Weekly Vlog: Bunny Slipper Mantras

I’ve been sharing a great deal about anniversaries lately, and today I have another one: it’s nine years this month since I began doing the weekly vlog. That’s roughly 270 vlogs. In all that time, I’ve only missed three or four weeks.
Here’s a little insight into how it happens: I usually film each Wednesday’s vlog on the Monday morning before. Then my team does all the processing that needs to happen to have it ready by Wednesday.
I have an Evernote on my phone titled “future vlog topics,” and it goes back for years. I use it to capture thoughts or add links to articles. The team also keeps track of suggestions you write in-we get about one a day.
Sometimes I come up with a topic related to something that’s happened to me that week. Sometimes I want to talk about science. Other times I want to share a life lesson.
Sometimes, like today, I come to the vlog in an emotional state that makes it hard to talk about anything. The vlog feels to me like truth serum. I look into the red dot above the camera lens and I feel all of you-thousands of you-there with me. What I have to say has to come from a genuine place.
I’m an emotional creature. My astrology chart is loaded with water: Sun, rising sign, Mercury, and Saturn all in Cancer; Moon in Scorpio, and Jupiter in Pisces. If I’m affected by life, it’s hard not to bring that to the vlog.
I spent this past weekend with a dear friend who is dying. Though she’s very dear to me, we just met for the first time. We became close online. She drove up from Appalachia, where she lives. She’s dying, and isn’t yet at peace with that. She has less than a year.
Then this morning, I got a call from someone who was affected by something I had said to them about their weight. She was feeling comfortable in her body, so what I said sent her reeling. I’ll shoot a vlog about it sometime, as I will on my friend who is dying, with their permission.
I can’t shoot those topics yet. I only shoot a vlog topic once, so I have to make sure I’m ready to say everything that needs to be said. I thought I was going to shoot today’s vlog on the book, On This Bright Day, but I’m not ready for that, either.
All these things were in my head and on my heart when I was getting ready. I sat down and cried after my shower, and scrolled through my Evernote document. I scrolled through pages and pages of ideas that were nowhere near anything I could remotely face talking about today.
And then I found something way back at the end, that I must have written down years ago, and it’s something I can talk about today.
It’s a bunch of bunny slipper mantras. Here they are:
When I have an extra hard day,
I will take extra good care of myself.
When I am under a lot of stress,
I will treat myself with a lot of kindness.
When I feel more overwhelmed than usual,
I will take more time to rest than usual.
When my emotions are strong,
My self-compassion will also be strong.
When I am feeling additional tension,
I will make space for additional relaxation.
When I am feeling deeply,
I will also practice accepting my emotions deeply.
When I am really tired,
I will be really gentle with myself.
-Anna Runkle*
That’s all I could resonate with this morning, and I’m giving myself permission to do a vlog that is pieced together with duct tape and chicken wire. And it’s okay.
We have such a sensitive community, and we’re all-myself included-just showing up for each Bright Day. And sometimes that day is vlog day. So, on this day I made space for an unusual topic.
I hope that, if you are the one who sent these to me years ago, or posted them on Facebook, you’ll make yourself known so we can give you credit.
Since it's publication, this caption was edited to add attribution to Anna Runkle.
FOR THIS VLOG, PODCASTS, TRANSCRIPTS-and MORE: ble.life/qt2xdm

[@ribuzoze]

Thank you for being authentic, humble and completely honest with what is coming up for you in real time. You have created a space where I feel like I belong and this space is a healing space for me and countless others. I am an 82 year old African American Elder who has spent a lifetime looking for, creating, sustaining and expanding authentic spaces where everyone's full humanity is affirmed, uplifted and supported. Thank you for being such a person who created, sustains and expands this authentic BLE space.

