Category: Newsletter

weekly newsletter

Posted on

Seasonal Shifts

March 30th, 2025

We turned the corner into Spring last week! It’s time to come out of hibernation, do a little spring cleanup and be inspired by nature’s awakening underneath the accumulated detritus. I returned from NJ a day ago and was greeted by fully unfurled daffodils, one of my favorite flowers! It gave me hope that somehow we will emerge from darker times to a new dawn. What are your favorite things about Spring and what lessons can Nature, in her infinite wisdom, teach us? We’re on ZOOM this Sunday and here’s the link. Hope you can join us!
Paths of Heart ZOOM Gathering
Time: Mar 30, 2025 10:30 AM Mountain Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81986857728?pwd=5BJWLk7fabRHj2zEm17pZqbjiSWO2x.1
Meeting ID: 819 8685 7728
Passcode: 711995

May you blossom like the daffodils! Colleen and Mark

Quotes to ponder

“Spring is the time of plans and projects.”
~ Leo Tolstoy

“It is spring again. The earth is like a child that knows poems by heart.”
~ Rainer Maria Rilke

“She turned to the sunlight
And shook her yellow head,
And whispered to her neighbor:
“Winter is dead.”
~ A.A. Milne

“If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant: if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome.”
~ Anne Bradstreet

“People were always the limiters of happiness except for the very few that were as good as spring itself.”
~ Ernest Hemingway

“Spring shows what God can do with a drab and dirty world.”
~ Virgil A. Kraft

Looking Ahead/Notes of Interest

 Sunday, March 30th – ZOOM Paths Gathering, 10:30 a.m.

Saturday, April  5th – Our house concert with Pierce Pettis is just over a week away!  Many of you came to his concert last year where you witnessed a wild music jam with Pierce and Mark, ending with Pierce “smashing” his guitar! Yikes!  The good news is his guitar is fixed up, good as (Pierce says better than!) new, and we intend to have just as much fun (or more!) than last time. Concert starts at 7 pm (doors at 6:30) and we’ll have a finger food/snack potluck during intermission. Suggested donation is $20-25.  At this point there are still a number of seats left, but to guarantee your spot you can pre-pay with Paypal: https://www.pathsofheart.org/donate/ (with Pierce Pettis in the special instructions)
or with Venmo: https://account.venmo.com/u/PathsofHeart

Sunday, April 6th – In person Paths Gathering, 10:30 a.m. with guest musician Pierce Pettis.

Sunday, April 20th – ZOOM Paths of Heart Gathering, 10:30 a.m.

Giving Opportunities
Paths of Heart welcomes and appreciates your generous donations as we continue to bolster our finances and return to regular Sunday gatherings. During the pandemic, online donations became increasingly important to our organization, and are always gratefully accepted on our website, https://www.pathsofheart.org/donate/. There is an option for recurring monthly donations, if you so choose. We have also added Venmo as an easy way to donate to Paths of Heart! Just type in @PathsofHeart to find us in the Venmo app. Thanks so much for supporting the continuation of Paths of Heart. Remember, we are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, so your donations are tax deductible!

Another easy way to further support Paths of Heart is through the King Soopers Community Rewards Program – If you shop at KS and have a rewards card, you can “link” it to Paths of Heart and King Soopers will donate a portion of your dollars spent (around 5%) to our non-profit. Go to https://www.kingsoopers.com/i/community/community-rewards to sign up and link your card. Our organization name is Paths of Heart and organization number is RG782. Let us know if you want help signing up! This one small gesture (by just 25 or so families at this point) helps to generate over $1,000 a year for Paths of Heart, so we appreciate your consideration in participating in this valuable program!!

“Paths of Heart” Labyrinth and Zen Meditation Garden
This was intentioned as a community space, so know that you are always welcome to drop by and walk or sit – you do not need to let us know in advance. Do note that we have experienced the outer “halo” of glass blocks in the labyrinth to be slippery when wet, so it’s best to walk it on a dry day. 

Gratitudes

We are grateful for SPRING! A survey of the yard and gardens brings such delight, as new green shoots are making their way through the dirt. Walking the labyrinth is soothing to the soul on these warm days. What are you grateful for today?

What are you grateful for today?

“Showing gratitude is one of the simplest yet most powerful things humans can do for each other.”
~ Nishan Panwar

“When you are grateful, fear disappears and abundance appears.”
~ Anthony Robbins

“When we give cheerfully and accept gratefully, everyone is blessed.”
~ Maya Angelou

“There is a calmness to a life lived in gratitude, a quiet joy.”
~ Ralph H. Blum

“What I’ve learned is there’s a scientifically proven phenomenon that’s attached to gratitude, and that if you consciously take note of what is good in your life, quantifiable benefits happen.”
~ Deborah Norville

About Paths of Heart…

Paths of Heart is a high spirited, heart-centered community where we gather together (in new and creative ways!) for music, poetry, commentary, and dialogue to create and nurture joy, compassion, gratitude, and love – in our own lives and throughout the world.  Paths of Heart is a 501(c)(3) Human Services/Educational non-profit organization that uses the arts, especially, to encourage and propel seekers of a better, more peaceful world to find ways to serve, while becoming more kind and compassionate human beings.

We welcome you as we collectively and individually explore the sweet mysteries of life – this is an invitation into co-creation! 

Visit us on the web at https://www.pathsofheart.org
We hope our physical paths may cross soon!

“Pull up a chair. Take a taste. Come join us. Life is so endlessly delicious.” ~ Ruth Reichl

Posted on

Love Remains

March 16th, 2025

This Sunday we’ll be talking about the power of love and how when you truly love someone, that love never dies, even though that person may no longer be with us in physical form. That is certainly the case with our friend and one of Paths of Heart’s original members, Bob Wells, who left this earthly plane peacefully on Feb. 12, 2025 at the age of 83. We’ll be celebrating his life during our gathering, as well as discussing love, loss, grief and the intermingling of these in all of our lives. 
Much love and light, Colleen and Mark

Quotes to ponder

“To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die”
~ Joseph Campbell

“You will lose someone you can’t live without, and your heart will be badly broken, and the bad news is that you never completely get over the loss of your beloved. But this is also the good news. They live forever in your broken heart that doesn’t seal back up. And you come through. It’s like having a broken leg that never heals perfectly – that still hurts when the weather gets cold, but you learn to dance with the limp.”
~ Anne Lamott

“For life and death are one, even as the river and the sea are one.”
~ Khalil Gibran

“All the art of living lies in a fine mingling of letting go and holding on.”
~ Havelock Ellis

“Grief, I’ve learned, is really just love. It’s all the love you want to give, but cannot. All that unspent love gathers up in the corners of your eyes, the lump in your throat, and in that hollow part of your chest. Grief is just love with no place to go.”
~ Jamie Anderson

Looking Ahead/Notes of Interest

 Sunday, March 16th – In person Paths of Heart Gathering, 10:30 a.m.
“Love Remains” – This Sunday will include a Celebration of Life of one of our original Paths of Heart members, Bob Wells, who passed on 2/12/25. Please help spread the word to anyone you may know who would like to celebrate Bob’s life of service and love. A potluck will immediately follow our Gathering. In lieu of flowers, Bob requested donations be made to the Larimer County Humane Society, the Food Bank, and/or Paths of Heart.

