Last week we focused on going into our intuitive center/meditation sanctuary. From this place we can be aware of our thoughts.
The goal of meditation is to acknowledge our thoughts and then let them continue to sail on by. We don’t focus on eliminating painful thoughts or feelings, we recognize them and know they are just passing by. We don’t prolong pleasant emotions, either, during meditation.
They are also just sailing by on that sailboat!
When experiencing a difficult thought, return to your intuitive center and focus on your breath.
Our goal is to become mindful of what is going on, but to not become attached to it.
Seven years ago there was a person in my life who I let disturb me greatly. I would go down into the rabbit hole of “what ifs” and play out different scenarios that would vindicate my anger. Although vindicated in my mind, it left me agitated and tense. My children could immediately sense that “Mommy had lost it again.” These continual dialogues in my head were taking too much of my mental and emotional real estate.
Once I recognized what was happening, it was the start of letting go. I would feel the anger arise, but I wouldn’t chase it down the rabbit hole. I would name it--anger-- and then focus on my breathing and while going into my intuitive center. These people and situations are our teachers in helping us to evolve on our spiritual path. The quicker we can learn from them, the easier it is for us and the less likely that they will continue to play out in our lives.
Gifts from an illness...
Eight years ago, I was struck by a virus that left me with room spinning vertigo for four months and having immense fatigue for another six. I didn’t know it at the time, but I had a genetic immune disorder called Hypogammgloblunemia which made it difficult for my body to fight infections.
The vertigo rendered me pretty much useless to continue my life as super mom/PTA mother of the year/photographer. My friend, Joan Berman, came to visit me at the beginning and told me, “There will be gifts from this illness.” Although I couldn’t relate to that statement at the time, her words rang truer than I could ever have imagined. I went from living a life without stopping to becoming the queen of my couch. TV and reading were not an option with the room spinning. I had to learn to sit still. I went deep into my meditation practice in order to stay sane. When your world is going round, you can feel a bit on the crazier side of things. (My poor husband!)
My illness was a game changer in profoundly beautiful ways that I could never have expected. Being forced to slow down (or stop completely) gave me the gift of time, introspection, and a chance to reevaluate what was important. I was forced to learn how to say no and understand the lesson of not trying to please everyone. Letting go of all the weddings I had booked for the year was difficult and then it became a relief. Accepting help and learning to ask for help expanded my heart in ways I couldn’t imagine. I became a human BEing instead of a human DOing. I learned to just be and accept that I had no control over the speed of my recovery. I became more grateful for the simple things in life. I appreciated the human body and mind in an entirely new way. The gifts are countless and for this, I am grateful. I have never taken my health for granted again.
After my health returned, I let go of my photography business and spent more time with my family and taking care of myself. I am careful to not overdo it or over commit myself. I take the time to enjoy “the smelling of the roses" and my life on Maui. I feel a sense of contentment and peace that I know I probably never would have attained without my illness.
Regardless of what you are going through, know that there WILL be gifts. Sit quietly and go within. Acknowledge to yourself what gifts there may be. Feeling grateful for the little things can easily snowball into feeling grateful for the BIG things. If you aren’t at that place yet, that’s okay. Be gentle with yourself. Be kind.
Missile Crisis on Maui
I am sure many of you have been experiencing a wide range of emotions after Saturday’s impending missile threat. I know I have.
With my children taking cover in the bathtub with me as we waited for the hit or more news, I had an acute sense of clarity. I was fully present in that moment like no other. I looked at my kids and wanted so badly to be guaranteed of a future for them—I was okay with it being my last day, but I wanted more for them. However, I know we are never guaranteed anything. That moment definitely put the “never take anything for granted” platitude into perspective. Nothing is promised to us.
When we received the news that it was a false threat, I breathed a sigh of relief. However, it took me another 24 hours to even start to feel normal. The shock on my system was significant.
When I woke up yesterday, the day after the no missile crisis, I had a motivation and excitement for the day that I hadn’t experienced in awhile. I savored my breakfast and walk with my daughter, I bought flowers to plant in my garden, I was happy to host my son’s 6 friends so they could watch a horror movie, I relished in the love from my parents who called to check on me, and I felt an overwhelming sense of contentment as I snuggled with my husband.
When we live as if nothing is promised to us, we can treasure the moments more fully. Truly, each moment is a GIFT. This knowledge helps us to become more present and grateful for the ordinary.
