Well, I’ve been writing this blog for over a year now. Mostly I’ve been reading, learning and sharing health and wellness information through my lens. I’ve attracted thousands of readers, yet rarely did I get personal about my own health and wellness journey along the way.

It’s unexplainable except to say that my gut told me tonight it’s time to share some lessons learned from of my personal experiences in 2011: the most challenging year of my 32 years of life thus far.

Before I get into much detail (and in the tune of sharing short “nuggets” of information rather than essays), I’d like to share this with my Zen Friends.

Don’t be so critical!  In a study of people recently separated after an average of 13 years of marriage, those who gave themselves a break, emotionally speaking, recovered faster than those who listened to a harsher inner voice.  Personality didn’t drive how people reacted (good news, since we can’t easily change qualities like optimism, say researchers).  What heals a broken heart and likely helps you recover from other setbacks, such as a layoff, is self-compassion – recognizing that you’re not perfect.  This perspective can be learned,” says lead author David Sbarra, Ph.D, of the University of Arizona, who recommends mindfulness meditation.

I suppose that might give you a hint as to one of the things that happened last year. And I am here, alive, today to tell you that self-compassion was indeed one of my greatest healing tools. It took time to set new neural pathways (and the process was often dark and painful), yet in this New Year I am beginning to reap the rewards.

Are you compassionate with yourself?  As always, your comments are welcome.