Sunday, March 30th – ZOOM Paths Gathering, 10:30 a.m.

Saturday, April  5th – We’ve scheduled our first “Paths of Heart Presents…” concert for the year with Pierce Pettis!  Many of you came to his concert last year where you witnessed a wild music jam with Pierce and Mark, ending with Pierce “smashing” his guitar! Yikes!  The good news is his guitar is fixed up, good as (Pierce says better than!) new, and we intend to have just as much fun (or more!) than last time. Concert starts at 7 pm (doors at 6:30) and we’ll have a finger food/snack potluck during intermission. Suggested donation is $20-25. 

Sunday, April 6th – In person Paths Gathering, 10:30 a.m. with guest musician Pierce Pettis.

Sunday, April 20th – ZOOM Paths of Heart Gathering, 10:30 a.m.

Giving Opportunities
Paths of Heart welcomes and appreciates your generous donations as we continue to bolster our finances and return to regular Sunday gatherings. During the pandemic, online donations became increasingly important to our organization, and are always gratefully accepted on our website, https://www.pathsofheart.org/donate/. There is an option for recurring monthly donations, if you so choose. We have also added Venmo as an easy way to donate to Paths of Heart! Just type in @PathsofHeart to find us in the Venmo app. Thanks so much for supporting the continuation of Paths of Heart. Remember, we are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, so your donations are tax deductible!

Another easy way to further support Paths of Heart is through the King Soopers Community Rewards Program – If you shop at KS and have a rewards card, you can “link” it to Paths of Heart and King Soopers will donate a portion of your dollars spent (around 5%) to our non-profit. Go to https://www.kingsoopers.com/i/community/community-rewards to sign up and link your card. Our organization name is Paths of Heart and organization number is RG782. Let us know if you want help signing up! This one small gesture (by just 25 or so families at this point) helps to generate over $1,000 a year for Paths of Heart, so we appreciate your consideration in participating in this valuable program!!

“Paths of Heart” Labyrinth and Zen Meditation Garden
This was intentioned as a community space, so know that you are always welcome to drop by and walk or sit – you do not need to let us know in advance. Do note that we have experienced the outer “halo” of glass blocks in the labyrinth to be slippery when wet, so it’s best to walk it on a dry day. 

Gratitudes

We’ve been hearing more birds singing outside as spring draws nearer – a lovely, soothing sound. We got to see our birder friend, Dave recently, who took this wonderful photo, and he says the bluebirds are back! The natural world gives us hope that there is still much beauty in this confusing world.

What are you grateful for today?

“Showing gratitude is one of the simplest yet most powerful things humans can do for each other.”
~ Nishan Panwar

“When you are grateful, fear disappears and abundance appears.”
~ Anthony Robbins

“When we give cheerfully and accept gratefully, everyone is blessed.”
~ Maya Angelou

“There is a calmness to a life lived in gratitude, a quiet joy.”
~ Ralph H. Blum

“What I’ve learned is there’s a scientifically proven phenomenon that’s attached to gratitude, and that if you consciously take note of what is good in your life, quantifiable benefits happen.”
~ Deborah Norville

About Paths of Heart…

Paths of Heart is a high spirited, heart-centered community where we gather together (in new and creative ways!) for music, poetry, commentary, and dialogue to create and nurture joy, compassion, gratitude, and love – in our own lives and throughout the world.  Paths of Heart is a 501(c)(3) Human Services/Educational non-profit organization that uses the arts, especially, to encourage and propel seekers of a better, more peaceful world to find ways to serve, while becoming more kind and compassionate human beings.

We welcome you as we collectively and individually explore the sweet mysteries of life – this is an invitation into co-creation! 

Visit us on the web at https://www.pathsofheart.org
We hope our physical paths may cross soon!

“Pull up a chair. Take a taste. Come join us. Life is so endlessly delicious.” ~ Ruth Reichl

Posted on

March Forth

March 2nd, 2025

As we sit down to write the newsletter on this last day of February, we think about all that the month of March signifies – the “Promise of Spring”, new growth, and the word “march” itself, calling us to courageously go forth with confidence towards our hopes and dreams for the future. We’re on ZOOM this Sunday and our topics will include courage, faith, and steadfastness. Here’s the link:
Topic: Paths of Heart Zoom Gathering
Time: Mar 2, 2025 10:30 AM Mountain Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81401831145?pwd=2D1IMu8aZotdllfZZR86u0OxojQTH1.1

Meeting ID: 814 0183 1145
Passcode: 935296

Remember, it’s always darkest before the dawn, Colleen and Mark

Quotes to ponder

“Courage is the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can’t practice any other virtue consistently.”
~ Maya Angelou

“Believe in yourself. You are braver than you think, more talented than you know, and capable of more than you imagine.”
~ Roy T. Bennett

“Do not be afraid; our fate cannot be taken from us; it is a gift.”
~ Dante Alighieri

“None of us knows what might happen even the next minute, yet still we go forward. Because we trust. Because we have faith.”
~ Paulo Coelho

“There is a stubbornness about me that never can bear to be frightened at the will of others. My courage always rises at every attempt to intimidate me.”
~ Jane Austen

Your hardest times often lead to the greatest moments of your life. Keep going. Tough situations build strong people in the end.”
~ Roy T. Bennett

Looking Ahead/Notes of Interest

Sunday, March 2nd – ZOOM Paths of Heart Gathering, 10:30 a.m. 

 Sunday, March 16th – In person Paths of Heart Gathering, 10:30 a.m. “Love Remains” – This Sunday will include a Celebration of Life of one of our original Paths of Heart members, Bob Wells, who passed on 2/12/25. Please help spread the word to anyone you may know who would like to celebrate Bob’s life of service and love. A potluck will immediately follow our Gathering.

Sunday, March 30th – ZOOM Paths Gathering, 10:30 a.m.

Saturday, April  5th – We’ve scheduled our first “Paths of Heart Presents…” concert for the year with Pierce Pettis!  Many of you came to his concert last year where you witnessed a wild music jam with Pierce and Mark, ending with Pierce “smashing” his guitar! Yikes! The good news is his guitar is fixed up, good as (Pierce says better than!) new, and we intend to have just as much fun (or more!) than last time, so mark your calendars.  More details to follow.

Sunday, April 6th – In person Paths Gathering, 10:30 a.m. with guest musician Pierce Pettis.

Sunday, April 20th – ZOOM Paths of Heart Gathering, 10:30 a.m.

