The Hit List - Apologies accepted

This past week, my daughter and I were discussing the art of apologizing. It seems the Mercury retrograde had brought out a few misunderstandings – and we wanted to clear the air immediately. Apologies accepted all around. Life moved on. We’re good.

Sincere apologies form the foundation for healthy relationships. I truly believe that.

It’s not how I grew up. In our household “sorry” was a rare word and even rarer was a sincere intention behind it. It was usually said to shut someone up so that the transgressor could move on as quickly as possible without examining why the apology was needed. Apologies were also offered begrudgingly with excuses and rationalization.

The one who was offended was told to “get over it” or “stop being so sensitive” or “we need to put our differences aside for the family.” In other words: there was no empathy, no accountability, nothing but a useless statement.

Needless to say, they went right back to the same bad behaviors too.

When it came to my own children, I did things differently. Saying “I’m sorry” and understanding why you need to do that opened the door for deep, rich conversations. And real healing.

I’m not just talking about my kids saying it to each other when they got into typical childhood snits. I’ve also had to say “I’m sorry” on many occasions. Even more so as they are adults and I have yet to learn how to restrain my sarcastic know-it-all-mom tongue which forgets that they are not children but adults who know how to function perfectly well without my brand of windy criticism.

I know how to apologize. So do they. This is why my relationships with my children continue to thrive and flourish.

If you want to enjoy healthy relationships, learn to apologize. Mean what you say. Make amends and then change your behavior. It’s not that hard.

And it’s only right when you’re in the wrong.

Here we all are in our sunglasses.

Other stuff:

It’s a solar eclipse kinda day. Here are some free solar eclipse in Leo mini tarot readings for each zodiac sign.

I love this post from Refinery29: This Weekend’s Partial Solar Eclipse Wants You To Look Back At August 2017.

Cosmo has something to say about the eclipse too.

Bustle has more info about the solar eclipse in Leon.

Skyler White on Breaking Bad broke the mold and set the tone for strong female leads.

Sharp Objects is my new fave thing on HBO. This piece talks about the show and complicated female leads.

Here’s what Oprah likes to cook for Stedman.

How to get started studying tarot.

The First-Ever Self-Care Atlas: How People in 50 Countries Find Zen.

A photo essay on depression.

Must see: Crime + Punishment explores racism and policing in New York.

How to get off a scammer’s suckers list.

Speaking of scammers, it’s people like this who give tarot a bad name.

Good stuff from Courtney Weber: 5 Ways Your Offerings Hurt the Environment (and Five Easy, Eco-Friendly Alternatives!).

Gala Darling shares her best-est witchiest tips for manifesting more money with Girlboss.

Why millennials are looking for meaning in tarot cards.

What it’s like living in Ho Chi Minh City’s ‘micro-houses’ (hint: cramped).

This dude spent 40 years planting a tree a day – and the results are amazing.

From Yes and Yes: How to use your failures to plan for success.

How to talk to racists – starting with the one in the mirror.

Intriguing: A Scented World: THE MAGIC OF FRAGRANCES.

Can’t figure out how to make heads or tails out of the tarot cards? Get The Tarot Coloring Book and you’ll begin to see them clearly.

I need to make room on my cookbook bookshelf for Room for Dessert.

YUP: You and I Eat the Same: On the Countless Ways Food and Cooking Connect Us to One Another.

Check this out: A Christmas Tarot: Ghosts of Past, Present, and Future.

OOOOH: Magic for the Resistance: Rituals and Spells for Change.

Here are my upcoming live classes:

*NEW* Astrology for Total Beginners: learn the basics of natal chart interpretation. This two-hour workshop will get you up to speed on what all that astrology stuff is about! Join me at Boston Tea Room. Date: Wednesday, October 10th. Location: Ferndale, Michigan.

Pens and Cards: a day full of tarot exploration and writing with author Sarah Selecky and moi. Date: October 13th. Location: Skybarn, Prince Edward County, Ontario. Only TWO seats left!

Intuitive Tarot Reading at Boston Tea Room. Date: Sunday, October 14th. Location: Ferndale, Michigan.