This is the truth about my silly name
not Donna, even though I've occasionally wished to change it too
Something you might have guessed is that I’m partial to the word bright.
Even though it might sound Instagram-smarmy-and-fake, it’s my word.
The word bright landed in my heart years ago after a period of doing a lot of inner work to peel away the layers of gunk and examine what lay beneath. I don’t mean I discovered a shiny, new me – far from it. Rather, I realized what I wanted to become.
This word and I became partners when I was teaching a class at our local library. I think the workshop was about creating a vision board because that was all the rage back then. During the class we talked about the power and usefulness of finding a word or phrase that holds meaning and can act as an anchor through the storms. This is a surprisingly effective tool. During that time, as I was preparing for the class and exploring my inner landscape, the word bright gently wafted down from the ethers to make a home in my heart.
I know that sounds crazy but the word stuck because I realized it was how I wanted to be and what I wanted to become.
It looks like this…
Bright mind! I want to build my mind to be clear, open, inquisitive and always growing, with an expanding capacity to hold empathy and wisdom.
Bright body! It’s all about vitality and having sufficient energy to do what I want to do. Bright body means I move through the world with ease and grace while living fully in my body (which means a gentle acceptance of limitations while also pushing to my edge).
Bright spirit! I depend on the sacred unknown - a peace greater than my human heart and mind can grasp. I want to allow this unknown to lead the way. When I can walk the fine line between personal responsibility for my own life and allowing things to unfold, I always feel more settled.
Bright energy! It’s the low-level aspects of my daily routine that drag my energy into the tanker. If I want to operate at a higher frequency, to feel good and be content, as well have as a positive influence on those around me, I will not allow my energy to be drained by insignificant garbage.
I’ve thought about changing the name of this publication to something less fluffy, something more reflective of the concepts I try to write about – the effort it takes to live a wholehearted life where we have the courage to fully face ourselves. But this always brings me back to my guiding principle of living a bright life. So, the name sticks.
Body, Mind, Spirit, Energy. Now you know what I’m all about - and here’s a little more in case you missed it the first time it was published:
It’s my hope you will see a reflection of your Self in my words as we strive to bring out our best.
May you be well. May you stay awesome.
xoxo Donna
P.S. Do you know what you’d like to become? Can you hold that idea in a word or phrase or is it more elaborate?
Luz is such a fitting word for how you roll through life and what you embody. I see it everywhere in your work. Your comment that the light will shine through shadow, even if it’s in small glimmers, is similar to what I mean by bright. It’s both a calling and a way of being.
Speaking of light - you are always a bright one in my community. I appreciate it very much🙏
“The word bright landed in my heart years ago after a period of doing a lot of inner work to peel away the layers of gunk and examine what lay beneath. I don’t mean I discovered a shiny, new me—far from it. Rather, I realized what I wanted to become.”
What a beautiful post, Donna! And such a bela photo, brimming with life! I love when people share the meaning behind the words that shape them—it feels like a glimpse into their inner world. If I had to choose one for myself, it would be Light (Luz, in Portuguese). Not only what illuminates, but also what endures through shadowed moments—a symbol of resilience and hope.