Teacher Appreciation Week

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Teacher Appreciation Week

How about EVERY DAY?

Lord. Bless us every one and especially our teachers.

I always appreciated teachers when my son was in school but I recently gained a whole new level of respect for them.

While I absolutely LOVE my son, there was no way I could spend 24 hours a day with him, much less with hundreds of other children. I didn’t have the patience.

Not only do our teachers teach their specific subject or grade, they support, guide and love our kids. Everyone’s kids. They deal with our happy, sad, hyper, sleepy, irritated, irritating, smart mouthed, bored, sweet children daily. And they put up with some parents that can sometimes lose their minds and forget what a blessing teachers are.

A teacher has the patience of Job and the heart of a lion. It takes courage and dedication to do what they do every single day. Then, they go to their own home, children and families to keep their own lives running on track. Feeding their families and sometimes themselves, maybe getting in some quiet time for themselves, but usually not.

Teachers spend home time working on school projects and thinking about lesson plans and standardized testing. On their hearts are the kids in their classes that don’t have great home lives and might not get good healthy home-cooked food or receive the love and attention they so desperately want and need from their busy parents.

Thank you, Teachers. Thank you. For being there daily, we know you are and we appreciate you.

I worked with around 100 kids at Blanco Middle school during April to help them mentally, emotionally and physically prepare for the STAAR Testing. The two days I spent at the school left me exhausted. I drove home each day alternately laughing and crying over what I had experienced. The sharing and interactions, laughter and a few tears.

It’s always interesting trying to keep their attention and share with them valuable information that will support them throughout their lives. I’m so happy to give them information I really needed at that age.

People that act ugly are hurting.

People, even adults, don’t always know how
to handle situations properly.

Parents and teachers love you and
do the best they can for you.

You are not your thoughts.

Your brain is pre-programed to focus on what’s wrong
and holds on to your failures far longer that your successes.

You can reprogram your brain.

Your thoughts can only go the direction of your feelings
in any given moment.

Breathe deep and relax, let the feeling pass and you’ll have
access to more supportive thoughts.

Be your own best friend.

Be good to yourself and others.

Take care of your body and it will take care of you.

In the follow-up visit I got such a great response. They had used the techniques I taught them and shared them with teachers, family and friends. Students reported feeling more calm and had avoided fights with siblings and parents. I was so thrilled. They were listening.

These kids are listening. They will take the love and support of whomever will give it to them. Teachers, thank you for giving it to them.

Please, please, please, do something nice for you. Take care of yourself. Schedule yourself time to exercise, read a book for pleasure, meditate, get a massage or take a long walk or luxurious bath. Get a great robe and thick soft towels. Use soothing and uplifting scents and lotions. Drink hot tea or a refreshing beverage. Eat healthy and delicious food. Help yourself recover your precious energy daily by taking care of yourself physically. You give so much to others, but you must take care of yourself.

As a parent I remember feeling completely overwhelmed many times and thanking the good Lord above that my child went to school. I was so glad to have my work day. You are there for them daily, teaching them academically, guiding, supporting and showing them how to be good human beings.

It takes a very special person to be a teacher and I am sending each of you my biggest, most heart-felt, loving and supportive hug. I appreciate you. So many people appreciate you. One of these days, very soon, your salary will reflect that.

Times are changing and the more we hold you up and the more you soothe and support yourself, envisioning better pay and more resources, these things will happen. I’m holding the vision of teachers having rock star, super athlete status and esteem. You already have it in my eyes.

Have you appreciated a teacher today?

Science and Spirituality

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The Energy Element Online CourseMy love for and interest in science and how things work is the perfect compliment to my spiritual nature.

I understand the science to the point my knowledge of spirit takes over. I am completely at peace.

Through scientific method we’re able to explain things in detail and I know (have faith) God/Source created it perfectly for us. We have everything we need right now to have everything we want. There is nothing we can’t be, do or have.

There are a few things that do hold us back if we aren’t aware of them.

