When joy and grief sit side by side
I went on a walk in my neighborhood today and was so delighted to see the first signs of spring (scroll down to see pics).
The delicate white blossoms on the pear trees.
The bright yellow forsythia.
The deep red camellias.
Each one felt like a little joyful reminder that the seasons are shifting.
And then, just a few steps away from those blooms, something stopped me. A deer lying on the sidewalk, still and lifeless after being hit by a car.
A wave of sadness washed over me.
And a question showed up: How can spring flowers be blooming right next to this?
But after being with it, the more it felt like a reflection of what so many of us are experiencing right now.
Beauty and heartbreak.
Hope and exhaustion.
Moments of joy sitting right next to anger, grief, or uncertainty.
It's all true at the same time.
If your world feels like that right now, you're not alone. And however you're feeling is completely valid.
Tomorrow at 5pm ET, I am hosting a free gathering where I'll guide a simple and powerful practice called the Even Though Exercise.
This practice helps us acknowledge the full truth of what we're feeling while giving our nervous system a chance to settle and regroup.
It doesn't try to fix anything.
It simply helps us hold what's true and real with a little more steadiness.
I use this exercise with my clients and in my own life. Sometimes it is the only thing that can meet me in the messiness of where I am.
You're invited to join.
So far my mom is the only person officially committed to coming. So you'll be in very good company!
Register for free below.
If tomorrow doesn't work for you, David Andrews and I will also share this practice during our next Nurture Your Nervous System call on Wednesday, March 18th at 6pm ET. You can register for that free gathering here.
If you are craving something deeper right now, David and I are also hosting the Nurture U Spring Equinox mini retreat on Saturday, March 20th. It's a chance to slow down, reconnect with yourself, and mark the turning of the season together.
And if Zoom is the last thing you want, I also offer 1:1 retreats. These were originally designed to take place at a beautiful hot springs resort in New Mexico, but they can be customized to happen anywhere. If you have a place you love, or a friend or sister you would want to share the experience with, I would love to explore what's possible together.
Wherever you find yourself right now, in light, in dark, or somewhere in between, I am sending you love.
Warmly,
Stacy