[@Brightlineeating]

Thank you so much for taking the time to comment 🫂🫂

[@patriciakenow2046]

I rewatched this again today as I hadn’t deleted it from my email feed. God is so good! I needed this encouragement today. Thank you for your vulnerability, transparency and honesty. You are a huge inspiration and encouragement ❤️❤️❤️

[@lonnielauer3077]

Rather than repeating what the previous commenters have stated, I'll just say "ditto" from me. You are the key to my success over food addiction. Keep it real for us, we need you, we love you. ❤

[@Brightlineeating]

🥰🥰🥰

[@womenbodiment252]

I love you soooo much, Susan! Thank you for saving my life. My body, my sanity, everything. And just hearing you share your astrological sign and planets makes me so happy, I have been wondering for years ❤️

[@Brightlineeating]

🌟

[@laureleeduncan2566]

Bunny slippers -- what a lovely, compassionate vlog. Please pull those comfy slippers on!

[@Brightlineeating]

🐰🧡🐰

[@johenry6534]

I'm glad you feel me. I sure feel you. I watch every week with love, affection, and so much gratitude for your willingness to show up, put yourself out there, and offer what is true for you. That's vulnerable and hard sometimes of course. But please know that little red light above your camera is love shining right back at you. ❤

[@Brightlineeating]

What a wonderful thought 🥰"that little red light above your camera is love shining right back at you"

[@williammann8994]

Well girl, you done it again. I'm crying at my desk. I haven't missed your weekly blog in quite a wile and I look forward to watching it just before my lunch. Today you hit the nail on the head with that mantra. exactly what i needed to hear. Stress here at work, tired of working, OK, just breath. Thank you form the bottom of my heart. ❤

[@Brightlineeating]

Oh my dear! Sending you hugs! 🫂🧡

[@Joan-ko8pv]

Wow! Just what I needed to hear. Marc passed away last week. I have had so much family around me. I'm starting to get overwhelmed. I am relishing having them. But after a week all of us are falling into old patterns. Susan reminded me that taking a walk, a swim, a shower, a sit outside alone, are all valid choices. Listening to calming mantras restores me. And I do my long meditation every morning. This restores my soul. And my family is happy to let me alone to do those things. God bless them. And God bless all of you. 😘

[@Brightlineeating]

Oh sending you lots of love and holding space for your hurting heart. 🧡

[@Joan-ko8pv]

@@Brightlineeating❤

[@Divinemule]

Thank you, Susan, for your authenticity and wisdom! Beautiful and Powerful!

[@Brightlineeating]

Thank you for your kind words! 🥰

[@emcrone4101]

Your authenticity is one of the reasons I stick around & watch all of your weekly blogs ♥️

[@Brightlineeating]

Thank you so much for those kind words! 🙏

[@jacqieshartier8444]

So grateful to hear your Vlog and reading today. Just moved and downsized and feeling emotional and this speaks to me today. God Bless you Susan!

[@Brightlineeating]

Sending hugs your way 🤗🤗

[@AndreaKaplan-1331]

I just LOVE you! I love that you are human, authentic and honest...you tell it like it is, you get and live the life gets lifey way! Thank you, it is so helpful and reassuring to know that we all are a work in progress. Thank YOU!

[@Brightlineeating]

We appreciate your sweet words 🌟🧡🥰

[@diamond_girl29]

I love this, thank you, I needed this today. ❤ Am going to keep those mantras and use them often. Today I’m going to just slow down and go easy on myself. Hugs

[@carolshortis6207]

Thank you for your beautiful heart ♥♥ your vlogs are so inspiring, I appreciate how you turn up again and again, rain or shine ("in sickness and in health") you walk the talk When I have an extra hard day, I will take extra good care of myself. When I'm under a lot of stress, I will treat myself with a lot of kindness. When I feel more overwhelmed than usual, I will take more time to rest than usual. When my emotions are strong, my self-compassion will also be strong. When I'm feeling additional tension, I will make space for additional relaxation. When I am feeling deeply, I will also practice accepting my emotions deeply. When I am really tired, I will be really gentle with myself.

[@Brightlineeating]

😊😊🥰🥰

[@fionah3433]

I am sorry about your friend. I hope she finds peace in her passage to what's next. What a gift for both of you that you were able to meet in person ...I have a feeling that has given her great comfort.