Take the time to find the extraordinary in the ordinary. Pause throughout your day to appreciate the simple things. Today IS a gift. This moment IS a gift. It truly is.
“You think this is just
another day in your life?
It’s not just another day.
It’s the one day
that is given to you today.
It’s given to you.
It’s a gift.
~ Br. David Steindl-Rast”
Honey Badger without the honey....
After three weeks of being with family over the holidays, I was absolutely toast by the time I got on the plane to come home on Friday. It was really wonderful to see everyone and have everyone together. However, I made the mistake of hosting back to back visitors between Maui and the mainland. There was no down time for my immediate family and/or time for yoga, meditation, and self care. (First world problems, I know!) My resiliency flew out the window. With the slightest annoyance from my children or husband, I became the honey badger without the honey. Of course, I felt terrible for my outbursts and they all gave me plenty of space upon our arrival. Not the state of mind that I would ever choose to be in….SO, needless to say, I have spent some alone time meditating, doing yoga, and finding my center. This honey badger is no more.
“The stability we cannot find in the world, we must create within our own persons,” sums it all up on the importance of cultivating self care and self love. Especially, during these seemingly crazy times. When our inner world is stable and calm, we are better equipped to handle whatever arises. We can respond with kindness and compassion and that, my friends, creates a better world for everyone.
Every cloud has a silver lining.
Check out my friend, Tamara Catz’s, website. She is a survivor and shares her journey.
Remember that there is always a silver lining in whatever we are going through.
Tamara shares her story with her silver linings….enjoy!
"Don’t spend a lot of time imagining the worst-case scenario. It rarely goes down as you imagine it will, and if by some fluke it does, you will have lived it twice."--Michael J. Fox
As my daughter, Malia’s, sixteenth birthday approached, I had many people asking me if I was sad or upset. That getting her driver’s license somehow symbolized her leaving the nest more so than any other milestone. But, I wasn’t upset. I was actually really excited for her (and not just because it means less driving for me!). It’s the same excitement as I felt when she took her first steps or the first time I saw her coming down the mountain on a snowboard. There is something exhilarating as you watch your child experience the joy of feeling independent and free. Yes, it is one step closer for her leaving for college. However, it has been one step closer each day since the doctor let my husband cut the umbilical cord 16 years ago and he exclaimed, “It’s like cutting squid!”
Part of a mindfulness practice is focusing on the moment at hand. Embracing it. Feeling it. Being there 100% and not worrying about the future. Meditation helps us become more mindful of each moment. And it IS a practice. In my 20’s I spent countless hours worrying about whether or not I would meet the right person, get married, and have kids. It was a lot of wasted energy! Michael J. Fox, the actor who has Parkinson’s disease, was asked repeatedly if he was worried about the future after his diagnosis. I loved his response, “I don’t spend a lot of time imagining the worst case scenario. It rarely goes down as you imagine it will, and if by some fluke it does, you will have lived it twice.”
So, it’s the same for thinking about my children leaving the nest. I don’t—or at least I try not to. I know they will leave one day and I will live it when that day comes. So, for this moment right now, I am going to enjoy and celebrate their steps towards independence with them and take all the hugs I can get in the process!
Namaste: Recognizing the divine within
When I finished college in 1990, I proudly joined corporate America and donned my panty hose and business suits and went to work as an Account Representative for the Xerox Corporation in San Francisco. After the honeymoon of being part of the establishment wore off, I realized I detested selling copier machines. No matter how many “document solutions” I was able to provide, I still hated getting up in the morning.
After three years, I left with a one-way ticket to Asia with my brother, Paul (Thanks, Mom & Dad!) After traveling through China and Hong Kong, we settled in Taiwan for 6 months to teach English…what I thought was my dream job! However, living in Taiwan was not my dream place. I left my brother and traveled through South East Asia for another 5 months by myself. Of all the countries I went to, the time I spent in Nepal was definitely the highlight of my year abroad.
I had heard the Nepalese greeting ‘Namaste' before, but I didn’t understand it’s true meaning. A kind Nepalese porter explained that the greeting meant, “the God in me sees the God in you,” or “the divine in me honors the divine in you.” After spending three years of trying to be someone I wasn't, I felt seen for the first time. When the Nepalese greeted me with “Namaste,” they truly looked me in the eyes, saw my soul, and embraced me for who I was. It was magical.