Giving Opportunities
Paths of Heart welcomes and appreciates your generous donations as we continue to bolster our finances and return to regular Sunday gatherings. During the pandemic, online donations became increasingly important to our organization, and are always gratefully accepted on our website, https://www.pathsofheart.org/donate/. There is an option for recurring monthly donations, if you so choose. We have also added Venmo as an easy way to donate to Paths of Heart! Just type in @PathsofHeart to find us in the Venmo app. Thanks so much for supporting the continuation of Paths of Heart. Remember, we are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, so your donations are tax deductible!

Another easy way to further support Paths of Heart is through the King Soopers Community Rewards Program – If you shop at KS and have a rewards card, you can “link” it to Paths of Heart and King Soopers will donate a portion of your dollars spent (around 5%) to our non-profit. Go to https://www.kingsoopers.com/i/community/community-rewards to sign up and link your card. Our organization name is Paths of Heart and organization number is RG782. Let us know if you want help signing up! This one small gesture (by just 25 or so families at this point) helps to generate over $1,000 a year for Paths of Heart, so we appreciate your consideration in participating in this valuable program!!

“Paths of Heart” Labyrinth and Zen Meditation Garden
This was intentioned as a community space, so know that you are always welcome to drop by and walk or sit – you do not need to let us know in advance. Do note that we have experienced the outer “halo” of glass blocks in the labyrinth to be slippery when wet, so it’s best to walk it on a dry day.

Gratitudes

Still feeling the comfort in our community of like minded and kind hearted souls to keep us somewhat sane in these uncertain times. The beauty of our Colorado landscape and the warm weather also provides solace. Colleen is grateful to be feeling better after being “down for the count” for several days last week.

What are you grateful for today?

“Showing gratitude is one of the simplest yet most powerful things humans can do for each other.”
~ Nishan Panwar

“When you are grateful, fear disappears and abundance appears.”
~ Anthony Robbins

“When we give cheerfully and accept gratefully, everyone is blessed.”
~ Maya Angelou

“There is a calmness to a life lived in gratitude, a quiet joy.”
~ Ralph H. Blum

“What I’ve learned is there’s a scientifically proven phenomenon that’s attached to gratitude, and that if you consciously take note of what is good in your life, quantifiable benefits happen.”
~ Deborah Norville

About Paths of Heart…

Paths of Heart is a high spirited, heart-centered community where we gather together (in new and creative ways!) for music, poetry, commentary, and dialogue to create and nurture joy, compassion, gratitude, and love – in our own lives and throughout the world.  Paths of Heart is a 501(c)(3) Human Services/Educational non-profit organization that uses the arts, especially, to encourage and propel seekers of a better, more peaceful world to find ways to serve, while becoming more kind and compassionate human beings.

We welcome you as we collectively and individually explore the sweet mysteries of life – this is an invitation into co-creation! 

Visit us on the web at https://www.pathsofheart.org
We hope our physical paths may cross soon!

“Pull up a chair. Take a taste. Come join us. Life is so endlessly delicious.” ~ Ruth Reichl

Posted on

CHOOSE LOVE

February 16th, 2025

We’re STILL really struggling with what’s going on in our beloved country AND we know from the depths of our being that choosing love is still the best way to respond. That doesn’t mean that we condone cruel, reckless, and illegal behavior; however love HAS to be our guiding force in whatever action we may choose to take. Feels like a tall order at times…
Let’s gather in community with a potluck afterwards to support and lift one another up in these troubling times. 

Love will always trump hate, Colleen and Mark

Quotes to ponder

“May we find our way through the fear and hatred and find unity and strength to stand up for the rights of every human to live in peace.”
~ Scott Allen

“To hate is an easy lazy thing but to love takes strength everyone has but not all are willing to practice.”
~ Rupi Kaur

“For hatred does not cease by hatred at any time; hatred ceases by love, this is an old rule.”
~ Friedrich Max Muller

“A loving heart is the truest wisdom.”
~ Charles Dickens

“Eventually you will come to understand that love heals everything, and love is all there is.”
~ Gary Zukav

“Love makes your soul crawl out from its hiding place.”
~ Zora Neale Hurston

“We must strive everyday so that love of living humanity will be transformed into actual deeds, into acts that serve as examples, as a moving force.”
~ Ernesto Che Guevara

Looking Ahead/Notes of Interest

Sunday, February 16th – In Person Paths of Heart Gathering, 10:30 a.m. with a potluck immediately following.

Sunday, March 2nd – ZOOM Paths of Heart Gathering, 10:30 a.m. 

 Sunday, March 16th – In person Paths of Heart Gathering, 10:30 a.m.

Sunday, March 30th – ZOOM Paths Gathering, 10:30 a.m.

Saturday, April  5th – We’ve scheduled our first “Paths of Heart Presents…” concert for the year with Pierce Pettis!  Many of you came to his concert last year where you witnessed a wild music jam with Pierce and Mark, ending with Pierce “smashing” his guitar! Yikes! The good news is his guitar is fixed up, good as (Pierce says better than!) new, and we intend to have just as much fun (or more!) than last time, so mark your calendars.  More details to follow.

Sunday, April 6th – In person Paths Gathering, 10:30 a.m. with guest musician Pierce Pettis.

Sunday, April 20th – ZOOM Paths of Heart Gathering, 10:30 a.m.

Giving Opportunities
Paths of Heart welcomes and appreciates your generous donations as we continue to bolster our finances and return to regular Sunday gatherings. During the pandemic, online donations became increasingly important to our organization, and are always gratefully accepted on our website, https://www.pathsofheart.org/donate/. There is an option for recurring monthly donations, if you so choose. We have also added Venmo as an easy way to donate to Paths of Heart! Just type in @PathsofHeart to find us in the Venmo app. Thanks so much for supporting the continuation of Paths of Heart. Remember, we are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, so your donations are tax deductible!

Another easy way to further support Paths of Heart is through the King Soopers Community Rewards Program – If you shop at KS and have a rewards card, you can “link” it to Paths of Heart and King Soopers will donate a portion of your dollars spent (around 5%) to our non-profit. Go to https://www.kingsoopers.com/i/community/community-rewards to sign up and link your card. Our organization name is Paths of Heart and organization number is RG782. Let us know if you want help signing up! This one small gesture (by just 25 or so families at this point) helps to generate over $1,000 a year for Paths of Heart, so we appreciate your consideration in participating in this valuable program!!

“Paths of Heart” Labyrinth and Zen Meditation Garden
This was intentioned as a community space, so know that you are always welcome to drop by and walk or sit – you do not need to let us know in advance. Do note that we have experienced the outer “halo” of glass blocks in the labyrinth to be slippery when wet, so it’s best to walk it on a dry day.

Gratitudes

We take comfort in our community of like minded and kind hearted souls to keep us somewhat sane in these uncertain times. The beauty of our Colorado landscape also provides solace.

What are you grateful for today?

