Suzanne wanted to share some inspiration! 
“We might feel that somehow we should try to eradicate these feelings of pleasure and pain, loss and gain, praise and blame, fame and disgrace. A more practical approach would be to get to know them, see how they hook us, see how they color our perception of reality, see how they aren’t all that solid. Then the eight worldly dharmas become the means for growing wiser as well as kinder and more content.”
– from When Things Fall Apart by Pema Chodron
It happens all the time in heaven, and some day
It will begin to happen again on earth-
That men and women who are married,
and men and men who are lovers,
And women and women
who give each other light,
Often will get down on their knees
And while so tenderly
holding their lover’s hand,
With tears in their eyes,
will sincerely speak, saying,
“My dear,
how can I be more loving to you;
How can I be more kind?”
– from The Subject Tonight is Love by Hafiz
tr: Daniel Landinsky
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How to build community by Suzanne
Be bold
reach out beyond distraction and
the trance of consumption
step out of your comfort zone
Celebrate the life force in each other
Invoke the sacred
Ask deep questions
Magnetize playmates
Risk being silly, boring or even dangerous
create opportunities to work and play together
move beyond self interest, fear, judgement
ask how you might serve
step into play, prayer and support
mark the passages of your lives
build, create or save something
ask for help and ideas
co create
Make rituals that matter and help with real problems
be a poet trust your voice
feel the rhythm
release the inner critic
celebrate diversity
sing, dance, eat and pray together
improvise
create a place to gather
ask more questions
listen to the answers
fix what you can
contribute to the larger vision
hold the ones in pain, dance when the joy comes
breathe life into life
tell your own stories – they are better than the stories on TV
embrace the wild mystery…participate!!
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