Unique Times

With so much fear, anger, corruption, killing, prejudice, hatred, sadness, how do you keep going?  How do you nurture your soul so you don’t burst into one of these tyrants we are seeing daily?  How do you stay centered, focused and find your happy place in a world that seems so divided and destructive?  How do you stand up to these injustices and yet maintain your center and core?

We are dealing with the unknown and the known all at once which is a double whammy.  

Knowing what we are feeling and where it is coming from is critical so we don’t cycle downward into destruction and despair in anger, calling on unhealthy coping skills of drinking and eating too much to self medicate and soothe ourselves. 

So many times, we haven’t a clue what we are feeling and bury it to push these feelings away because we want to feel happy and joyful but at a time like we are going through now, it would be crazy if we didn’t have feelings bubbling and rising to the surface.  

 By keeping these primitive feelings of destruction and despair at bay for too long, it will want to express itself somehow unless we allow it to have a voice so at least give voice to it ~ just DON’T act it out.  We live in a society of instant gratification and now we have been forced to live without our usual distractions and comforts which we may have taken for granite and when that is taken away, we may find ourselves in a fight or flight pattern.

There is no better feeling than being happy and euphoric but we have gotten so addicted to these feelings that when something happens to upset the apple cart we can go into denial or rage to keep these feelings at bay. And let’s be honest, we all have these feelings.  We are seeing the fall out of unjustness erupting before our very eyes.  It’s contagious because sitting with it feels so hopeless and powerless but that is actually where we can reign in our power if we can go inside and be quiet calling on our higher power.

Breaking things, screaming obscenities, fighting with each other, looting, stealing etc channel this energy somewhere calling on our primitive childlike lower selves to embark in damage and destruction but who are we ultimately hurting or helping for that matter?  It releases it so we temporarily feel better but that is not long lasting or productive.

It creates more separation and more dis-ease in our bodies and minds with the illusion that we are more different than alike, while the opposite is actually true.  We are human beings that want the same things in life;  basic needs; food, shelter, love, family, equality etc.  Let us remember the cloud and veil that covers that fundamental truth and let’s do our part to donate, send blessings, pick up the phone, speak out but let’s take care of our souls intrinsic needs while we shelter in place and now venture out safely being smart for ourselves and others.

Promise yourselves you will do little things daily to find your happy place whatever it is that day.  Take time to rest, read, dance, workout, hike, meditate, come to your mat, smell the roses, see the beauty because it’s still there waiting for you to notice.  It’s not selfish to take time out, it’s critical so we can have the energy to have our voices heard.  

Do things everyday that fill your heart with joy so you can be part of the solution, not the problem and find peace doing them.

As I say this, I’m writing while I lay with my once feral black and white cat, Stargazer, snuggling up to me nudging me for breakfast. I couldn’t feel happier and more grateful.  I am reminded that once she was a street kitty; scared, hiding, injured, and by herself. With love, patience and devotion after 3 years of commitment she is now part of our pack with Ollie, our yogi cat, 2 dogs (one that wanted to eat her and used to chase her) and 6 humans.

If we all have this kind of commitment to our fellow man and reach out and support each other, first starting with ourselves, we can have a world with equality, justice, love and peace one being at a time.  

But remember, start with yourself and find your happy place in the rubble everyday no matter what and ask your higher power to help you.

Where is your happy place?  

Stay Strong!