My intention is to bring those things into your own conscious awareness for the purpose of releasing them, so you can be, do and have whatever you want.

I stood in my own way for years before I knew, understood and experienced what I want to share with you.

This course is a collection of the knowledge and resources that led me to where I am now. Through your own personal experience of this information your life will change.

There are videos by leading experts sharing the latest scientific research data and evidence of the power we have in our mind through our focus and thoughts.

I’ll give you real life examples and guide you through letting go of everything that doesn’t serve you.

You’ll be soothed and uplifted by great music, movement exercises and book suggestions to further illustrate the points.

You are safe. You are loved.

You are perfect right now.

You can have the life you want.

Learn how.

The Energy Element Online Course

The Energy Element with Crystal NudingClick to purchase at the Intro Price – $99
Special Limited Time Offer!! – One phone/skype session with Crystal included with your online course.

You’ll receive an email with Log-in instructions to the email address you specify in your order.

Begin living with ease and excitement – Book a set of Sessions with Crystal

Looking Back

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Spring SedumHave you ever noticed yourself in a situation where you find your mind projecting itself forward into the future and seeing your failure in this moment or an outcome you’d prefer not to have? It’s that crazy thing your mind does to keep you stuck exactly where you are, rather than allowing yourself to expand and fly to the heights and places you dream of going.

Well, I found myself there yesterday and it was a powerful moment.

We were out having a yard walk. Looking at the peas coming up in our garden, a few baby peaches that didn’t freeze, flowers, birds and bugs. I noticed a patch of sedum that is blooming so beautifully I wanted to take a picture of it.

As I was kneeling down and getting closer to it pulling some grass that was coming up in the middle that might disrupt my picture I heard myself saying. “Looking back, I knew that was a great place for a snake to hide and scare me.” YIKES. What? My heart started pounding and I recognized how in that moment I was planning to be scared.

A little side note… we had a rat snake that lived in our shed last year over the spring. She would scare the crap out of me when I’d open the door and see her up at eye level, on the third shelf, resting with one of her babies. (I decided she was the only snake alive to have laid just one egg… the alternative was more than I could stand.)

But her eyes were round, almost human, and she would just look at me as I’d shiver and breathe heavy for a moment. I’d tell her to stay put, I was just coming in for the shovel or rake. Nothing to worry about, no need to make any sudden movements. Whew. After several months of her gentle presence and noticing there were absolutely no scurrying sounds in the shed when we’d enter my feelings changed.

So, back to present tense, the true snake fear I had has all but melted. I know what I’m looking for and I am cautious and aware of my surroundings when out digging around, pulling weeds or picking up trash. I’ve got this.

So, in the moment of me telling myself a scary story, I thought, “What a great idea!” Ha! What if we told those “looking back” stories, not of failure and fear, but in a way that actually served us?

What if we took that very moment of planning for the worst and began planning for something we’d prefer?

Looking back… I knew this was going to make a beautiful picture; I am always aware of my surroundings and completely safe.

Looking back… I knew everything was working out for me. I have the love and support of family, friends and the vast resources of the God and the universe.

Looking back… I see how silly it was for me to worry that things wouldn’t work out for me because I had plenty of evidence supporting my happiness and success.

Looking back… I always knew I would be a mother, I just got a little scared and discouraged for a bit, much too focused on what hadn’t shown up yet.

Looking back… I knew that job was mine, I just had to let go of the fears and worry I wasn’t good enough.

Looking back… I always knew I could lose the weight and feel happy, healthy and vital I just had to stop beating myself up about where I was. Boy, I’m glad I did!

We’ve got to change the stories we tell ourselves in our minds. We have to decide we are going to succeed, be happy, regain our health, find our perfect partner or make tons of money and then support ourselves in moving that direction.

I can think of so many more negative or scary stories my mind has tried to “look back” on while I was in the present moment. Bless our hearts. I know I’m not alone. It truly is just a function of our minds constantly trying to protect us. When we fully grasp this concept the fear dissipates.

