The Me-Time Mixtape: Three essential hand-curated links and resources on creative self-care. Carve out some me time this week!
If you had told me three years ago, when my mom had her first stroke, that I would be talking about the personal growth and positive transformation it has had on my life, I would have said you were crazy. But here we are. This is truly a wild and wonderful world full of strange happenings!
I've produced two episodes on the way my mom's health is impacting my personal growth right now: the last episode (#40) about accepting the long goodbye as I figure out how to live without my mom, and today's episode about how the forces of Yin and Yang play out in our lives. I'm not dwelling in grief here, there is growth and brighter times to balance out the struggle. I hope this exploration helps you think about how even our hardest times are buffered by positive forces that we never imagined.
#1 Creating Space for Personal Growth
There is some debate about whether Viktor Frankl said this, but the quote is very much in line with his seminal work, Man's Search for Meaning. While I don't always make the most of this space between stimulus and response, my awareness is growing. I'm taking baby steps in the direction of choosing my responses, of recognizing and acting on that freedom of choice.
#2 Grounding Exercise to Smooth Out the Angst
When I feel like I'm melting down, or spinning out, I try to do one of these grounding techniques. The third exercise, using a grounding object, has helped me. My grounding object is a heart-shaped metal chime with a flamingo painted on it; my daughter gave it to me. It fits in my pocket and both the sweet jingle jangle sound of it, and the way it evokes my daughter's presence, bring me back to a safer reality. I feel more centered, attached, and connected, and that stops anxiety in its tracks. The five senses grounding exercise is also wonderful, especially if you can do it in a natural setting.
Brianna Lambert
#3 Fall Produce: Eating in Season
It's fall in NYC and that means that one of my favorite foods is coming soon: Cara Cara oranges. These juicy (drips down your hand), sweet, easy-to-peel oranges are a healthy alternative to cakes and cookies.
When my mom was living with me, we'd eat them for dessert almost every day, and I can still picture her smiling face beaming at me from across the table when we ate them. 🍊🍊
Enjoy this newsletter? Forward it to a friend or hit reply to share your ideas and thoughts.
Was this email forwarded to you? Subscribe today for free.
Latest Podcast Episode
Episode #41: Finding Balance in Struggle: Exploring Yin and Yang in Daily Life
Let the Verse Flow is an independent, member-supported publication (and podcast) launched in June 2023 by Jill Hodge. If you subscribe today, you'll have full access to the website and newsletter, including articles, podcast episodes, and the Me-Time Mixtape Newsletter. Members are vital to building a rich community of diverse voices. Join us by subscribing today; consider a paid subscription to support the community. Thank you!
