It has been a looooooonnnngggg time since I last wrote. I have been in a looooonnnnngggg dark night of the soul processing a whole lot of loss and grief, and crises that came weekly. Will you please forgive my absence? You know what it means when a dark night of the soul visits? It means light is on the way to offer more learning, wisdom, growth, lots of things even though it comes the "hard way" to bring us into the light of another day. Still there may be grief, and lots of it, and it will all co-exist if we allow it. Even a dark night of the soul is a precursor to some kind of experience that can and will move us forward in some way. I really believe it's a law of nature, and divine! After months and months of what you might imagine happens when someone you love is in the throes of addiction, medical and mental health crises, conditions that escalated to their highest in a 15 year history, other personal losses and big life changes, my system became exhausted. Every time I considered doing more, my body just said no. It said yes to only navigate what I had on my plate, to simplify, and slow it way down, and dive deep into peace practices. Honestly, I've had to deliberately invite a whole lot of self-compassion and effort because it seems like I dropped off the face of the earth. I also wondered when my system would shift and turn on enough to reach back out to you, to resume purposeful work to help us all heal and help our kids. I did have my concerns - had my fire gone out? It has simply taken the time it takes, choices, effort, with so much gratitude for support and resources. Thank you dear ones for all you've offered!! Your texts, conversations, prayers, check-ins, hugs, shoulder to cry on, so much helped me so much!! What's the point of telling you all this? Here's the main story (and invitation). I recently visited my son in treatment. He stayed! A whole month! During that time, he painted the painting shown below. He used his favorite colors, and was so proud to gift it to me. I asked him what the painting means to him. He said "Mom, the fire is still in here" relating the colors and pattern to a burning fire. I think we both realized his "earthly" fire was in serious jeopardy of being extinguished. He's still hanging in there. Despite what felt like a traumatic avalanche of crises, there have been lots of silver linings and new realizations, there has been significant and meaningful change. And I'll be sharing the many ways to inspire meaningful change - from the inside out.
All this to say, hang in there my friends. Hold on! I get how hard it is to hold onto hope, and it's ok if you don't feel it. I have not felt "hope" many, many times. Still, do your part, do your own healing and peace practices. It is essential! So ... what's one small thing you can do for yourself to spark a flame? What has ever worked for you to slow it down and practice something peaceful? Just one small thing. A walk around the neighborhood or a park or a forest trail? Listening to music and maybe even dance like no one is watching? Writing about all the possible things you could possibly see and hear, taste and smell that you have ever enjoyed? It can be really cathartic to just write, a brain dump I call it, like its one big vent on paper, just get it out of your head. Paper listens so very well! Be of service to another person? Breathe, get still, ask, listen, discover? In this moment, breathe. Consider that you have an internal flame that is eternal. So do our loved ones. You didn't put it in there so you can't take it out. Spark it up. Today. Put your shoulders back, stand tall or sit up in your chair. Notice how it energizes you. That's love, and it will find you everywhere, anywhere, through every thing. Because ... Love wins! Peace! Joanne
1 Comment
Glendle McPherson
6/21/2023 06:16:12 pm
Thank You. ♥️
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