Is The Pain & Logic of Your Reality Shutting You Down & Off? Then maybe it’s time to awakening to the miraculous messages from nature’s youthful spirit.
A message of awakening to spring and our inner authenticity
Aaahhh…awakening. How is it that the idea of awakening, at least when it’s connected to anything but getting up in the morning, is somehow so alluring?
Awakening to spirit…awakening to a new idea…awakening to spring? All ways that titillate our palates of consciousness. Welcoming us to spring into a higher frequency. To rise our level of awareness. To amplify our senses in new ways.
It’s the time of year when we take our first tentative steps out of hibernation—out of our houses, cars, and coats. We get to shed our protective layers and watch the world around us take on new life.
It has not always been the case that I’ve been able to notice the beauty of this yearly occurrence.
When you are “too sensitive for your own good,” even when the buds of possibility are everywhere, you can feel like the protective layers you wear are better off left in place.
Sadly, though all those defenses we built, all those protective walls, also serve as traps. As masks behind which we can hide but also masks that keep us from experiencing the wonders around us.
Depression, fear, and anxiety, the Big 3 sensitivity indicators, are powerful deniers. They deny us the ability to use the physical senses we were put here to experience—to enjoy—when we agreed to live another lifetime in human form. They deny us the pleasure of the physical world; we see it, hear it, smell it, and taste it, yet feel nothing.
We get good at pretending, though, don’t we?
Pretending for everyone else’s sake that everything is okay. Pretending that we are okay. That inside we are not blubbering messes of things like that depression, fear, and anxiety.
And then . . .
One day something happens. Maybe you lose someone you love when they die. Maybe it’s as little as the culmination of too many years hidden behind the mask that breaks the camel’s back. There’s really no telling.
People liken it to the dark night of the soul, and it can feel like that. Like there’s no light at the end of the tunnel of darkness you’re in—let alone an end.
And then…someone comes along or something changes and you see things differently. Someone or something instills hope when and where you’ve had very little or none. How and why these things, these people, these experiences arrive can make little or no sense or all the sense in the world. But either way, they feel like miracles. The exact right message at the exact right time.
What follows is a message from a young person I have the absolute pleasure and honor of knowing. Joseph’s insight into and understanding of what it takes to be “awakened” is obvious as you read his words and feel their intention.
For me, it’s like tapping into the well of spring. The freshest, clearest water of exuberant life. A frequency that can lift me up and remind me when I need it the most that without a mask to keep such beauty out, I am also able to let it in.
Letting in Joseph’s shining light of truth is a daily miracle.
*****
Joseph’s Message (Joseph is the 14-year-old son of a much adored friend and colleague, LaDonna Funderburke of Breathe Deep Within)
At the end of the day, you are still a human being. It is important that you take time for self-care. There are days when I feel overwhelmed by school, homework, and growing up.
Being a teenager, I don’t always feel secure. I do my best to understand the world around me. It’s good to know that I have guidance and healthy tools to help me navigate this complex world.
Here are several wellness practices I use as remedies to calm my mind and give me a fresh perspective on life.
- My spirituality connects me. I love talking to my Higher Power about things that are deep in my heart. It’s a quiet time of introspection where I am honest with myself. It is a moment to relax, take a deep breath and meditate.
- I take my dad’s advice and look at the glass half full instead of half empty as a positive focus to rethink a situation. There is always something to be grateful for.
- I love to eat! Eating healthy is nourishing to my mind, emotions, and body. When I take the time to enjoy a meal, the savory flavors open my palate to the wonderful dishes my mom prepares. I taste her love in every bite.
- Every day I move. Walking, biking, and exercising energize me. It improves my mobility, helps balance my hormones, and improves my overall health.
- Sleep is vital. Especially for someone my age. But we all need a good night’s sleep. When I go to bed at the same time each night, I do better in school. When I do better in school, it boosts my confidence! My grades improve.
You matter! Self-care is healthcare. We all need a break. It’s ok to take care of yourself. Start where you are. Simplicity is the key. Use simple pleasures in your life to create a mindfulness routine.
I think of my healthy habits as a wellness toolbox to fix whatever I need to repair. Embrace the present moment. Commit to doing good things for yourself every day. It will all be worth it.
*****
YES! Let’s hear it from the heart, soul, spirit, and mind of the youth who are SPRINGING forward into a new way of being. Thank you, Joseph!