“Showing gratitude is one of the simplest yet most powerful things humans can do for each other.”
~ Nishan Panwar

“When you are grateful, fear disappears and abundance appears.”
~ Anthony Robbins

“When we give cheerfully and accept gratefully, everyone is blessed.”
~ Maya Angelou

“There is a calmness to a life lived in gratitude, a quiet joy.”
~ Ralph H. Blum

“What I’ve learned is there’s a scientifically proven phenomenon that’s attached to gratitude, and that if you consciously take note of what is good in your life, quantifiable benefits happen.”
~ Deborah Norville

About Paths of Heart…

Paths of Heart is a high spirited, heart-centered community where we gather together (in new and creative ways!) for music, poetry, commentary, and dialogue to create and nurture joy, compassion, gratitude, and love – in our own lives and throughout the world.  Paths of Heart is a 501(c)(3) Human Services/Educational non-profit organization that uses the arts, especially, to encourage and propel seekers of a better, more peaceful world to find ways to serve, while becoming more kind and compassionate human beings.

We welcome you as we collectively and individually explore the sweet mysteries of life – this is an invitation into co-creation! 

Visit us on the web at https://www.pathsofheart.org
We hope our physical paths may cross soon!

“Pull up a chair. Take a taste. Come join us. Life is so endlessly delicious.” ~ Ruth Reichl

Posted on

Groundhog Day!

February 2nd, 2025

So, we were having a really hard time deciding what to converse about on Sunday. The last couple of weeks of chaos and tragedy in our country have gotten me, personally, more than a bit off kilter, even though I have all the tools and teachings at hand to counter my temptation to let these outside forces trash my inner peace. Then we realized it would be Groundhog Day on Sunday, Mark’s favorite “holiday” (you’ll have to ask him why…), so we at least have a title, and who knows where it will go from there! We’d love to hear what’s on your mind and in your heart in these confusing times. We’re on ZOOM this Sunday and here’s the link:
Paths of Heart ZOOM Gathering
Time: Feb 2, 2025 10:30 AM Mountain Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81313158459?pwd=D7KQxXXASFvhZiF0zWk2sEtUBsEZUO.1

Meeting ID: 813 1315 8459
Passcode: 469467

Hang in there – in the shadows and the sunshine, Colleen and Mark

Quotes to ponder

“May we find our way through the fear and hatred and find unity and strength to stand up for the rights of every human to live in peace.”
~ Scott Allen

“Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow, it empties today of its strength. “
~ Corrie Ten Boom

“Have patience with everything that remains unsolved in your heart….live in the question.”
~ Rainer Maria Rilke

“Learning to distance yourself from all the negativity is one of the greatest lessons to achieve inner peace.”
~ Roy T. Bennett

“You are one thing only. You are a Divine Being. An all-powerful Creator. You are a Deity in jeans and a t-shirt, and within you dwells the infinite wisdom of the ages and the sacred creative force of All that is, will be and ever was.”
~ Anthon St. Maarten

Looking Ahead/Notes of Interest

Sunday, February 2nd – ZOOM Paths of Heart Gathering, 10:30 a.m. 

Sunday, February 16th – In Person Paths of Heart Gathering, 10:30 a.m.

Sunday, March 2nd – ZOOM Paths of Heart Gathering, 10:30 a.m. 

 Sunday, March 16th – In person Paths of Heart Gathering, 10:30 a.m.

Sunday, March 30th – ZOOM Paths Gathering, 10:30 a.m.

Saturday, April  5th – We’ve scheduled our first “Paths of Heart Presents…” concert for the year with Pierce Pettis!  Many of you came to his concert last year where you witnessed a wild music jam with Pierce and Mark, ending with Pierce “smashing” his guitar! Yikes! The good news is his guitar is fixed up, good as (Pierce says better!) than new, and we intend to have just as much fun (or more!) than last time, so mark your calendars.  More details to follow.

Sunday, April 6th – In person Paths Gathering, 10:30 a.m. with guest musician Pierce Pettis.

Sunday, April 20th – ZOOM Paths of Heart Gathering, 10:30 a.m.

Giving Opportunities
Paths of Heart welcomes and appreciates your generous donations as we continue to bolster our finances and return to regular Sunday gatherings. During the pandemic, online donations became increasingly important to our organization, and are always gratefully accepted on our website, https://www.pathsofheart.org/donate/. There is an option for recurring monthly donations, if you so choose. We have also added Venmo as an easy way to donate to Paths of Heart! Just type in @PathsofHeart to find us in the Venmo app. Thanks so much for supporting the continuation of Paths of Heart. Remember, we are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, so your donations are tax deductible!

Another easy way to further support Paths of Heart is through the King Soopers Community Rewards Program – If you shop at KS and have a rewards card, you can “link” it to Paths of Heart and King Soopers will donate a portion of your dollars spent (around 5%) to our non-profit. Go to https://www.kingsoopers.com/i/community/community-rewards to sign up and link your card. Our organization name is Paths of Heart and organization number is RG782. Let us know if you want help signing up! This one small gesture (by just 25 or so families at this point) helps to generate over $1,000 a year for Paths of Heart, so we appreciate your consideration in participating in this valuable program!!

“Paths of Heart” Labyrinth and Zen Meditation Garden
This was intentioned as a community space, so know that you are always welcome to drop by and walk or sit – you do not need to let us know in advance. Do note that we have experienced the outer “halo” of glass blocks in the labyrinth to be slippery when wet, so it’s best to walk it on a dry day.

Gratitudes

Even when crazy, unexpected, inconvenient things happen (like a burst water pipe inside our house!), there is still room for gratitude! It happened while we were home (after being away for over a week), we had minimal damage, and the plumber fixed it the next day so we were only without water for less than 24 hours. Could have been a LOT worse! It DID put me behind on your tax receipts for 2024 donations, so you’ll be getting those soon if you haven’t already, and THANK YOU so much for your generosity!

What are you grateful for today?

“Showing gratitude is one of the simplest yet most powerful things humans can do for each other.”
~ Nishan Panwar

“When you are grateful, fear disappears and abundance appears.”
~ Anthony Robbins

“When we give cheerfully and accept gratefully, everyone is blessed.”
~ Maya Angelou

“There is a calmness to a life lived in gratitude, a quiet joy.”
~ Ralph H. Blum

“What I’ve learned is there’s a scientifically proven phenomenon that’s attached to gratitude, and that if you consciously take note of what is good in your life, quantifiable benefits happen.”
~ Deborah Norville

About Paths of Heart…

Paths of Heart is a high spirited, heart-centered community where we gather together (in new and creative ways!) for music, poetry, commentary, and dialogue to create and nurture joy, compassion, gratitude, and love – in our own lives and throughout the world.  Paths of Heart is a 501(c)(3) Human Services/Educational non-profit organization that uses the arts, especially, to encourage and propel seekers of a better, more peaceful world to find ways to serve, while becoming more kind and compassionate human beings.

We welcome you as we collectively and individually explore the sweet mysteries of life – this is an invitation into co-creation! 

Visit us on the web at https://www.pathsofheart.org
We hope our physical paths may cross soon!