Part of the beauty of Intuitive Healing Meditation is the recognition of the divinity within ourselves and each other. We are spiritual and divine beings having this temporary human experience. It’s so easy to get caught up in the material world and the superficial nature of modern society. But, when we can recognize our divine nature and see beyond our earthly pursuits, we can live a more meaningful and purposeful life. We can accept ourselves and each other by being vulnerable, present, and authentic.
So, NAMASTE to each and every one of you. I see the Divine in all of you. Take the time to recognize it within yourselves and those around you.
FYI: Suffering is optional
I am embarrassed to say that my biggest problem right now is how I am feeling about my UberMom driving responsibilities. (Total first world problem, I agree!) I have a working car, I can afford gas, and I have two healthy children who need to be chauffeured to different schools and their various activities. There are some days I am in the car for 3.5 hours. I’ve been doing this for years. It seems to only be really bothering me of late. Perhaps it is the fact that my driving job for one of my children is winding down, as she is about to turn 16….perhaps I need to do some more yoga and meditate. Regardless, I am dismayed that with all my Dali Mama quotes in my head, I am still letting it bother me.
I know this isn’t a real problem (I have had those in my life), but the fact that I am letting it bother me is a problem. If we learn how to deal with these little guys, then we can move more smoothly through the big stuff when it hits. This week’s meditation helps us to change our response to the issues at hand. As Buddha says, “Pain is Inevitable. Suffering is optional.”
Rather than to continue to suffer and take my resentment out on my fellow drivers by showing less Aloha, I meditate on ACCEPTING the situation for what it is. Eckart Tolle states, “Accept—then act. Whatever the present moment contains, accept it as if you had chosen it…this will miraculously transform your whole life.” One of the best ways for me to ACCEPT is to practice gratitude. I give thanks for my car, money for gas to drive my kids, the fact that I have my kids, that my kids are at the right schools and are healthy…etc., etc. An attitude of gratitude DOES help in shifting my response. I also meditate on releasing my resistance to the situation. I then fill myself in with the trust and knowing that everything is as exactly as it should be. I only have a few years left with both my kids. I want to know that I was truly PRESENT for them by focusing on the moment together in each and every moment.
Whew! I feel better already.
I know that I have practiced for the real issues when they arrive…may I handle them with more grace and aloha! But, I am not going to give the future one more thought...I am off to pick up my son!
Experience the AWE!
Two weeks ago, I met my husband, Billy, out in Hana with Ryder and his two friends. He had spent the first night with the boys and then met me at Hamoa with three tired teenagers. He mentioned that they had been up since sunrise.
As the boys napped on the beach, I took in the beauty of Hamoa...our favorite beach on Maui. Being in nature allows for your nervous system to relax. For some reason, Hana seems to take it a step beyond and I felt like I was being “held” energetically in a loving and supportive way.
We camped out in Kipahulu by the 'Ohe'o pools. Between games of hide and seek and burnt s’mores, the boys were in heaven. When I woke early the next morning, I took the long way to reach the ocean to watch the sunrise. When I got there, I couldn’t believe what I saw....the three boys standing out there to watch the sunrise for themselves. It about moved me to tears...that three 14-year-old boys would choose to get up and take in the wonder of a sunrise. With the recent disasters and chaos in the world, it gave me a sense of hope that I hadn’t felt in awhile.
Dan Bova, a writer for “Entrepreneur" writes, "Experts including Dacher Keltner, Ph.D., co-director of the Greater Good Science Center at UC-Berkeley, have researched the mental and physical benefits of experiencing awe—defined as witnessing something that is vast, difficult to even comprehend, and, well, awesome. Research has found that being around something that brings on awe leads to a reduction in stress, an increase in open-mindedness, and a sense of being a part of something bigger and greater than ourselves."
As part of a healthy mindfulness practice, get outside and experience the AWEsomeness of Maui. Especially when you are feeling down—know that there will always be a sunrise after the darkness of the nights. And, there will ALWAYS be rainbows after the storms we experience in our lives.
Listening to your inner voice
One of the beautiful things about saying “no,” is the sense of empowerment it gives you. It can help you feel that you are in control of your life amidst the chaos of this modern world. It makes it easier to continue to say “no” to people, situations, requests, and unnecessary obligations.
Sometimes it may be easier to say no to the difficult person than it is to a birthday party invitation that you may feel obligated to attend. Just envisioning the several hours of superficial “cocktail” conversation instead of enjoying what you really want to be doing…like going to the beach with your family or staying at home with a good book…is enough to make me break out in a cold sweat.