Lightly intend to recognize this, moment by moment when our thoughts are swirling around upsetting, limited or lack filled scenarios and tell a better story. Think of the greatest outcome and begin to describe it to yourself. Let yourself relax into peace, winning and success.

Our minds can’t tell the difference between what’s “real” and what we’re imagining, so begin imagining the things you’d most like to have and watch yourself begin attracting those things into your life.

How would you like your life to be when you “look back” on it? Begin seeing and visualizing it that way now. Relax around your scary mind stories, be consistent with your focus and you can’t go wrong.

Sending you much love, soothing and support.

Start “looking back” on your life right now, envisioning your success, happiness, health and abundance.

Share your “looking back” better feeling story with us and we can hold the vision of your fabulous life with you! One lucky sharer with receive a free Rave Session with me to help you get your energy moving confidently in the direction of what you’d most love. Good luck!

Make a Decision

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Recognizing what your mind is doing is the best way to change any situation.

When you notice what’s happening in your mind you can take steps to correct it.

Our brain is protecting us during our every waking moment. Protecting us by remembering every bad thing that happens so we won’t forget and put ourselves in similar positions that might allow us to be hurt again.

This is a function of our brain. Yours and mine. Every brain.

And by getting hurt I also mean getting our feelings hurt.

Since we’re no longer in mortal danger, (most living in houses with a roof over our heads and locks on our doors,) our personal feelings have become the minds focus.

Have you ever noticed how often our emotional response to a situation is way more than the situation should call for? A missed date or flippant comment can bring us to our knees emotionally, reminding us of other hurt we’ve endured.

If you can take a step back from the very up close and personal story about why you’re upset and recognize what’s happening electrochemically and energetically in your brain and body, you’d awaken to the real reality of the situation.

I’ve written a couple of blogs about getting mad or sad about something and then making a decision with that energy behind it.

But, I’m here to tell you, you don’t have to get mad or sad. Just make a decision.

You are only at the mercy of anything to whatever extent you believe you are. And all of those beliefs are false so start taking a look at them.

What do you want?

I’m here to help.

Love and Blessings,
Crystal

Weekly Photo Challenge: Reflections

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Reflections. Great for our Weekly Photo Challenge and an excellent reminder for life as well.

“As above, so below, as within, so without, as the universe, so the soul…”  Hermes Trismegistus

Reflections of the Blanco River

Reflections of the Blanco River

Walking around 5 Mile Dam is always a pleasure. I love living near water and have appreciated fully the beauty of this spot for the past ten years.

On this trip, I loved the reflection the large rocks on the opposite river bank created.

Looking at the picture I began to see things we might not always notice at first glance.

What if we turned and looked at it from all directions?

What will you see?

Reflections5Mile_WebCCW90 Reflections5Mile_WebCW90 Reflections5Mile_WebUSD

I see hearts, faces, arms, hair, mouths and hands. I see arms reaching out to receive and I see arms reaching up in joyous exaltation.

How can we take this approach in our lives?

What will you notice when you look at your life from different perspectives?

Will you notice that what you may be feeling about a recent particular situation is actually a reaction to an old circumstance?

Do you realize our lives are just a reflection of our inner conversations?

Big change is only a reflection away.

Much Love,
Crystal

Find out more about the Weekly Photo Challenge here.
Find out more about Sessions with Crystal here.

Leave a comment below and tell me what you see or what areas of your life you’re looking forward to seeing from a new perspective.

One commenter will be chosen at random to receive a free 30 minute Soothing Session.

When Bad Things Happen

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It happens. These things we witness and experience as bad or painful. We lose loved ones, jobs, friends, jewelery, books, pets and money. From the smallest most insignificant possessions to the most important people, loss is a part of our lives. Learning to allow it to pass with as little struggle as possible will create a rippling wave of ease through your life.

The important thing to remember in the midst of the hurt, grief, confusion, anger or sadness is this… there is a perspective around this very situation that serves you. A realization you’ll reach at some point that makes you say. “OHHhhhhhh… Ahhhhh. Bless my heart.”