“Pull up a chair. Take a taste. Come join us. Life is so endlessly delicious.” ~ Ruth Reichl

Posted on

Noticing the Beautiful

January 19th, 2025

Mary Oliver’s “instructions for living a life” included three directions: “Pay attention. Be astonished. Tell about it.” Our dear friend Dave did exactly that in his annual holiday letter – a delightful romp across 2 typed pages of simple observations in his life, from the sublime to the comical – his personal list of favorite things in a kind of “stream of consciousness” format. It left us with the best kind of warm fuzzies – a string of pearls to awe and inspire and cling to as we ride the sometimes turbulent waves of life. He closes with “Let’s face 2025 with strength, eyes forward, and occasional glances downwards, upwards, backwards and inward.” Stellar advice, Dave! What helps you to stay positive when the “outside noise” threatens your inner peace and well being? Please join us in conversation this Sunday. We’ll also be honoring Martin Luther King, Jr.’s inspirational life and messages of peace and light. We’re overdue for a potluck, too, so let’s break bread together after our gathering!
Peace and Beauty, Colleen and Mark

Quotes to ponder

“Let me keep my mind on what matters, which is my work, which is mostly standing still and learning to be astonished.”
~ Mary Oliver

“For me, happiness is not a destination. It is not something to pursue. Don’t wait for happiness. Don’t save up for happiness. Don’t chase happiness. Happiness is a choice to see the beauty in every day. Happiness is a conscious celebration of the precious gift of life and all of your blessings. Happiness is a journey.”
~ Chatri Sityodtong

“Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow, it empties today of its strength. “
~ Corrie Ten Boom

“Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it.”
~ Confucius

“We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm and adventure. There is no end to the adventures that we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open.”
~ Jawaharlal Nehru

Looking Ahead/Notes of Interest

METADATA-START

Sunday, January 19th – In Person Paths of Heart Gathering, 10:30 a.m.  Potluck following our gathering. Please bring some food to share and your own plate. We’ll provide utensils, cups, napkins and a variety of beverages.   

Sunday, February 2nd – ZOOM Paths of Heart Gathering, 10:30 a.m. 

Sunday, February 16th – In Person Paths of Heart Gathering, 10:30 a.m.

Giving Opportunities
Paths of Heart welcomes and appreciates your generous donations as we continue to bolster our finances and return to regular Sunday gatherings. During the pandemic, online donations became increasingly important to our organization, and are always gratefully accepted on our website, https://www.pathsofheart.org/donate/. There is an option for recurring monthly donations, if you so choose. We have also added Venmo as an easy way to donate to Paths of Heart! Just type in @PathsofHeart to find us in the Venmo app. Thanks so much for supporting the continuation of Paths of Heart. Remember, we are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, so your donations are tax deductible!

Another easy way to further support Paths of Heart is through the King Soopers Community Rewards Program – If you shop at KS and have a rewards card, you can “link” it to Paths of Heart and King Soopers will donate a portion of your dollars spent (around 5%) to our non-profit. Go to https://www.kingsoopers.com/i/community/community-rewards to sign up and link your card. Our organization name is Paths of Heart and organization number is RG782. Let us know if you want help signing up! This one small gesture (by just 25 or so families at this point) helps to generate over $1,000 a year for Paths of Heart, so we appreciate your consideration in participating in this valuable program!!

“Paths of Heart” Labyrinth and Zen Meditation Garden
This was intentioned as a community space, so know that you are always welcome to drop by and walk or sit – you do not need to let us know in advance. Do note that we have experienced the outer “halo” of glass blocks in the labyrinth to be slippery when wet, so it’s best to walk it on a dry day.

Gratitudes

We again were fortunate to travel to the East Coast to be with Colleen’s Dad. Sweet family time and visits with long time friends were a blessing!
Gratitude to Margaret Gilfoyle for the stunning photo in this week’s newsletter!

What are you grateful for today?

“Showing gratitude is one of the simplest yet most powerful things humans can do for each other.”
~ Nishan Panwar

“When you are grateful, fear disappears and abundance appears.”
~ Anthony Robbins

“When we give cheerfully and accept gratefully, everyone is blessed.”
~ Maya Angelou

“There is a calmness to a life lived in gratitude, a quiet joy.”
~ Ralph H. Blum

“What I’ve learned is there’s a scientifically proven phenomenon that’s attached to gratitude, and that if you consciously take note of what is good in your life, quantifiable benefits happen.”
~ Deborah Norville

About Paths of Heart…

Paths of Heart is a high spirited, heart-centered community where we gather together (in new and creative ways!) for music, poetry, commentary, and dialogue to create and nurture joy, compassion, gratitude, and love – in our own lives and throughout the world.  Paths of Heart is a 501(c)(3) Human Services/Educational non-profit organization that uses the arts, especially, to encourage and propel seekers of a better, more peaceful world to find ways to serve, while becoming more kind and compassionate human beings.

We welcome you as we collectively and individually explore the sweet mysteries of life – this is an invitation into co-creation! 

Visit us on the web at https://www.pathsofheart.org
We hope our physical paths may cross soon!

“Pull up a chair. Take a taste. Come join us. Life is so endlessly delicious.” ~ Ruth Reichl

Posted on

Welcoming a New Year

January 5th, 2025

Happy New Year! We hope everyone is basking in good holiday vibes and we wish all of you richest blessings in this coming year, even alongside life’s trials that are bound to crop up here and there. It’s all about how we handle/respond to them, right? Many see each new year as a “clean slate” of sorts – a chance to begin again, gently let go of the things that didn’t serve us last year and gently affirm new thoughts and practices that will propel us positively into the future. No big lists of shoulds, okay? 🙂 This will be the focus of our discussion in our ZOOM gathering this Sunday. Here’s the link:
Paths of Heart ZOOM Gathering
Time: Jan 5, 2025 10:30 AM Mountain Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85991088016?pwd=joDo2U3LKlbd4ypfyo2B3r77Ymv03X.1
Meeting ID: 859 9108 8016
Passcode: 324059

Welcome 2025! Colleen and Mark

Quotes to ponder

“What if, instead of rushing into 2025 our pockets stuffed with a plethora of ‘shoulds’, we opened our eyes on January 1 to another sacred day alive on the planet, showered ourselves with grace, our hearts open to receiving love, our minds courting curiosity, a gentleness bathing our soul, kindly witnessing ourselves on the path, resting in the breath of being.”
~ Monika Carless (Thank you, Stacey!)

“May Light always surround you; Hope kindle and rebound you. May your Hurts turn to Healing; your Heart embrace Feeling. May Wounds become Wisdom; every Kindness a Prism. May Laughter infect you; your Passion resurrect you. May Goodness inspire your Deepest Desires. Through all that you Reach For may your arms Never Tire.”
~ D. Simone

“Life naturally reorganizes itself when we are true to ourselves and everything can fall into its right place. That’s when “the highest good of all” naturally happens.”
~ Maria Erving

“To live in the light of a new day and an unimaginable and unpredictable future, you must become fully present to a deeper truth – not a truth from your head, but a truth from your heart; not a truth from your ego, but a truth from the highest source.”
~ Debbie Ford

Looking Ahead/Notes of Interest

METADATA-START

Sunday, January 5th – ZOOM Paths of Heart Gathering, 10:30 a.m. 

