It is important

to take things

slowly

and allow

recovery

to happen

at its own pace.

There are no

magic formulas

for  healing

physical,

emotional

and spiritual wounds.

Healing

occurs on its own

schedule.

Sometimes

recovery

can be traced

in measurable

milestones,

and

other times,

it occurs

quietly

in the dark.

Expectations

don’t help me.

I have very little

if no

control.

Life

seems to

make up

its own

roadmap.

Going in circles

detours,

layers,

and then

more layers appear.

Perhaps

I thought

that I would be

wiser by now.

Paying attention,

being in this  moment,

mindful,

breathing in,

breathing out.

Our bodies hold

onto

emotional hurts,

sometimes

for years!

Grieving

is one

process

which can go on

for a very long time.

Losing a loved one

is one of a

myriad

of experiences

which needs  mourning.

I have found

over many years

that when we

grieve a loss

the unfinished

grieving of

every loss

or transition

may  surface

to help us

move to

another level

of healing.

Becoming aware

that we crave

healing

of unfinished

emotional upsets

can be exhausting.

No wonder

people may choose

to numb their pain.

It takes

courage and energy

to dig deep

and let

emotional wounds heal.

We can heal

only if we

know what

the wounds are.

Do you have

ways to help

the healing process?

Prayer,

meditation,

mindfulness,

gratefulness,

yoga, reiki,

therapy.

Writing in a journal,

sharing with a friend

can help strengthen the body, mind and spirit.

PATIENCE.

Let Be

l

I am always

surprised

when I experience

a delayed reaction

after a

challenging time.

Sometimes

part of the

surprise

is

how long

the delay may be.

Another part

of the surprise may be

the abruptness

of the reaction.

LivingLines Reflections

Global Warming

some dispute.

Believer or not,

Extreme weather,

tornados,

flooding waist high,

homes immersed to the third-floor,

cars almost completely covered

sometimes floating down the

beyond swollen rivers.

In many places,

shorelines will

forever be changed.

Some homes

even those built on

stilts after previous storms,

flooded or washed away.

There was

no rain this summer

where I live.

Extreme heat,

extreme humidity,

poor air quality.

Restricted watering

in my town.

Yet,

the garden blossomed.

Plants chosen

carefully to survive.

Old fashioned zinnias, colorful still.

Unlike many summers,

butterflies came all summer,

yellow finches

gorged

all day long

on bags of thistle seeds.

Hummingbirds came later

and smaller.

Bees buzzed.

There seemed to be plenty

for all to feast,

bringing a ballet of life.

I am always grateful

for the garden.

This year

despite uncomfortable weather

nature showed its lovely and colorful

beauty.

Nature has

amazing restorative capabilities.

Human beings

do too.

Faced

with loss of homes,

belongings,

treasures of families,

communities often come

together,

connecting and helping

each other survive.

Disasters

and tragedies

can bring out the

giving-side of people.

That is good news.

Not Fake News.

Renewal,

rebirth,

Abide.

As we grow older

we have to learn

to honor

our limits.

This advice

can be

more challenging

than it seems.

Here are two questions

to help:

Is there a limit

to what

I can do?

Or,

in the spirit

of been there,

done that,

Is it time to pass some

of my

longtime

assignments

to others?

Resistance

may be part of

this process.

Patience

with myself.

Over

and

Over

Still Learning!

Living Lines Reflections

Things bubble up

to the surface

when it is safe

to deal with them.

That safe time

can be

months,

years,

a lifetime later.

Safe doesn’t mean easy.

Life’s choices produce

a constant stream

of second thoughts,

worries, and regrets.

We may not be aware

of what is

floating

below the surface

until some event

brings a forgotten memory

to our consciousness.

We all experience

moments of reckoning

when we must

STOP

and address

the past.

Health issues

might lead us

into a

deep immersion

in unresolved conflicts

as far back as

childhood.

It might be

a safe time

to look back,

but it is not easy.

Practice

COURAGE

Once upon a time

when I ran into friends

and acquaintances,

who asked

what I was up to,

I would reel off

a litany of activities.

Lately,

I have begun to reply,

“I am practicing

not multitasking.”

Saying these words

out loud

reaffirms

my intentions

and seems to give

my questioners

pause.

I also pause

before

asking friends

the reflexive

 “what have you been up to”

question.

Instead of exchanging lists,

a conversation

might take place.