It’s OK if you can’t see it or aren’t there right now.

Don’t rush yourself. Experience your experience and allow yourself to be human. Your current feelings are absolutely valid and as you accept and acknowledge how you feel the energy behind it also shifts and moves. The perspective is there and you’ll be able to find it soon enough.

Allow the tears to come and the shock of the loss to reverberate throughout your body. Tell yourself over and over in your mind, “This too shall pass and when it does, the clarity comes.” Give yourself the very best chance of healing by surrounding yourself with people that support and uplift you.

Remind yourself and your little ones of the love in your lives. Remind yourself of the joy you’ve experienced and feel such appreciation for the time well spent. Accept your momentary feelings of grief, loss, fear and confusion as part of the process, knowing that everything is always working out for you.

Seek out laughter and joyous experiences. Many of us feel that not worrying or feeling despondent would be a disservice to the person we’ve lost or that has suffered a seeming tragedy. This couldn’t be further from the truth.

The loved one we’ve lost is no longer suffering and wants you to feel the freedom and relief they are currently experiencing.

Those hospitalized or in rehab recovering from a tragedy or illness need your positive energy and high vibration to help them along the healing path. Seeing them as healthy, happy and vital is one of the most important things we can do for them.

Our energy and vibration is the most important “thing” we bring to this party called life.

Accepting that adversity is a part of your existence and allowing yourself to move through it with as much ease as possible is the greatest gift you can give yourself and those you love.

As you practice this, your mind will begin to understand the process and it won’t be so “bad” the next time a seeming catastrophe strikes. You’ll see it for what it is and move through it.

This doesn’t mean you’ll never feel pain again or won’t be upset by upsetting scenarios, it just means you won’t let it keep you down for long. You’ll feel through the pain and find the clarity much sooner.

But, wherever you are right now, is perfect. From right here you can get to wherever you want to be. You are absolutely loved, cared for and supported. Take a few deep breaths and feel it for yourself.

What could you do right now to feel just a little bit better about the situation?

Talk with a friend or play with a pet. Watch a funny movie or read a book that makes you laugh or gives you comfort. Find someone who gives really good hugs and get one. Allow yourself to be embraced, soothed and uplifted by those around that can see through the situation to the relief on the other side.

Sending you all my love, soothing, peace, ease and flow.

This too shall pass and all will be well.

Everything is always working out for you.

Much Love and Many Blessings,
Crystal

How To Get Pregnant (or whatever you want)

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Alright, alright. Everyone just settle down. Let’s be adults here. I’m assuming you all watched HBO as children or peaked through your fingers during a movie when your parents said to cover your eyes. Hell, maybe they even talked to you about it. Whatever the case. You know the basics.

What I’m here to tell you is how to help yourself energetically while doing the things you know you gotta do… physically.

First, if you’ve been struggling and/or spending large amounts of time and money to try and make this happen, take a deep breath and relax. As a matter of fact, take a few deep breaths. Bless your heart. I’m so sorry. I can’t imagine how frustrating, upsetting or possibly devastating this must be for you and your partner. I love you so much and am here to help.

You can get pregnant and you can have a healthy, happy baby.

Once you’ve tried a few or more times and things didn’t work out, you got nervous and scared that you couldn’t and began feeling a deep longing for something you feel you can’t have. That feeling may be in your heart, or your stomach. You possibly feel it throughout your chest area and up into your neck and throat. This aching pain and discomfort is actually your ticket to a baby.

Notice what your mind is saying to you as you feel the physical discomfort in your body. What emotions are swirling around that feeling? Sadness, worry, anger, frustration, fear, longing?

Take another few deep breaths, in through your nose, filling your belly first, then your chest, hold for a couple of seconds and exhale. Do this a few times allowing your mind to relax and rest for a moment.

I understand well the feeling of needing to do something to make something happen immediately. But being calm and centered is what creates the space for what we want to happen.