When we don’t listen to our inner voice or intuition and do things out of an unconnected obligation, we take ourselves out of alignment with our own truth. This creates a DIS-ease in the body. It is a subtle stressor on the body that takes us out of our optimum healing state—the relaxation mode and homeostasis.
When we are in alignment with our truth, a beautiful shift occurs. We feel more content, less stressed, and more connected to our spirit. We are able to move through the world with more ease and grace. We feel happier and more fulfilled by doing the things that are true for us.
Listen to your inner voice and trust it. Watch how your life unfolds into more beauty and authenticity.
The Divine within...
When we give ourselves an energetic protection from the chaos and drama surrounding us, we can strengthen ourselves and respond to others in a healthy and more compassionate way.
One of the most wonderful benefits of meditation is learning to connect to the divine within each of us. In the wake of the recent events, it is extremely important to find that quiet place and illuminate our sacred divine selves. More than ever, we need to respond with kindness to everyone, regardless of their politics, race, or religion. Let go of the need to be right. The most essential thing we can do as individuals is to move through the world with more humanity, forgiveness, and gentleness. This is how we can change the world…by starting with ourselves.
Dealing with tragedy
I had written something else for this morning’s email, but when I went to CNN.com, I was horrified by the massacre in Las Vegas and knew I needed to focus on what was at hand.
With intuitive healing meditation, there are tools that we have been practicing to use in everyday situations and during catastrophes, whether personally affected or not. We are all affected in some way by such atrocities.
The first thing to do when learning of such tragedies is to find your grounding connection to the center of the earth. Allow your beam of light to travel down through your head, your body, through each layer of the earth, and then to the core. Feel your connection to the earth. This will immediately help calm your nervous system.
Then, allow yourself to take some deep and relaxing breaths. Allow the earth’s energy to come up through your legs and into your body. The healing earth’s energy releases any energy that is not in affinity with you and discharges it back into the earth. The earth neutralizes this negative energy.
Expand your aura. Energy follows thought, intention, and imagination. Give yourself a strong protection shield so you don’t take on the negative energy. Your aura acts as a filtration system, an energetic second skin.
In this protected and expanded state, it is easier to be present without taking on any energy from the chaos surrounding us. This makes it easier to offer your prayers, intentions, and positive energy to those in need. By staying calm and grounded, we are able to be present—offering kindness and love to our fellow man. On a day when graciousness, humanity, and compassion for all is much needed.
What to do when dealing with a challenging individual.
When dealing with a difficult individual, we can create an energetic boundary by creating a strong aura with a protection symbol. All living beings have an aura. It is the boundary between your personal energy system and the energy of others. It is a filtration system that can keep negative energy from coming into your space. By adding the protection symbol, it further sets a clear boundary for the outside edge.
When dealing with a difficult person, you can meet them at the edge of your aura. You don’t have to allow them into your energetic space. You can also imagine them (energy follows thought/intention/imagination) on the other side of the world, like Berlin or Cairo. Give yourself lots of space when dealing with them. It will help you feel safer and able to stand your ground more easily. It makes it easier to say “no” when you need to.
Practice setting boundaries with your aura. A healthy aura is 1 to 2 feet around you.
Taking a look inside...
This last month we’ve focused on stepping up and saying “no” in our lives where we needed to. Whether it be to say no to a difficult person, a situation, a commitment, or a friendship, it is often challenging to say no as we don’t want to hurt the other person’s feelings. However, as we have learned, saying no gives us the opportunity to say yes to ourselves. In healing our bodies, it is paramount to keep ourselves in our alignment with our truth. This helps put us in the relaxed state—the optimum healing state—so our bodies can heal.
When saying “no” to someone, we are giving that person an opportunity to grow and make changes they may need. I have been that “difficult” person who needed to hear “no.” Raised with two brothers by a military father, I learned that my mouth was my most efficient skewer. Being a competitive windsurfer in San Francisco and the only female on the Sales teams in the technology startups I worked in, I felt the need to use my words to demonstrate how tough I was. I was even lovingly (or not so lovingly) christened “Stud Bitch,” “Pit Bull,” and “Pit Viper.” I took pride in these names. However, my caustic words were often hurtful and biting…even though I meant it all in “fun.” It took the loss of several friends and the intervention of a few close ones to tell me “no,” for me to realize I needed to make a change. I am grateful for those “no’s.” I have always felt warm and fuzzy on the inside….I am just a few steps closer to living and expressing that truth than I used to be.
