This month, I am especially grateful to have been published on “Tiny Buddha,” the world’s leading site, blog, community/ social media platform for peace and happiness.  It shares simple wisdom from readers and writers all over the globe – and, useful ways to apply this wisdom all aspects of life.  My post is called, “Why I’m Grateful for Accidents, Pain and Loss,” and I sincerely hope you read it.  The beautiful image to the left is courtesy of that post.

Here, I’d also like to add, “Why I am grateful for Lori Deschene,” Founder of “Tiny Buddha.”  Not just for creating this incredibly wise and supportive forum, but because Lori reminded me to be vulnerable in my writing.  It’s true! I’ve written two books, one sharing beautiful stories of gratitude, and one sharing incredibly inspiring stories about compassion.  And yes, I did get deeply vulnerable in my stories; one in particular –  I even wrote about all the virtues of sharing our truths, and how the world would be so much better if we all did just that.

But in my daily writing – newsletters, email blasts, etc. – I somehow forgot!   What’s funny is that, many times as I was writing, I could “hear” my real voice in my head saying what I wanted to say, but the editor in my head (mom??)  continually chimed in with,  ” Elizabeth, you can’t say that!”    Then, I watched this video of Lori talking about wanting to share authentic, honest stories.  Lori had the wisdom to know that if she wanted to make “Tiny Buddha” into a genuine place of sharing, then she had to be more vulnerable with what she personally shared.  Lori made up her mind to authentically show up in her own writing, which she so beautifully does here, and in all of her stories. The rest is “Tiny Buddha” history.

I read Lori’s words and watched her speak.  I thought, “I’m 57-years-old.” ( I said it!) If writing is really part of everything I do – and it is – I might as well be as real and vulnerable as I can.

Lori reminded of this: I care much more that my truths might help another person far more than I care about being judged for them.

Here’s how I said it in my  “Soul Models” book: “We learn far more from each other by sharing our truth instead of the B.S. we make up to feel better about ourselves.”   I believed it then, and I’m so grateful to be reminded today.   That isn’t to say I’m going to stop sharing everything I’ve learned about art, creativity, joy and life – it just means you may get a bit more back story of how I got there:)

As Lori says, “We are all in this together, and we all have something to teach and something to learn.”  I couldn’t have said it any better – stay tuned!

-Elizabeth