When you notice the bodily discomfort your negative thoughts bring up and just allow yourself to feel them without going deeper into the sad story you’ll begin to notice a shift. Those feelings are telling you your focus isn’t helping your cause. Don’t worry or be angry. Just breathe and let the moment pass.

The next step, is to really really appreciate your great life as it is right now. When you wake in the night snuggle into your bed or your partner and recognize that your nights of uninterrupted sleep are numbered. Soon there will be a baby to feed or care for so relish your sleep and down time.

Clean and organize your house in preparation for the chaos that comes with a new baby. Begin to baby proof the house and set yourself up for success in a way you couldn’t do with a baby on your hip or on less than two hours of sleep. Know that everything is happening in perfect timing.

Begin talking to your baby. Yes, I know you’re not pregnant yet, but you want to be don’t you? The soul that will be your baby is with you and waiting for you to relax enough to allow their entrance into your life. Sing songs to your baby and put your hand on your belly and feel the joy bursting in your heart for the new life you’ll be bringing into this world.

Feel the excitement and relief of holding your precious, healthy baby in your arms. Can you feel it? If you still feel fear, longing or worry that it won’t happen. Go back to that place in your body and relax around it.

Finally, soothe yourself in your mind, constantly. Don’t allow yourself to say things like, I’m never going to get pregnant, I don’t deserve a baby. Notice what your mind is telling you and feel the feelings around it.

Just as you’ll be quite diligent about keeping your little four year old out of a busy street, keep your mind focused on soothing and uplifting yourself. Any negative or defeated thoughts only create more problems and obstacles. It’s ok to have them, just don’t entertain them. Soothe yourself and let them pass.

For my dear friends that have to rely on medical procedures to get pregnant, realize the pressure behind this process. I’m giving you the biggest hug right now. Bless your heart. You have to let the energy move and allow yourself to be soothed and uplifted. Sterile and medical environments coupled with money concerns and deep need cause stress in your body and make it more difficult to conceive.

Try taking a yoga class and meditating. Or find other activities that soothe and center you. Being in a place of peace and ease helps your body be more receptive to what you want.

Never forget that what you want is also wanting you. There is a baby waiting for you. Ready to come in and change your life forever.

If you need help moving the energy and finding a place of peace around the situation, you are not alone. I am here for you and I can help.

Sending you so much love, ease, flow, fertility and abundance,
Crystal

PS… this works for everything, not just getting pregnant. What do you want?

Book Sessions with Crystal

Weekly Photo Challenge – Perspective

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Interesting that perspective is this weeks photo-challenge.

It’s so important for us to realize that our lives are completely about the perspective we hold.

When we’re troubled by something, we tend to look at it very closely. Examining and taking notes of every little think that we don’t like.

But, if we can take a few steps back from the situations the true reality can come into focus.

I love the series of pictures I took below on a trip with my (Dionne’s) family to Guatemala. We were hiking up Pacaya, one of Guatemala’s most active volcanoes.

As I thought of our challenge today, this felt like the perfect opportunity share a deeper perspective on perspectives.

The first picture I took was of course, close up.

Up close

Up close you can the small details.

But after the first picture I noticed a little more around my subject….

A little wider perspective begins to show even more details

A little wider perspective begins to show even more

My next picture was of the grand view. Not of us huffing and puffing our way up the volcano. But the true majesty of what we were experiencing.

Get the full perspective.

Allow yourself to see the full perspective.

This was much, much more than our aching limbs and labored breathing. Our momentary response to our current situation.

Taking a few steps back to notice what’s going on around us and how small we are in the grand scheme of things changes more that just our physical view.

We can begin to see the beauty of the big picture.

We can soothe ourselves through the momentary struggle to find beauty waiting patiently to assure us all is well.

Check out another blog I wrote about perspective.

Sending much love, soothing, peace, ease and flow to all,

Crystal

The Energy Element Online Course – Click to pre-order at the Intro Price – $99

Once the course is up and running you’ll receive an email with Log-in instructions
to the email address you specify in your order.