Sunday, January 19th – In Person Paths of Heart Gathering, 10:30 a.m. 

Sunday, February 2nd – ZOOM Paths of Heart Gathering, 10:30 a.m. 

Sunday, February 16th – In Person Paths of Heart Gathering, 10:30 a.m.

Giving Opportunities
Paths of Heart welcomes and appreciates your generous donations as we continue to bolster our finances and return to regular Sunday gatherings. During the pandemic, online donations became increasingly important to our organization, and are always gratefully accepted on our website, https://www.pathsofheart.org/donate/. There is an option for recurring monthly donations, if you so choose. We have also added Venmo as an easy way to donate to Paths of Heart! Just type in @PathsofHeart to find us in the Venmo app. Thanks so much for supporting the continuation of Paths of Heart. Remember, we are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, so your donations are tax deductible!

Another easy way to further support Paths of Heart is through the King Soopers Community Rewards Program – If you shop at KS and have a rewards card, you can “link” it to Paths of Heart and King Soopers will donate a portion of your dollars spent (around 5%) to our non-profit. Go to https://www.kingsoopers.com/i/community/community-rewards to sign up and link your card. Our organization name is Paths of Heart and organization number is RG782. Let us know if you want help signing up! This one small gesture (by just 25 or so families at this point) helps to generate over $1,000 a year for Paths of Heart, so we appreciate your consideration in participating in this valuable program!!

“Paths of Heart” Labyrinth and Zen Meditation Garden
This was intentioned as a community space, so know that you are always welcome to drop by and walk or sit – you do not need to let us know in advance. Do note that we have experienced the outer “halo” of glass blocks in the labyrinth to be slippery when wet, so it’s best to walk it on a dry day.

Gratitudes

What a beautiful Christmas Eve Gathering we had, with 55 kind-hearted souls adding their bright lights to the evening! Thank you for being with us in song and spirit and for your generous donations to Paths of Heart that night. Thanks also to Krisann Meyer-Corcoran for adding harmonies to several songs. Our hearts are full!

Thank you to Karyn Coppinger for her help and expertise in pursuing grant opportunities for Paths of Heart. We appreciate you so much!

What are you grateful for today?

“Showing gratitude is one of the simplest yet most powerful things humans can do for each other.”
~ Nishan Panwar

“When you are grateful, fear disappears and abundance appears.”
~ Anthony Robbins

“When we give cheerfully and accept gratefully, everyone is blessed.”
~ Maya Angelou

“There is a calmness to a life lived in gratitude, a quiet joy.”
~ Ralph H. Blum

“What I’ve learned is there’s a scientifically proven phenomenon that’s attached to gratitude, and that if you consciously take note of what is good in your life, quantifiable benefits happen.”
~ Deborah Norville

About Paths of Heart…

Paths of Heart is a high spirited, heart-centered community where we gather together (in new and creative ways!) for music, poetry, commentary, and dialogue to create and nurture joy, compassion, gratitude, and love – in our own lives and throughout the world.  Paths of Heart is a 501(c)(3) Human Services/Educational non-profit organization that uses the arts, especially, to encourage and propel seekers of a better, more peaceful world to find ways to serve, while becoming more kind and compassionate human beings.

We welcome you as we collectively and individually explore the sweet mysteries of life – this is an invitation into co-creation! 

Visit us on the web at https://www.pathsofheart.org
We hope our physical paths may cross soon!

“Pull up a chair. Take a taste. Come join us. Life is so endlessly delicious.” ~ Ruth Reichl

Posted on

Winter Solstice Reflections

December 15th, 2024

We are approaching that magical day of the Winter Solstice, when the Light, both physically and metaphorically, overcomes the darkness. From December 21st onward, the days will continue to lengthen and the light increase with the Sun’s warmth. A new cycle is beginning, full of promise and glad tidings as we, too, allow our souls to shine bright and prevail over the perceived darkness we may see in the world around us. It is also a time for silent reflection, to acknowledge and honor the Bright Lights that we are and to experience our flame that, though it may have sputtered at times or even gone out momentarily, is surely being rekindled. Please join us and share your thoughts about this sacred time of year. We’ll celebrate with a potluck (inside!) after our gathering. Details in the “Looking Ahead” section below.

Solstice Blessings to you! Colleen and Mark

Quotes to ponder

“This is the season when people of all faiths and cultures are pushing back against the planetary darkness. We string bulbs, ignite bonfires, and light candles. And we sing.”
~ Anita Diamant

“You are the light of the world. Shine, and darkness will disappear.”
~ Paulo Coelho

“As we let our light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence actually liberates others.”
~ Marianne Williamson

“The rebirth of the sun at winter solstice signifies renewal for the earth as she embarks on another cycle of life. And, because we are children of the earth, we can take part in this sacred cycle, feeling the renewal of our own life.”
~ Scott Awbrey

“The winter solstice has always been special to me as a barren darkness that gives birth to a verdant future beyond imagination, a time of pain and withdrawal that produces something joyfully inconceivable, like a monarch butterfly masterfully extracting itself from the confines of its cocoon, bursting forth into unexpected glory.”
~ Gary Zukav

Looking Ahead/Notes of Interest

Our annual Christmas Eve concert will take place at 7 p.m., December 24th (doors at 6:30) PLEASE RSVP as space is limited! We are already filling up quickly and will soon create a waiting list. Our program runs approximately 75 minutes so folks can get to any other festivities planned for that night.

Sunday, December 15th – In Person Paths of Heart Gathering, 10:30 a.m. Holiday Potluck following our gathering! Tables will be set up ahead of time in the Great Room to facilitate a quick change for breaking bread together. Please bring a dish to share and your own reusable plates – we’ll provide silverware, cups, cloth napkins, and a variety of beverages.

Tuesday, December 24th, 7 p.m. – Annual Christmas Eve concert with the Crosson/Sloniker family and perhaps some special guests. Doors open at 6:30. RSVPs are required as we always have a full house. We will gratefully accept love offerings/donations for Paths of Heart and our musicians that night.

Sunday, January 5th – ZOOM Paths of Heart Gathering, 10:30 a.m. 

Sunday, January 19th – In Person Paths of Heart Gathering, 10:30 a.m. 

Giving Opportunities
Paths of Heart continues to welcome and appreciate your generous donations as we work to bolster our finances and return to regular Sunday gatherings. During the pandemic, online donations became increasingly important to our organization, and are always gratefully accepted on our website, https://www.pathsofheart.org/donate/. There is an option for recurring monthly donations, if you so choose. We have also added Venmo as an easy way to donate to Paths of Heart! Just type in @PathsofHeart to find us in the Venmo app. Thanks so much for supporting the continuation of Paths of Heart.  Remember, we are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, so your donations are tax deductible!

