May - The world needs your light


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May Mantra: Be the light

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.” ~Martin Luther King, Jr.

I have re-written this blog several times as the events of this month played out. Which is why this May newsletter is going out with only hours to spare.

The day after Mother's Day our thirteen-year-old Shih Tzu Yogi Bear died. (He is shown above - in a tow truck after an accident made our car undrivable) After he adopted us in January of 2016, he quickly became a part of our family. He was always there snuggling next to us as we struggled through the divorce - and then multiple losses.

Even though when he left us it was clearly his time, that fact didn't make his loss any easier, or the hole he left less big.

Then there have been multiple events this month that have angered many and pushed our discourse further apart. Our collective energy feels heavy, and news reports have left many frustrated and hopeless - as if there is nothing we can do to make a difference.

But that's not true.

Every day we have the ability to change our surroundings by sharing our light with others. By modeling kindness and compassion - both for ourselves and others.

The actions do not have to be big. We can be like Yogi Bear. When he sensed someone was upset or ill, he just sat quietly with them, giving them space and love. He provided silent calm in a world that was loud and chaotic.

We too can be the calming light for ourselves and others. Sometimes it's all we can do - but it is enough.

Hope this is helpful.

Namaste.

Donna

P.S. - For more about Yogi Bear, visit his blog for children. May it be of benefit.

This Month's Favorite Memes

Exciting news!

Managing Change With Grace - The Retreat!

I am honored to share that the "Managing Change with Grace" workshop I've been leading will be a retreat at the Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health. Kripalu is ranked as the number one yoga getaway in America - and is known for its amazing food, a state-of-the-art spa, and tranquil lakeside setting. It is also where the transformation in my book We've Got to Stop Meeting Like This begins and ends.

The retreat is from 10/2 - 10/4. Links to register will be available in mid-June. So please save the dates for now - and email me at donnayferris@minichangeyoga.com with any questions.

What to Watch

Have you seen The Lost City yet?

This romantic comedy (now available to rent at home) is about a reclusive romance author who gets kidnapped by an eccentric billionaire to help him find ancient treasure. Her only hope? Her dashing and seemingly dim cover model. With Sandra Bullock, Channing Tatum, and Brad Pitt, this movie is the perfect way to welcome summer. Highly recommend.

Recent Podcast Appearances

Upcoming Workshops / Events

Wanted to share some workshops and events happening in the next few months:

Book signing - to benefit All 4 Paws - the rescue where we found Yogi Bear.

June 4th from 12-2 PM at Canvas Valley Forge, Bryce Lane, King of Prussia, Pa

Managing Change with Grace is one of the hardest things to do – and needed now more than ever. I will be leading two virtual workshops on this subject in the next few months (details below).

Our discussion will focus on identifying some obvious and less obvious changes we face and providing helpful tools to navigate them. These tools include healthy self-care, habit management, meditation (and other stress-relieving modalities), work/ life balance tips, creative outlets, and other resources.

Information below to register:

June 12th at Black Cat Yoga in Lititz, PA. Click here or call 717-500-1338 to register for this in-person workshop.
September 18th at SolSpace in Murrysville, PA. Click here or call 724-519-9555 to register.

Write Here Write Now is a 60-minute virtual writing workshop that provides tools to maintain a daily writing practice, publish articles, and a brief outline of what is involved to publish a book.

Information below to register:

June 23rd at noon ET via Zoom. Click here or call 484-459-9981 to register.

What I'm reading

My friends at Duck's Cottage suggested Silent Patient to me and I was not disappointed. It is a fast-paced psychological thriller with an ending no one sees coming. That is the benefit of visiting independent bookstores - they give amazing recommendations. Highly recommend.

One for the Money by Janet Evanovich is the first in her 27 novel mystery series. This installment was also made into a movie with Katherine Heigl. Trenton-raised Stephanie Plum takes a job with her cousin to track offenders who skip bail. The first assignment? Her ex-boyfriend. Picked up this laugh-out-loud mystery as research for my mystery novel. as Evanovich is a master of the rom-com cozy mystery genre. A must read.

Got yoga?

Summer is a wonderful time to ground ourselves in yoga practice. Our Wednesday and Saturday classes are relaxing all-level flow practices that begin with a brief meet and greet where students can share. The following class centers around the students and a theme chosen based on the season, poetry, and/or yoga philosophy. Packages can be purchased at minichangeyoga.com. Classes are held every Wednesday at 6:30 PM ET and Saturday at 8:00 AM ET via Zoom.

And for June 25th's class, we will both be in-person and virtual. Email Donna at donnayferris@minichangeyoga.com to learn more.

Exciting news!

So thankful to get a favorable review for "We've Got to Stop Meeting Like This" from Kirkus Reviews. Favorite comments below:

“Well crafted memoir that shares pithy wisdom”

“The author has a keen descriptive eye that allows her to vividly capture her heightening sense of awareness.”

“She cleverly opens and closes the book with a sunrise, encouraging readers to reflect on how the significance of the event changed through the passage of time and experience”

“Ferris’ journey is an enlightening one that may offer hope and inspiration to those facing similar challenges.”

And I'm working on the next one - a mystery based on a time when I lost my memory. Targeted for release on January 1, 2023.

That's all for this month. Please reach out with any book, podcast, meditation, or show recommendations. Or if I can be of help on your journey.

With that, let's close with the Metta meditation:

May we be happy, May we be healthy, May we be safe, May we ride the waves of our lives in peace.

Namaste, Donna

(Look for my daily inspirational/funny posts on Facebook and Instagram @downdogdiva, @donnayatesferris and Twitter @minidva)

Donna Ferris

511 North Walnut Street, west chester
PA 19380 United States

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