura's YouTube Channel
    • Essence Facilitators