Give yourself a time out; đto rejuvenate, đto reconnect with nature and your authentic self, đto discover the forest, the shoreline or the view and linger safely wrapped in the healing power of nature, đto be fully present and ponder the awe of you and everything around you, đto explore your purpose in all of this universal magic, đto enjoy a sense of peacefulness and calm, đto exhale the busyness of your human life, đto observe how absolutely amazing the natural world, you and life is, And, đto be your authentic self and fall in love with who you really are.
Peace comes from those moments that have no price tag. The moments that allow us to refuel and remember who we are and why weâre here.
Today feels like a good day to start healing from whatevers hurting or haunting you.
It doesnât matter how you got here. What matters is how you muster the courage to move beyond it.
Healing can start by forgiving who or what hurt you, including forgiving yourself for the role you played or decisions you made, that led to your emotional or physical pain.
Forgiveness does not mean you condone or forget what happened. Forgiveness is the act of reclaiming control over your mental and physical well being so you can move on and live your best life.
When we forgive, we put the weight of our pain down and remove the power it has over us. Forgiveness allows peace to fill in the spaces where sorrow, guilt, regret, anger, grief or other pain once lived and, we begin to heal.
If you need help getting started; write down the things you want to heal from and who you need to forgive. Then, find your place of peace. This place might be a forest, the oceanside, a wide open field, the rivers edge, a mountain top, your garden or a quiet room with a view.
In this safe space set your words free. You can burn, bury, shred or flush, them away. Or, scream them out into the ether.
When you leave this place, leave what and who hurt you behind. If you feel your pain creeping back in. Go back to this place and reclaim your peace of mind.
Whether your pain is anchored in grief, regret, remorse, abuse, addiction, heartbreak, an accident, disease or other physical or emotional suffering; todayâs a good day to start healing.
Pain is often where our greatest learning and growth takes place. Your pain can leave you paralyzed or, it can be the wind that sets you free.
When it all feels like too much; the news, the weather, the loss, the lies, the demands, the cost, the noise, the political unrest, the sadness, the brokenness, or, whatever it is for you, Pause Unplug, step back, and reach for the good stuff. The beauty in nature, the beauty in you, the generosity and kindness of those who love you. Laughter, music, art, pets, flowers, sunshine, rain, colourful sunsets, your favourite cozy blanket, the perfect cup of coffee, the sound of the ocean, a kiss from the wind, and all the other little miracles that surround you.
This sweet dream carried me away to a field of flowers, where I fell in awe of the tapestry of colour so brilliantly stitched together.
Floating above the field, I gazed down upon tall golden sunflowers reaching for the sky, lupins exploding in hues of purple and blue, sunny daffodils and wild crocus all sharing the same soil and blooming side-by-side.
Crimson poppies, delicate white daisies and purple bachelor buttons their stems splendidly entangled, grew freely, no fences, no boarders, just beautiful wide open space allowing their roots to stretch and grow.
Rays of sunlight touched each flower, and bounced off dew-drops, making every flower sparkle. Tiny delightful buttercups dancing between it all, knit this rich bouquet of diverse colours, scents, sizes and varieties together.
Bees, butterflies, birds and bugs of every type, moved above, below and upon the tapestry doing their part. How wonderfully all life here cooperated, grew, bloomed and thrived perfectly together, it was stunning.
Then a single dandelion, falling to seed at the end of her days, but still so beautiful, called to me and asked me if Iâd like to make a wish upon her, I did. I was moved that in her final moments of life, she still had something to offer, and she offered it to me.
As I continued to float above this kaleidoscope of grace and peacefulness, the flowers became us; me, you, my family, my neighbours, strangers and I knew this peaceful field was showing me, how life could be, how life should be.
I drifted back to this world, and woke, with new hope and optimism for our own diverse, and colourful human garden.
The next time you find yourself walking into a battle, confrontation, debate or an argument, ask yourself if you really need to be there.
Not every battle cry is meant to be answered. Some provide the opportunity to rise above whatever (or whoever) is trying to provoke you.
Of course not all conflict should be avoided. Sometimes conflict is healthy and necessary. Conflict can stimulate new ideas, challenge our thinking, lead to problem solving and foster creativity.
However, when emotions are highly charged or, our ethics or morals feel compromised, or, we donât feel heard or understood, or, weâre recycling the same old arguments and conflicts with individuals who are disrespectful and manipulative, we might be putting our self esteem and mental well-being at risk.
You CAN walk away from the toxic people, relationships, environments or unhealthy patterns of behaviour, that try to call you into battle.
You donât have to show up for every conflict that invites you in. Your greatest victories may be realized in the battles you never fight âŽď¸.
Before you decide to; âput somebody in their placeâ âshow them the doorâ, âread them the riot actâ âtake them downâ âteach them a lessonâ âtear a strip off themâ âbully themâ or âseek revengeâ âŚ..ask yourself if thatâs what they really need. When people are struggling, trying to cope with the chaos and pain in their lives, they donât need another storm, they need a lighthouse. Be kind Be compassionate Be the lighthouse.
Wishing you a wonderful week ahead. Toni OâKEEFFE đšâ¤ď¸
We have to experience what love is ânotâ so we recognize authentic love when it arrives.
Those bad dates, heartaches, butterflies that turned into teary goodbyes, are stepping stones guiding you to whom and where youâre meant to be. Let them guide you, who knows, they may lead to your happily-ever-after.
Be grateful for everyone that wanders in and out of your life.
The Whimsey Angel 