Start 2014 with ease and excitement – Book a set of Sessions with Crystal

How To Deal

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Enjoy this excerpt from my New Online Course,

The Energy Element… Coming Soon!

My thirty minutes of meditation in the morning is my favorite time of the day. Sitting quietly, relaxing my body and mind. Thirty minutes to sit still and do absolutely nothing. Answering no one. Just feeling what I feel in my body as my thoughts bubble up and float by. This is the best place to deal with all of the things that are troubling me or keeping me stuck in a situation I don’t like.

This morning I was so relaxed; I felt an itch on my shoulder. Now, sometimes, I’ll scratch it and move on, but this morning I was too deep in to care. Just a few moments of my conscious attention focused on the itch and it was gone. I kept checking back to see if it was itching but it wasn’t. All I had to do was feel it.

This happens too with my feet or my knees. I’ll feel pain or discomfort and will shift to give myself relief rather than just allowing myself relief by feeling through the physical sensation. And I notice, when I do that typically I soon find another spot of discomfort. You know what happens when you scratch an itch… most times it gets itchier.

It occurred to me how often we think we need to physically manipulate our outside circumstances to make ourselves comfortable.

The biggest misconception most people have about their negative feelings (worry, anger, anxiety, fear, irritation, etc…) is that if we let ourselves actually feel them, they’ll never go away. This is a complete falsity.

To the contrary… the ONLY thing that allows the uncomfortable feelings to move is our allowing ourselves to notice, feel them and let them move without getting into some story in our mind about why we feel them. (Kids, partners, bosses, traffic, bills… etc)

Our feelings are our own. Every feeling we have ever felt is absolutely valid. Our feelings are our natural reaction to our life experiences and the best kind of information. When we truly understand this and stop judging ourselves for feeling what we feel, or being angry at another for having their own natural feelings everything in our life gets easier to deal with.

We no longer take anything personally. We can begin to realize that our reaction to life comes from our (your age here) years on this earth and what we’ve learned by how our parents and communities reacted to things.

We can learn to take control of our lives and actually NOT react, but feel what we feel in any given situation to find out what our next move should be.

Not reacting but feeling what you feel will always help to diffuse a situation. Many times I’ve noticed my initial reaction is a bit “over the top” for the scenario. I can feel and recognize I am WAY more upset about the current situation than is actually warranted and save myself and others further upset.

Your feelings are valid. That being said, some of them are caused by superficial circumstances that truly don’t warrant our attention. Who said what makes absolutely no difference. Who did what is much the same. Actually the cause for the deep level of upset or irritation is typically something that happened in our childhood or earlier life.

The beauty of not reacting in these moments is that you get to keep this all contained. You don’t have to make a big fuss and upset someone else that has no idea why you’re mad. They probably weren’t even a part of the picture when the real reason (the seed situation) for your upset happened to you and created the dense energy that keeps recreating similar situations in your life.

Stop giving people so much control over your life by worrying how they are acting and what they are saying. You get happy and feel every feeling that comes through your body and you’ll notice that people won’t say ugly or upsetting things to you. You’ll notice that as you stop judging and criticizing yourself in your mind, the world will become a more pleasant and approving place.

It’s only OUR OWN judgments and criticisms that come back around in our life experience as others judging and criticizing us. You stop doing it to yourself and it will stop happening in your outer life experience. You have to be your own kindest, most gentle and soothing cheerleader.

Notice every time you want to speak critically of another. Why? Did you take something they said or did personally? That wasn’t about you. It’s about them. Always. The way you react is about you. You can try to make it about you or just feel it and move on. If it’s not true there is absolutely no need to defend yourself.

If it IS true, recognize where you feel the upset, hurt or frustration in your body and allow the energy to shift and move. The next time it happens, you’ll notice it doesn’t bother you so much. And if you continue with this you’ll never be upset for long by another’s actions, regardless of who they are and what they do. You’ll know it’s not about you.

So on the flip side of that coin, what you do and how you react is solely about YOU. It’s not about them, what they said or did.