When you hear a “no,” know that there is a gift in there somewhere.
Difficult people....
Have you been noticing how you feel around other people? It’s easy to choose to be with those who we feel good around. Sometimes it is more difficult to distance those (especially loved ones) who are difficult or critical. However, remember that your body is in its optimal healing state when you are calm. When we are around difficult people, our nervous systems go into overdrive and our body produces epinephrine and cortisol, also referred to as “stress hormones.” These hormones cause the heart to beat more quickly, the blood vessels in the legs and arms dilate, the digestive process changes and then the glucose enters the bloodstream to deal with the stress. Over a long period of time, this creates a drain on the body and takes us out of the optimal healing state.
I have an acquaintance who is often incredibly critical and hurtful in her comments towards me. Whenever I was around her, I always left feeling upset and angry. I always promised myself that I would never be around her. However, with all the mutual friends we have, I knew I would miss seeing them and didn’t want to cut them out of my life.
My husband always told me, “You can’t change her. You can only change your reaction to her.” Easier said than done, right! However, through meditation, I became less reactive over the years. Instead of taking the bait with her comments or lashing out to her, I started to take a breath and pause before I responded.
At a gathering last summer, she took a shot when I went to get seconds of the tasty lasagna. She loudly asked, “Is that your second or third time back to the food, Carla??” The room got quiet and I laughed. I said, “No, it is actually either my fourth or fifth, because this is so yummy!” My comment took the charge out of her accusation. Instead of an energetic spiral of negativity, I diffused the situation with humor.
When someone says or does something that pains you, take a breath. Find your grounding. And, if you can remember—fill your intuitive center with 24K gold. This helps to neutralize the negativity. All of our communication is really just energetic exchanges. This doesn’t mean that we become a doormat and don’t stand up for ourselves; it just means that we are capable of shifting certain interactions. She is still not someone I would choose to be around. However, I’ve also come to realize that she is a really unhappy individual who has experienced a lot of suffering in her life. This compassion towards her was also helpful in healing the relationship. A couple of years ago during a visit with loads of opportunity to practice my nonreaction, she actually cried while hugging me goodbye. She was genuinely sad to see me go. Even when I think of her now, it is with compassion instead of a charge. This shifted my own inner dialogue immensely!
Learning to say no.
When I first started telling people “No,” I felt quite guilty. I felt that I was letting them down and it didn’t make me feel like I was being a good person. I used to say yes to everyone and had every minute of each day of the week filled with social obligations, volunteer jobs, helping a friend, my photography business, and almost anything else that was asked of me—especially as SuperMOM (cape and all!). No wonder my immune system was compromised! I never stopped. I never rested to let my body heal….especially with an immune disorder I didn’t realize I had at the time.
“Listen to your body when it whispers, so you don’t have to hear it when it screams.”
I ignored all the whispering for years. It finally took getting really sick with the room spinning vertigo to lay me flat on my back. I had no choice but to stop…and, literally, let the world spin by. The most amazing part was that the world went on...brides found new photographers! Other people stepped up to volunteer! People were able to function without me helping them! My true friends still stayed my friends even though I didn’t have the energy to see them. And the acquaintances/“friends” who were upset by my “no,” moved on and found other people who were more in alignment with themselves. Had I continued to be their friend out of obligation, they would not have had that opportunity.
You are not doing anyone any favors by continuing relationships out of obligation. When you are doing things out of affinity with who you are, you are compromising yourself. To be in a state of optimum healing, it is important to be in alignment with your deepest desires and wishes.
I know there are some family members or coworkers who are difficult to be around and you just can’t axe them from your lives. However, we can learn some tools that will help you when you do have to deal with them…the first step is to limit your time around them.
Sensing energy from others...
Seven years ago, when a virus left me with room spinning vertigo for four months and a deep fatigue for another eight, I spent most of my time on the couch in our living room. As my friends and acquaintances were worried about me, I had many visitors at the beginning to come by and check on me. After a few weeks of entertaining my concerned pals, I realized that I was feeling more zapped and drained after most of the visits. As I had little energy to begin with, I became super sensitive to other people’s energy. I knew I could not continue spending time with most of my well-intentioned guests. I needed all my strength and energy to heal and attempt to care for my 8-year-old daughter and 7-year-old son.