Another easy way to further support Paths of Heart is through the King Soopers Community Rewards Program – If you shop at KS and have a rewards card, you can “link” it to Paths of Heart and King Soopers will donate a portion of your dollars spent (around 5%) to our non-profit. Go to https://www.kingsoopers.com/i/community/community-rewards to sign up and link your card. Our organization name is Paths of Heart and organization number is RG782. Let us know if you want help signing up! This one small gesture (by just 25 or so families at this point) helps to generate over $1,000 a year for Paths of Heart, so we appreciate your consideration in participating in this valuable program!!

“Paths of Heart” Labyrinth and Zen Meditation Garden
This was intentioned as a community space, so know that you are always welcome to drop by and walk or sit – you do not need to let us know in advance. Do note that we have experienced the outer “halo” of glass blocks in the labyrinth to be slippery when wet, so it’s best to walk it on a dry day.

Gratitudes

Thank you SO MUCH to all who contributed to Paths of Heart during Giving Tuesday and Colorado Gives Day. We are so grateful for your financial support!

What are you grateful for today?

“Showing gratitude is one of the simplest yet most powerful things humans can do for each other.”
~ Nishan Panwar

“When you are grateful, fear disappears and abundance appears.”
~ Anthony Robbins

“When we give cheerfully and accept gratefully, everyone is blessed.”
~ Maya Angelou

“There is a calmness to a life lived in gratitude, a quiet joy.”
~ Ralph H. Blum

“What I’ve learned is there’s a scientifically proven phenomenon that’s attached to gratitude, and that if you consciously take note of what is good in your life, quantifiable benefits happen.”
~ Deborah Norville

About Paths of Heart…

Paths of Heart is a high spirited, heart-centered community where we gather together (in new and creative ways!) for music, poetry, commentary, and dialogue to create and nurture joy, compassion, gratitude, and love – in our own lives and throughout the world.  Paths of Heart is a 501(c)(3) Human Services/Educational non-profit organization that uses the arts, especially, to encourage and propel seekers of a better, more peaceful world to find ways to serve, while becoming more kind and compassionate human beings.

We welcome you as we collectively and individually explore the sweet mysteries of life – this is an invitation into co-creation! 

Visit us on the web at https://www.pathsofheart.org
We hope our physical paths may cross soon!

“Pull up a chair. Take a taste. Come join us. Life is so endlessly delicious.” ~ Ruth Reichl

Posted on

A Grateful Heart

December 1st, 2024

Happy Gratitude Day everyone! That’s what I like to call it. We are taking a break from the appetizers and food preparing to tell you how much this community means to us. Soon we will pass the 11th year of gathering with you all, whether we see you in person, on ZOOM, or simply connect with you through our regular newsletters. We have co-created something quite lovely together over the years, always evolving and ever growing in multiple ways. The photo above was taken by my guitar teacher from my high school days. So cool to have connected with him on Facebook in recent years, as I followed in his footsteps! The waterway he captured so beautifully is also not far from where my Dad lives in NJ, where we’ll be visiting soon. Even though outward appearances of our country and world may feel distressing, there is always much to be grateful for if we pay attention (and be astonished, says Mary Oliver!). See you on ZOOM this Sunday to share our joys (and concerns) and our gratitude for all life’s lessons (tell about it!, continues Mary O.). Here’s the link:
Paths of Heart Zoom
Time: Dec 1, 2024 10:30 AM Mountain Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89789397795?pwd=cLJa4NWGeomeBxUSNdDEKFbMVdlFn9.1

Meeting ID: 897 8939 7795
Passcode: 005240

With deep gratitude, Colleen and Mark

Quotes to ponder

“All things have contributed to your advancement, your growth, your enlightenment, so include all things in your gratitude.”
~ Alan Cohen (I think!)

“Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues but the parent of all others.”
~ Marcus Tullius Cicero

“I don’t have to chase extraordinary moments to find happiness – it’s right in front of me if I’m paying attention and practicing gratitude.”
~ Brene Brown

“If the only prayer you said was thank you, that would be enough.”
~ Meister Eckhart

“The moment one gives close attention to anything, even a blade of grass, it becomes a mysterious, awesome, indescribably magnificent world in itself.”
~ Henry Miller

Looking Ahead/Notes of Interest

(dates subject to change)

For those who participate in #Giving Tuesday and #Colorado Gives Day, we hope you might consider Paths of Heart in your end of year giving plans. We are not a “big” enough non-profit to have a presence on the Colorado Gives Day website, but you can go directly to our website, pathsofheart.org to make a donation or venmo a gift @PathsofHeart. Colleen will also be creating a Giving Tuesday Fundraiser page on Facebook, as in years past. We so appreciate your support!!

Our annual Christmas Eve concert will take place at 7 p.m., December 24th (doors at 6:30) PLEASE rsvp as space is limited! Our program runs approximately 75 minutes.

Sunday, December 1st – ZOOM Paths of Heart Gathering, 10:30 a.m.

Sunday, December 15th – In Person Paths of Heart Gathering, 10:30 a.m.

Sunday, December 24th – Annual Christmas Eve concert with the Crosson/Sloniker family and perhaps some special guests.

Sunday, January 5th – ZOOM Paths of Heart Gathering, 10:30 a.m. 
Sunday, January 19th – In Person Paths of Heart Gathering, 10:30 a.m. 

Giving Opportunities
Paths of Heart continues to welcome and appreciate your generous donations as we work to bolster our finances and return to regular Sunday gatherings. During the pandemic, online donations became increasingly important to our organization, and are always gratefully accepted on our website, https://www.pathsofheart.org/donate/. There is an option for recurring monthly donations, if you so choose. We have also added Venmo as an easy way to donate to Paths of Heart! Just type in @PathsofHeart to find us in the Venmo app. Thanks so much for supporting the continuation of Paths of Heart.  Remember, we are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, so your donations are tax deductible!

Another easy way to further support Paths of Heart is through the King Soopers Community Rewards Program – If you shop at KS and have a rewards card, you can “link” it to Paths of Heart and King Soopers will donate a portion of your dollars spent (around 5%) to our non-profit. Go to https://www.kingsoopers.com/i/community/community-rewards to sign up and link your card. Our organization name is Paths of Heart and organization number is RG782. Let us know if you want help signing up! This one small gesture (by just 25 or so families at this point) helps to generate over $1,000 a year for Paths of Heart, so we appreciate your consideration in participating in this valuable program!!

“Paths of Heart” Labyrinth and Zen Meditation Garden
This was intentioned as a community space, so know that you are always welcome to drop by and walk or sit – you do not need to let us know in advance. Do note that we have experienced the outer “halo” of glass blocks in the labyrinth to be slippery when wet, so it’s best to walk it on a dry day.

Gratitudes

Having a sweet, sweet day with Emma and Ethan. We trust you are spending the day exactly as you’d like, and we send love and light to all who might experience otherwise.

What are you grateful for today?