Your angry outburst or harsh reaction to a situation is all about YOU. No one else. Relax into your feelings and find the comfort of your own power. Know that as you allow this feeling to pass without giving it energy (by blogging about it, sharing it on Facebook or calling ten friends to cuss and discuss,) you are steadily and surely regaining your power.

There will come a time when you can sit back and smile at the chaos around you, no matter what it is. You won’t feel like you’re “dealing” with anything. You’ll respond peacefully and easily to any circumstance.

Knowing that you are doing what you need to be doing to create the life you want, nothing anyone else does or says will ever bother you. You’ll still have moments of upset and irritation, believe me. But they won’t last near as long and you won’t take them personally when you understand the truth of how the world works.

The Energy Element Online Course – Click to pre-order at the Intro Price – $99

Once the course is up and running you’ll receive an email with Log-in instructions to the email address you specify in your order.

Start 2014 with ease and excitement – Book a set of Sessions with Crystal

Surfacing

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Sisters with Bunny

Johanna, Bunny, Melody and Me in Oct 2012

I feel like I’m just beginning to come up for air. I’ve been out of touch for the past couple of weeks. My experience was difficult, but one I’m truly happy to have had.

My sister Johanna and I spent ten days caring for our 89 yr old grandmother with dementia. I’ve been completely out of the “internet” loop and off the computer. My cell phone service was terrible and they don’t have wifi so plugging in was the only option… after I ran out my data plan using my own hotspot. Oops. And aside from that, I didn’t care.

My grandmother is the matriarch of our family. Strong and prideful. Her house always clean and perfectly decorated. The fridge always filled with fresh and delicious food. I remember eating yummy sandwiches on wooden trays with thinly sliced bread, swiss cheese and avocados. And there were always Fritos, her favorite. She has great taste and beautiful clothes. Always classy and elegant with more than a touch of wild and mean. Her house, her rules. “This is not a gymnasium.” That’s how I remember her.

She’s still in there. We’d get glimpses here and there. But much of the time she wanted to sleep. We tried talking to her about her younger life and ours. We’d get moments of clarity, then she’d be gone again. Her only concerns were with having her bags packed, her purse and keys, her dog, Runner’s lead and who’s picking her up. She’s ready to go home.

Leaving her with my parents and coming home to try to get back into the swing of things has been interesting. Trading my laptop for holding, supporting and gently guiding my Grandmother around had a profound effect on me. I was shocked how familiar she felt to me.

Everything about her, I felt I knew. Even though I haven’t spent much time with her in the past 20 or more years and certainly have never been so close as we were in these past days. It’s me. So many things about her are me.

I’m still processing the experience; finding comfort and clarity in what I’ve discovered.

It’s not over. I’m still moving through the energy of it all. Alternately crying and laughing over scenarios I recall or remembering a picture I saw or letter I read. We’re all so closely connected. All intertwined in this game of life. Our lives weaving in and out of each others so seamlessly you don’t even realize that which is you, is also them.

Make no mistake. We are all here for a very important reason. To be our very best and happiest selves. To take what we’ve been given by all those around us and make it into something we love and appreciate.

It’s not always easy, but it can be done. It won’t happen immediately, although it can. Usually, it takes some time and reflection.

When we let ourselves truly feel in our body what we’re experiencing, instead of only thinking about it, it isn’t so difficult. It feels more familiar and comforting. Our minds tend to separate us, but our feelings will always bring us home.

Allow yourself your habitual thought processes at first, give yourself a break and just notice the direction your thoughts are taking. As you expand your awareness it will be easier and easier to separate yourself from the scenario.

Whatever your struggles may be these days, be so soft with yourself. We are such tender human beings.

Every feeling you have ever felt is absolutely valid. You are experiencing your experience and that was the way you felt. No worries at all.

Begin to give yourself the gift of just feeling what you feel, without any commentary from your mind. It will certainly be a transition if you’re one that is critical or judgmental of yourself and others, but you can do it. I’m here to help.

All my love to you,
Crystal

Find yourself in others and you’ll always know the truth.