TO do: be f***ing incredible

The above meme is my mantra for December.  The doggie is one of my Great Pyrenees, Thalia.  Her face says it all!

My newsletters usually share Blue Door stuff and positive vibes, but, you guys, life is REAL and it is all showing up right now.  As far as things go, my life is REALLY good.  I have a wonderful family, beautiful house, thriving business, THE most awesome job, a community that fills my cup (I'm looking at you Blue Door people!), and my health.  I go to bed happy, warm, and full in a very comfy bed (if you need a bed, I have a recommendation!).  Also, full disclaimer, I will be using salty language in my missive.  Unbelievable, huh?!?

As many of you know--because I have a tendency to share too much--I've been dealing with the inflammatory repercussions of menopause and trying to fine tune my HRT (hormone replacement therapy).  If you're a guy and instantly wanted to stop reading, I urge you to not since you probably have women in your life who are batshit crazy because of hormones or lack thereof.  I had some abnormal bleeding and had to get a biopsy.  It was precautionary and I knew in my soul that there was no problem because I'm pretty connected with my body (thank you yoga!).  Got the results earlier this morning and all is good.  But, whew, it's nice to get that confirmation.

Also, right before Thanksgiving, my husband was laid off.  Yup, right before the holidays.  Happy fucking holidays to us.  Again, we're privileged.  We have savings, we are resourceful, he is highly intelligent and unbelievably employable.  We will land on our feet.  But we all know no one hires during the holiday season.  So he has a month of agonizing, applying for jobs, not hearing back, rinse and repeat.  You know--the spiral.

Why do I share this other than having the TMI gene?  Because I want everyone to know we are all going through stuff.  We show up and put on a happy face and say everything is fine when asked, but inside there is turmoil, around us there is turmoil.  It doesn't matter if it's small turmoil or an all consuming, embroiling turmoil.  It is turmoil, nonetheless.  Because we are all going through stuff and not sharing it with each other (could you IMAGINE what your "how are you today" conversations would like if we all overshared?!?), I have one request:  please BE KIND.

One of our students (who is going through her own turmoil) observed that I always am so even-keel and she wondered how I did it.  I told her I have a few tools in my tool belt:

1. Blue Door community

2. Yoga

3. I am perpetually a glass is half full person

4. My ration of daily hugs!

5. My husband

6. Gratitude

7. Ahimsa (non-harming thoughts, words, actions)

Ahimsa is my biggest secret weapon.  I call upon it daily.  Distilled down, it really means BE KIND.  Be kind to others, to yourself, to the world.  Because kindness multiplies.

Xx

Jesi