LIFE | LOVE | LOSS 

“Sometimes the most scenic roads in life are the detours you didn’t mean to take.” 

-Angela N. Blount 

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UNEXPECTED TURNS  

“When all’s said and done, all roads lead to the same end.  So, it’s not so much which road you take, as how you take it.” 

Charles de Lint 

How many times have things in your world taking an unexpected turn?  I am a planner, a Franklin Covey Day planner lady at heart!  I love lists. Organizing things soothes my overactive mind like watching the wrinkles leave fabric when I iron.  Yes, I know this is weird!  If I have a meeting at work tomorrow all items are done and ready today if not sooner.  This is just how I am wired.  I like things to be neat, clean, and fit in their own lane. 

Well, life isn’t always clean or neat.  Circumstances and relationships can be tricky and messy often taking us on unexpected journeys. Some of them are wonderful with rewarding surprises.  Some of them are awful full of strong uncomfortable emotions.  How do you navigate these twists and turns?  Is your initial response one of anger and frustration when things don’t go as planned?  Or perhaps you just roll with it saying to yourself and others, “It is what it is”.  Do you lay awake at night going over what was said, not said, done or left undone? 

As we are all in different places mentally and emotionally, we process events in different ways.  We also handle them based on where we are now as well as past experiences that have shaped us.  Do you ever get super upset and even though you feel this way in your own mind you are asking yourself why you are so mad?  I call this the 90/10 rule.  The strong upset comes from the current ten percent of what has happened.  The strength behind the response is ninety percent from a previous issue.  While it is not comfortable these events give us a chance to stop, reflect, learn, and grow.  We get to ask ourselves what we are committed too.  We may need to apologize taking accountability for our actions.  We may need to walk away.  I invite you in your next moment of strong emotion to ask yourself what you are committed too.  Is it to being right about the topic?  It is to being happy or it is to showing respect and kindness even if you disagree? 

Life takes us on some slow windy paths and some sharp steep ones.  The trick is to find balance and joy in the journey.  Its so important to remember we are not alone on any of these roads.  There is always help, advise, or comfort in sharing our thoughts and hearts with others.  Keep yourself as focused on the here and now as you are able.  This moment in time really is our true point of power.  If you find yourself navigating steep and difficult paths stop, reflect, ask if the current course is brining you closer or further from happiness.  You can always turn around or take a new road no matter how far you have traveled down a certain path. 

Choose balance and wellness as your guide and you are sure to traverse the twists and turns with more ease. 

STILLNESS 

“Even in stillness, there is movement.  Sometimes it takes times for the molecules of change to shift form.  Even when it feels like nothing

 is happening, transformation is taking place.” 

Anonymous 

As we watch the seasons change, I often feel that Mother Nature is reminding us that its time to slow down.  Its time to let some things go.  To release the weight of what we have held onto so we have the room for new to grow after a time of rest. 

Stillness is a beautiful concept to me and one I struggle to embrace.  I have tried music meditations to help quiet my mind.  I end up thinking about the day, what’s coming tomorrow, the laundry or grocery list before I remember I am supposed to have a clear mind.  That lasts a few seconds and then I am back on the mental gerbil wheel of things to do!   

I have found doing guided meditations where there is constant instruction on the ‘how’ to be still and quiet my mind work better for me.  My mind still wanders just not as fast or far.  When athletes perform pushing their bodies and minds to the limit the next imperative step is recovery.  Part of recovery is rest. 

So, this month I invite you to create stillness through rest.  This could be in any area of your life that you feel overworked mentally or physically.  Studies tell us that it is important to rest from electronic devices before sleep.  They suggest at least thirty minutes.  How about going for 40 minutes this month?  If you work a lot of hours, then introduce at least two breaks a day with no outside interactions.  Walk the stairs if you are in an office.  Walk around the block outside. Listen to music or read for these breaks.  Take them as a gift of stillness for your mind and heart.  

If you are a TV on all day and night do the same, take a rest.  Turn it off while you eat.  Take a break from all outside stimulus and think about your food.  Where did it grow?  What hands touched it before it came to be in front of you?  Offer gratitude for all those people and steps. 

As the quote on stillness, I shared we can make significant changes while it seems like not much is happening.  Creating time to be still in our mind, hearts, and bodies will allow transformation towards peace to happen. 

I invite you to give it a try!  The trees are doing it! 

I wish you everything good.  

All my best, 

Genna 

EVENTS 

Mental Health App’s  

Talkspace – Best Overall Therapy App  

Calm – Best Mindfulness App  

My3 – Three People / Three Distractions / Safety Plan App 

Chopra App – Great mindfulness and free meditations  

Pride Counseling – Best Queer Mental Health App  

Youper – Best Self-Guided Therapy App  

Headspace – Best Anxiety App  

Bereaved Mother’s Retreat’s  

Bereaved Mother’s Retreat’s sponsored by Cristie North of Taylor Hagen Memorial Foundation and Leigh Anne Garcia of Andrew Garcia Memorial Foundation. 

2022 Dates:  

March 25 – 27^th in Moab, Utah

April 29 – May 1st

September 30 – Oct 1st  

Visit www.thmemorialfoundation.org or email cristie@thmemorialfoundation.org