It's been 18 months since we sold nearly everything in an effort to lead a more simple life, to free up our financial resources, and to allow us to provide service wherever we feel called. During those 18 months, we have been to Costa Rica twice, Panama, Nicaragua, multiple Hawaiian islands on two different trips, and spent two summers on a gorgeous Maine island, where we rent a small studio apartment with a deck that provides wonderful sunset views over the mainland. We feel incredibly blessed … [Read more...]
Writing
Do you have a story you want to share with others? How about a poem? Perhaps it is your own story or poem, or maybe it is one that someone else wrote but helped you follow your heart. Submit any writing pieces to [email protected] (you are welcome to attached any related photography as well).
Jungle’s Edge Meditation
We went to Costa Rica this past Fall for a self-retreat of writing, surfing, and yoga, sprinkled with long walks, good food, and sacred connections with the people and visitors of Nosara, which is nestled along a river at the merging edges of the jungle and Pacific Ocean. Meditations were also a part of our daily practice, and from one of my long, meditative walks along the beach, emerged this meditation that I use often, sometimes throughout the day, especially when I feel overwhelmed or stuck. … [Read more...]
Living* A Life to Live For
*For the past 18 months, my wife and I have been writing articles that reference the concept of “creating” a life to live for. I came to the realization the other day that we were not actively trying to 'create' this amazing journey that we had been envisioning, but that we were actually in the midst of 'living' this incredible story. What follows is an update on our journey, some reflections on lessons learned, and what we hope lies ahead for our vision and venture, To Live For, LLC. A quick … [Read more...]
Letting Go and Creating a Life to Live For
My alarm awakened me at 3:24 a.m.. Weighted with deep weariness, I clung to the covers not believing I could lift myself from this dark exhaustion of my body and mind. Then I remembered we were flying from Maine to Costa Rica in a few short hours. This propelled me into action to ready myself, although my emotions were still heavily clinging to all we are letting go of: close proximity to our children, friends, clients, homes, 8 pets, my physical therapy practice, financial security, most of our … [Read more...]
Dr. Piers Beirne – Leading Animal Rights Advocate
Piers Beirne, PhD, is as brilliant as he is humble; as passionate as he is gentle, as kind as he is fiercely convicted; as down to earth as he is accomplished. He is an animal rights activist, an author of many crucial works (issues in green criminology confronting harms against environments, other animals and humanity), and a professor at the University of Southern Maine in criminology and animal abuse. Piers is considered a pioneer in his field and received the lifetime achievement award … [Read more...]
We Sold Everything (Almost)
Downsizing to detach, a journey that we energetically and spiritually started to seriously entertain about a year ago when we were 'empty nesters' before we anticipated being so..... Here is Paul's first, of many anticipated, article(s), in which he shares the emotional, cultural, spiritual, and heart centered joys and struggles of making such a life changing decision (article first published on medium.com and thriveglobal.com): We did it. We sold everything except for some family … [Read more...]
INSPIRED – An Evening of Stories & Music
INSPIRED: An Evening of Music & Story Telling To Live For, with the generous support of the Injured Workers' Legal Center (Fort Andross, #301, Brunsiwck, Maine) and Hugh & Surrey Hardcastle, hosted our first live show, "INSPIRED," at The Frontier Cafe theater in Brunswick, Maine, on Thursday, March 2, 2017. Our 4 story tellers and two local musicians absolutely inspired the SOLD OUT audience with their truths, vulnerabilities, fears, joy, lessons, inspiration, and love. Thank you to … [Read more...]
My Struggle: To Be or Not To Be
This is an article that I wrote, and was published in the Inner Tapestry, a New England based, holistic magazine, about three years ago. This topic is still something I have to work on every day! My Struggle: To Be or Not to Be Paul W. Knoll, M.A. As I travel back to Maine after some college visits with my senior daughter, I find myself asking these questions during some writing time: How do I want my life to feel as each day unfolds? How do I want my life to be reflected back to … [Read more...]
Shweta Singh – Engineer of Smiles and Joy
Shweta Singh was on track to be an engineer and civil servant in her home country of India, but an unsettled feeling kept nudging her towards a path less traveled. After a night of restless and minimal sleep, Shweta 'awoke' with a new perspective and purpose for her life. It was then when Shweta decided to become an engineer of smiles and joy for people across the globe and for nature. Since that night, Shweta has written two books ("7 Incredible Ways to Gorgeous Failure" and "The Night I … [Read more...]
Laurie McCammon, M.S. – Author, “Enough!”
Donna Maria, from "To Live For," welcomes Laurie McCammon, M.S., author the book, Enough! How to Liberate Yourself & Remake the World in One Word!, Laurie wonderfully weaves her educational background of science with her spiritual background to help us understand how we have developed an unhealthy relationship with the concept of always seeking more. We are enough! We have enough! More information about Laurie can be found at www.lauriemccammon.com and her book, Enough! is available on … [Read more...]
