A Joyful Practice

Pulling the Thread — a quick note and excerpts (the “missing” Tuesday compilation post) May 12, 2026

Peace and many blessings to everyone and especially to anyone Counting the Omer and/or observing/celebrating the Fifth Week of Pascha.

This is the “missing” compilation post for Tuesday, April 21^st. My apologies for not posting before the practice. You can request an audio recording of this practice via a comment below or (for a slightly faster reply) you can email myra        (at) ajoyfulpractice.com.

In the spirit of generosity (“dana”), the Zoom classes, recordings, and blog posts are freely given and freely received. If you are able to support these teachings, please do so as your heart moves you. (NOTE: You can donate even if you are “attending” a practice that is not designated as a “Common Ground Meditation Center” practice, or you can purchase class(es).

Donations are tax deductible; class purchases are not necessarily deductible.

Check out the “Class Schedules” calendar for upcoming classes.

“We are more alike, my friends,
than we are unalike.”

— quoted from the last (repeated) lines of the poem “Human Family” by Maya Angelou

Sometimes we forget — or never learned — the wisdom of Dr. Maya Angelou. We cycle trivialities, get caught up in outward appearances, and spend whole lifetimes noticing differences between us and the people around us. However, as I mentioned yesterday, there are pretty good odds that we all learned the same rule very early in our lives. The question is: From where did you learn the Golden Rule? Was it from the sacred text or scripture of an Abrahamic religion or an ancient philosophy? Were you in a public school, private school, or homeschool? Did you learn it while scouting or while interacting with your siblings? Did you ever learn that little extra bit that is the “Home Rule”¹?

More importantly, did you grow up thinking it was a value unique to your community of birth? Or, were you taught that it is a value common throughout our Human Family? Finally, how does what you were taught about the rule determine how you implement the rule?

CLICK ON THE EXCERPT TITLES BELOW TO PULL THE THREAD.

(The second embedded link above is for a post related to Dr. Angelou’s poem.)

Rules For Me & Thee PLUS EXCERPT: “[Love] Letter to the World” (the post-practice Monday post)

Threads, Instructions, Truth, Practice, To Contemplate

“Accept the things and occurrences to which fate binds you, and love the people with whom fate brings you together, but do so truly, sincerely.”

— quoted from Meditations (Book 6) by Marcus Aurelius

Tuesday’s playlist is available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “05122026 Golden Rule: Threads, Instructions, & Truths”]

If you are thinking about suicide, worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support, you can dial 988 (in the US) or call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. You can also call this TALK line if you are struggling with addiction or involved in an abusive relationship. The Lifeline network is free, confidential, and available to all 24/7. YOU CAN TALK ABOUT ANYTHING.

White Flag is an app, which I have not yet researched, but which may be helpful if you need peer-to-peer (non-professional) support.

If you are a young person in crisis, feeling suicidal, or in need of a safe and judgement-free place to talk, you can also click here to contact the TrevorLifeline (which is staffed 24/7 with trained counselors).

You’re Invited to Bend… & To Take The Deepest Breath You’ve Taken — On Retreat!

September 25 — 27, 2026

NOTE/CORRECTION: ¹I sometimes have the pleasure of playing board games with a family that uses super fun “House Rules”; so, I used the wrong term in class when I referenced Merrick Rosenberg’s “Home Rule: Treat others how they need to be treated, not how you need to be treated.” I paraphrased a little and explained the rule using Love Languages). 

### LOVE [THEM] ANYWAY ###