“Gratitude is the fairest blossom which springs from the soul.”
~ Henry Ward Beecher

“When I started counting my blessings, my whole life turned around.”
~ Willie Nelson

“If the only prayer you said was thank you, that would be enough.”
~ Meister Eckhart

“Gratitude is the sweetest thing in a seekers life – in all human life. If there is gratitude in your heart, then there will be tremendous sweetness in your eyes.”
~ Sri Chinmoy

“Gratitude for the present moment and the fullness of life now is the true prosperity.”
~ Eckhart Tolle

About Paths of Heart…

Paths of Heart is a high spirited, heart-centered community where we gather together (in new and creative ways!) for music, poetry, commentary, and dialogue to create and nurture joy, compassion, gratitude, and love – in our own lives and throughout the world.  Paths of Heart is a 501(c)(3) Human Services/Educational non-profit organization that uses the arts, especially, to encourage and propel seekers of a better, more peaceful world to find ways to serve, while becoming more kind and compassionate human beings.

We welcome you as we collectively and individually explore the sweet mysteries of life – this is an invitation into co-creation! 

Visit us on the web at https://www.pathsofheart.org
We hope our physical paths may cross soon!

“Pull up a chair. Take a taste. Come join us. Life is so endlessly delicious.” ~ Ruth Reichl

Posted on

Lighting the Way with Courage, Faith, and Resilience

November 17th, 2024

This has been quite a week and we’ve heard from many people who are grieving, angry, fearful, and more. We hear you, we see you, and we validate all the emotions you may be feeling at this tender time. We’ve relied on family, friends, and community to help process the unfolding circumstances in our beloved country, and have read amazing, heartfelt writings and songs to comfort and guide us as well. As our songwriter friend Carrie Newcomer sings, “We can do this hard thing…”
We’ll explore together some valuable, positive, human qualities we can embody during any and all difficult and uncertain times.
Holding you in love, light, and peace, Colleen and Mark

Quotes to ponder

“My friends, do not lose heart. We were made for these times…Struggling souls catch light from other souls who are fully lit and willing to show it. If you would help to calm the tumult, this is one of the strongest things you can do. There will always be times when you feel discouraged. I too have felt despair many times in my life, but I do not keep a chair for it. I will not entertain it. It is not allowed to eat from my plate…”
~ Clarissa Pinkole Estes

“We are all faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly disguised as impossible situations.”
~ Chuck Swindoll

“It is only in our darkest hours that we may discover the true strength of the brilliant light within ourselves that can never, ever, be dimmed.”
~ Doe Zantamata

“We either make ourselves miserable or we make ourselves strong. The amount of work is the same.”
~ Carlos Costaneda

“Instead of worrying about what you cannot control, shift your energy to what you can create.”
~ Roy T. Bennett

“My scars remind me that I did indeed survive my deepest wounds. That in itself is an accomplishment. And they bring to mind something else, too. They remind me that the damage life has inflicted on me has, in many places, left me stronger and more resilient. What hurt me in the past has actually made me better equipped to face the present.”
~ Steve Goodier

“In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer.”
~ Albert Camus

Looking Ahead/Notes of Interest

(dates subject to change)

In the midst of Paths of Heart’s financial uncertainty, some generous souls have come forward to take us through the end of this year and a bit into the next. We are SO grateful! AND we really can’t continue to operate in this month to month fashion, so we still have some brainstorming to do, folks. Any suggestions from our regular participants on how to move forward in securing a bright future for Paths of Heart are always most welcome! The Gratitude Concert we thought might happen has been supplanted by another music opportunity for us that same weekend, so we’ll look forward to our Christmas Eve concert instead. We hope you’ll join us for our special annual event on December 24th! More details to come.

Sunday, November 17th – In Person Paths of Heart Gathering, 10:30 a.m.

Sunday, December 1st – ZOOM Paths of Heart Gathering, 10:30 a.m.

Sunday, December 15th – In Person Paths of Heart Gathering, 10:30 a.m.

Sunday, December 24th – Annual Christmas Eve concert with the Crosson/Sloniker family and perhaps some special guests. More details forthcoming!

Giving Opportunities
Paths of Heart continues to welcome and appreciate your generous donations as we work to bolster our finances and return to regular Sunday gatherings. During the pandemic, online donations became increasingly important to our organization, and are always gratefully accepted on our website, https://www.pathsofheart.org/donate/. There is an option for recurring monthly donations, if you so choose. We have also added Venmo as an easy way to donate to Paths of Heart! Just type in @PathsofHeart to find us in the Venmo app. Thanks so much for supporting the continuation of Paths of Heart.  Remember, we are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, so your donations are tax deductible!

Another easy way to further support Paths of Heart is through the King Soopers Community Rewards Program – If you shop at KS and have a rewards card, you can “link” it to Paths of Heart and King Soopers will donate a portion of your dollars spent (around 5%) to our non-profit. Go to https://www.kingsoopers.com/i/community/community-rewards to sign up and link your card. Our organization name is Paths of Heart and organization number is RG782. Let us know if you want help signing up! This one small gesture (by just 25 or so families at this point) helps to generate over $1,000 a year for Paths of Heart, so we appreciate your consideration in participating in this valuable program!!

“Paths of Heart” Labyrinth and Zen Meditation Garden
This was intentioned as a community space, so know that you are always welcome to drop by and walk or sit – you do not need to let us know in advance. Do note that we have experienced the outer “halo” of glass blocks in the labyrinth to be slippery when wet, so it’s best to walk it on a dry day.

Gratitudes

We are grateful for the love and inspiration of our friends and family who have carried us through this past week. Special thanks to my RAK sisters and COL Mighty Companions!

What are you grateful for today?

“Gratitude is the fairest blossom which springs from the soul.”
~ Henry Ward Beecher

“When I started counting my blessings, my whole life turned around.”
~ Willie Nelson

“If the only prayer you said was thank you, that would be enough.”
~ Meister Eckhart

“Gratitude is the sweetest thing in a seekers life – in all human life. If there is gratitude in your heart, then there will be tremendous sweetness in your eyes.”
~ Sri Chinmoy

“Gratitude for the present moment and the fullness of life now is the true prosperity.”
~ Eckhart Tolle

About Paths of Heart…

Paths of Heart is a high spirited, heart-centered community where we gather together (in new and creative ways!) for music, poetry, commentary, and dialogue to create and nurture joy, compassion, gratitude, and love – in our own lives and throughout the world.  Paths of Heart is a 501(c)(3) Human Services/Educational non-profit organization that uses the arts, especially, to encourage and propel seekers of a better, more peaceful world to find ways to serve, while becoming more kind and compassionate human beings.

We welcome you as we collectively and individually explore the sweet mysteries of life – this is an invitation into co-creation! 

Visit us on the web at https://www.pathsofheart.org
We hope our physical paths may cross soon!

“Pull up a chair. Take a taste. Come join us. Life is so endlessly delicious.” ~ Ruth Reichl