[@Brightlineeating]

We appreciate your comforting words 🧡

[@Kelciramsey]

You are such a beautiful soul. Prayers for you and your friend! ❤

[@Brightlineeating]

We appreciate you 😊

[@dr.pamgarcy1938]

I love this one. It's authentic and helpful. We need that list of mantras to be on Google Images or something like that. Thanks again, Susan

[@Brightlineeating]

That's a great idea... we'll have to look into that! 🧡

[@KaraTulipana-rv8tt]

Oh, how very lovely. Thank you for sharing your beautiful heart with us. ❤

[@Brightlineeating]

🧡Thank you for commenting🧡

[@Carolina-uu5ji]

❤thanks so much. Muchas gracias from latin america

[@Brightlineeating]

De nada! 🌟🌟

[@aliciadelamora1706]

Doctora, you are so incredibly WONDERFUL and human. You help and I'm sure so many people. Thank you fir always keeping life real... My birthday is June 27 and I can very easily be drain emotionally. I not met you, but I hold u so close to my heart. Com mucho carino 🎉

[@Brightlineeating]

Sending love right back at you! 🥰

[@victoriagoodman7294]

Brilliant, thanks for sharing and being so honest. It really put alot into perspective for me. 💖

[@Brightlineeating]

We're so glad this was helpful for you! 💞💞

[@claire4peace]

Just what I needed to hear today. My Mom died last month, and I've been surprised how tired and emotional I'm feeling. Bunny Slippers...

[@ShantiLaraPeace]

Sending strength your way and I'm sorry for your loss.

[@Brightlineeating]

Oh my dear, sending you so much love and hugs right now 💞💞🫂🫂

[@jadeforestyoga7571]

it is ok and wonderful...thank you!! i needed this today

[@Brightlineeating]

🧡🧡

[@kendrabiegalski1275]

Thank you, Susan for your honesty. Can you please add a subject to your Vlog list? New science is coming out about the effects of dangerous glucose spikes (see Means & Dr. Means’ book “Good Energy” and Jesse inchauspe, the KZbin “Glucose Goddess” and author of “Glucose Revolution”). I am a Bright Lifer, but lost weight very slowly (0.5 lbs/wk) and suffered mightily when I was hungry - certainly not the “cute, grumbly sensation” that is “not an emergency” that you describe hunger to be. After watching the video in the Boot Camp 1.0 Science Bundle by Dr. Rita Marie Loscalzo on hormones, I did her SweetSpot Solution program Bright. What I found was that my fasting blood sugar was almost pre diabetic (99 mg/dL) and that many “bright” meals would spike my blood glucose levels to unacceptable levels. (160 - 200 mg/dL). I really think this is the lynchpin for why SOME people have trouble losing weight and suffer physically from hunger much more than others who don’t feel it at all or just shrug it off like you do. Following this program, I was able to lose the rest of my weight (10 lbs or so) and get into my bright body. Sadly, I didn’t add food and fell off the bandwagon, but today is my 600th bright day, praise God. Anyway - I just wanted to put a Bee in Your Bonnet to think about and cogitate on your own time. I will be honest when I say that your comment on hunger always ticked me off bc hunger FELT physiologically like an emergency to me (weakness, sweating, etc.). I now recognize the symptoms as hypoglycemia caused by large swings in blood glucose by 100% bright meals. I am incorporating some of the “hacks” suggested by Ms. Inchauspe into my program to mitigate such spikes and plan on asking my doctor for a continuous glucose monitor to find out how exactly my body is responding to different bright foods. Thank you and best wishes, K

[@Endtimerevolutionists]

All I know is Susan, is this, I simply love you!!! ❤

[@Brightlineeating]

So very kind! 🫂

[@juliegallienne498]

❤

[@beverlythrasher8382]

Can we find these bunny slipper mantras in print somewhere so we can use them also. I am crying as I listen to you give them to us. They need a place on my refrigerator. I love vlog day!

[@Brightlineeating]

That's a great idea... we'll have to look into that! 🧡

[@gloriadawn7529]

Thank you

[@Brightlineeating]

Thank you for watching! 💞

[@joycerosa4902]

I love you dr. Susan P Thompson

[@Brightlineeating]

🥰🥰