When a visitor arrived, I began to sense immediately whether or not my energy was starting to drain or if I felt supported and held in a way that was nourishing and helpful. Out of pure necessity, I learned to say a polite “no” to those who drained me. It wasn’t that I didn’t appreciate their good intentions, I just had absolutely no energy to pretend otherwise. One very difficult day when I truly felt like the life was draining out of me, my good friend Karen came over and asked what she could do. I just needed to be held which she did without speaking. After a couple of hours, I felt nourished and calm. I knew I could continue on.
As I continued to heal, I continued to only say Yes to those people who didn’t deplete me. Even though I have more energy now, I am still very careful with how I choose to exert it. I am grateful for that time of not feeling well, as it gave me the opportunity to learn a valuable skill.This is a skill I still carry with me today.
I choose to spend time only with people who I feel good around. I am much happier and more content than I have ever been. Our time and energy are so valuable.
Take a moment to reflect on those who you feel well around. Notice your energy when you are around them. Know that you are in a state of optimal healing when you are feeling well. Notice your energy when you are around difficult individuals.
We will spend the next couple of classes talking about protecting our energy bodies and developing the skills to help do so.
I look forward to seeing you….BTW: I feel amazing when I am at meditation class with all of you!!
Notice when you are happy!
Before my kids headed out the door to their different schools, Malia said to Ryder, “Have a great day, Ryder. Good luck with your new dance class.”
Ryder lovingly responded, “Thank you, Malia. You have a great day, too. I hope you do well on your test.”
He then went over and gave her a quick hug.
It was right out of a Brady Bunch rerun. That perfect family moment that seems to only happen during 1970’s corny tv shows. Regardless, I took it all in. I savored that moment…cementing it to my ever diminishing memory banks. I’m still swimming in the deliciousness of that moment.
Why does it seem that we often focus on the negative moments? Rick Hanson, a neuropsychologist who wrote Hardwiring Happiness: The New Brain Science of Contentment, Calm and Confidence, explains that our brains are like velcro for negative experiences and teflon for positive experiences. Positive and negative emotions use different memory systems in the brain. He said positive emotions don’t transfer as easily to the long term memory the way bad emotions do.
So, one of the ways we can change that, is to really notice and take in those beautiful moments. Absorb it into every part of your being. Feel that positive energy running through your body.
Kurt Vonnegut sums it up quite eloquently by stating, “And I urge to please notice when you are happy, and exclaim or murmur or think at some point, ‘If this isn’t nice, I don’t know what is."
Attitude of gratitude!
Start your day with an attitude of gratitude! It makes the move into Monday a bit brighter. It’s amazing how quickly we can change how we are feeling when we shift our attention to something positive. Having a sense of humor can also lift your mood.
Three things that Carla is grateful for on this Monday morning:
1. Grateful that my 15 year old daughter and I are still speaking after our afternoon driving session yesterday. Still a bit bewildering to me as how suggesting to her that she doesn’t need her turn signal on half a mile from the turn is “picking a fight with her.”
2. Grateful that my cat affectionately brushes my leg in the morning, especially when my son recoils as if I have the plague when I try to hug him upon waking.
3. Grateful to have gas in my car as I prepare to drive to Wailuku 3x today and Olinda once for my UberMom daily program.
I feel happier just putting this down on paper!! Grateful for all of you for being on this healing journey together!
Let me know what you are grateful for!
hugs!
Carla
Listening to my body....
When I woke up on Sunday, I was feeling the deep fatigue in my body that I have been experiencing the last month. As I didn’t have to get the kids to school, I was able to take a moment and check in.
My first reaction was fear. I felt scared…wondering how long I am going to feel sick this time…a year? 4 months? I could feel my body tensing and panic in my throat. Then I caught myself. I acknowledged to myself that I was feeling fear. In that moment of acknowledging, I was able to let go.
In allowing the experience to be what it is (I am tense/anxious/angry/worried), something changes in the body. We soften. Whatever is happening in the moment, is okay. This gives us a spaciousness, peace, and ease…regardless of the weather. The peace I felt come over my body, allowed me to relax and put myself into an optimum healing state.
Rather than fight the fatigue, I have accepted it (for the day, anyway!), and do what my body allows for. I have chosen to accomplish only the basics and gave myself permission to say no to anything that I did not have to do. I’ve asked for my husband and kids to step up and help more around the house. I have accepted help from my friends. I am healing and I am present in my body.