I wouldn't be here without you

 "I love you, thank you so much for everything you've done for me.  I wouldn't be here without you ..." said the note from my son with flowers he gifted me last week.  We are in a peaceful place with both of us healthy now, thank God!  But as much as I tried to support him, and it seems to have worked out for now, I would do things differently.

Hindsight really offers more clarity, valuable experience, more wisdom, an opportunity to reflect on what worked, and what could be adjusted.  And I'm contemplating the past with curiosity and compassion.  I want to learn and integrate those lessons.  As life moves forward, I may need them.

One adjustment I would make is more consistent self-care, especially to take down the stress in my body.  I had a good thing going getting through the chaos - using lots of great tools, exercising, pretty good nutrition, family and friends' support ... but the stress was intense and frequent.  

I needed a more complete body, mind, spirit power plan ... more on calming my nervous system ... being more selective ... more calming my fears when I wasn't in the middle of the chaos and feeling the full weight of them ... more intentional discussion and group practice to process what was going on.

Thankfully, life brought a distinct choice for me to make, and I made it ... and now have the power plan that works for me.  And I trust that life will continue its twists and turns, and I will get even more to add to my peace practices.

I'd love to share some of these practices with you, as I'm sure I am not alone in feeling the weight and exhaustion of the impact of loving someone through their struggles with addiction.  It's the emotions, the thoughts, the physicality, the drain of it. It's not a place to get stuck, and you sure don't have to stay stuck, please don't and know you're not alone and there are lots of supports.

Please join me in this supportive (and free) workshop so that I can share some powerful peace tips for you to incorporate into your life, to bring some ease to the difficult times, to level you up and affirm that you are on your own solid healing path, resilient and empowered.

Finding Calm in the Chaos:  9 Simple Practices to Quiet Your Mind, Calm Your Body, and Stay Connected to Yourself and Your Loved One.  Just click here to register:

  https://www.joannerichards.life/find-calm-in-the-storm-workshop-lp

The flowers my son sent are a symbol of our journey, separate and together, as well as the appreciation and gratitude for the whole ride, for saving our relationship, for acknowledging all it took out of us, from us, and for us to be where we are in the moments now, for planting seeds and watering them, and tending to this new version of life, no matter how it unfolds.

The flowers are withering away, but love in its many expressions does not, even in the throes of addiction.

Hope you can join me in Finding Calm in the Chaos.  Even if you can't make it, if you register, you'll get the recording. 

Tuesday, March 31

4-5pm Pacific

on Zoom

Please register here:  

https://www.joannerichards.life/find-calm-in-the-storm-workshop-lp

Love wins here! 

Peace to you and your family,

Joanne