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Kara Simons | Joyful Resonance's avatar

I resonated with so much in this share! Thank you for writing it. A couple nights ago, I reread part of my memoir and had a similar realization-- it felt like a love note or lifeline from past me. What are your favorite tarot decks?

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Abby Alten Schwartz's avatar

I don't have a lot of experience with tarot cards but a close friend bought me the Light Seer's Tarot deck and I use it casually by asking a question, shuffling it and drawing a card.

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AuntEaster's avatar

Hi Abby, I arrived here via The Isolation Journals. The title of your post really resonates with me. I'm feeling a visceral need to shift out of my current career and to focus instead on ... what? I'm taking this week off to start figuring that out. For me, that begins with journaling it out.

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Abby Alten Schwartz's avatar

Hi! Welcome to my fellow TIJer. Journaling it out--love it. Such a great way to dig beneath the surface, right? I need to remind myself to do that more often. It always helps in a big way. Good luck to you and let me know if you discover anything surprising after you write.

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Karen DeBonis's avatar

Indeed I do.

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Karen DeBonis's avatar

Great job, Abby! I love this: "I knew I possessed all the tools I needed to respond proactively to my situation and redirect my thoughts from panic to possibility." It's a great reminder for me- thank you!

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Abby Alten Schwartz's avatar

Thanks, Karen! And you have everything you need, too.

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Marika Páez Wiesen's avatar

#3 is my favorite question. Always so much surprise and so much to learn there. Thanks for sharing!

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Abby Alten Schwartz's avatar

Thank you! I didn’t expect it to lead me where it did and was so jazzed afterwards.

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Louise Julig's avatar

Good to see you on the 'stack, Abby! I definitely appreciate the power of focusing on the small, as your publication aims to do, since Be Your Own Hero is about being brave in small moments :-) And yeah, somehow being too busy is less stressful than when when time stretches out without enough (which is a judgment in itself) to fill it. Meditation is great for getting accustomed to sitting in that space without freaking out ;-)

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Abby Alten Schwartz's avatar

Thank you so much! I'm going to subscribe to Be Your Own Hero as well--I love your theme. And yes, being too busy is less stressful unless the time off is a deliberate choice.

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kimberly standiford's avatar

wonderful read💜i always enjoy your writing and glad to see you moving along in new creative ways. i often have the best creative ideas come to me when i am meditating 🧘‍♀️. mazel tov‼️

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Abby Alten Schwartz's avatar

Thank you so much, Kimberly! I need to be more consistent with my meditation practice. I’m always reminded how beneficial it is once I finally do it.

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kimberly standiford's avatar

if you haven’t tried deepak chopra’s app, chopra meditation, it is definitely worth trying--- amazing guided meditations with oprah, with alicia keys--- teachings with devi brown and others. also if you are a peloton person, they have some strong and wonderful 5/10/15 meditations if you dont have alot of time‼️‼️‼️

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Abby Alten Schwartz's avatar

Thanks! I'll dust off my Peloton and check it out. I really do love the TM method--it's so easy. But I like guided meditations, too, and appreciate the recommendation!

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Renee - Itsbooktalk & More's avatar

Congrats on your first Substack post! Being grateful, even when I'm in a bad mood or things are hard, has had such a positive impact on my life.

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Abby Alten Schwartz's avatar

Thanks, Renee. Yes, it's always surprising to me how effective gratitude is at lifting my mood.

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Maureen C. Berry's avatar

Oh Abby, so much about your post resonates with me. But I love this little gem—”If I gave myself permission to dream, what kind of ambitious, exciting projects or partnerships would I want to pursue?” Brava!!

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Abby Alten Schwartz's avatar

Maureen, thank you so much!

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Mar 11, 2023
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Abby Alten Schwartz's avatar

Hi Alexandra. I'm sorry you are going through a rough time and hope this helped in some small way, even just to show you aren't alone. Glad the ermine made you laugh. Me, too!

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