It’s August 19, 2023, and I can’t seem to edit out the date of 5/28/19.
It all begins with an idea.
In 2019 I didn’t even know the terms Pain Reprocessing Therapy or TMS. I had no idea how much my life would change (and the world) in the next few years! The summer is zipping by! The end of June kicked things off with The JournalSpeak Conference at Omega. What an amazing week, going deeper into mind body work, Meeting Nicole Sachs, Lisa Schlossberg, Gigi Cockell, Christina Sarno Horner and so many other wonderful participants! Saturation is the key in this work. Those of us suffering from chronic pain or illnesses have been saturated with the narrative of being broken or sick for so long. The more we can read, listen to, participate in that offers a new attitude, the better we will feel.
Leaning in to positive sensations is key. What feels good to you? It doesn’t have to be major. So many pleasant things happen but we just skip by them. Food, music, a wonderful breeze, soft blankets, memories. Take some time to sit with the good stuff. Like they say in the parenting books, catch them being good. Catch yourself enjoying things. Catch yourself feeling good.
Water is my happy place and of course summer gives me so many opportunities to be in and around water. What’s your happy place?
Tenacity
Tenacity. It’s one of the traits about myself I’m most proud of. So many roadblocks I refused to let stop me. When my kids were little and had challenges, I would not stop until I found resources and solutions. When my son wanted Alexander from Alexander and the Terrible No Good Very Bad Day to come to his birthday party, I scoured the mall like a crazy woman looking for a look alike. When I met a homeless girls with no birth certificate I left no stone unturned until I was able to get that Frickin Birth Cert and get her housed. This skill and determination works out great for the people around me because they know I will never give up. But…. where did this come from? I’m now recognizing it as a trauma response. I WILL SURVIVE NO MATTER WHAT YOU THROW AT ME. L I T E R A L L Y! So, what now? I don’t want to give up something I’m so proud of but I do want some freedom from this compulsive reflex. Honestly, it’s a work in progress but now I see it and I’m trying to “wear it loosely’ as Nicole Sachs says.
It’s showing up in little things, like… I can use a brownie mix instead of making from scratch. Well, it’s a start. xo
Tenacity. It’s a quality in myself that I am most proud of. Whether it was finding resources for my kids when they struggled with learning disabilities, or helping a homeless girl with no birth certificate, I would not give up until I solved the problem. When my son was 4 and wanted Alexander from Alexander and the Horrible Terrible No Good Very Bad Day to come to his birthday party, I scoured the mall like a crazy lady to find a look alike. All of these situations I now see as Trauma response. NO MATTER WHAT YOU THROW AT ME (LITERALLY) I WILL NOT GIVE UP! Great for the people in my orbit but….. I now see the toll it takes. I’m learning bit by bit to give up the frenzy. It may only start with making brownies from a mix. xo