RESILIENCE: This is my favorite tree in Long Beach. We became acquainted when I arrived here two years ago, homeless and very very sick. I lived in my 1993 Camry, named Tussy, for seven months; and would come to visit this tree often, I find it very soothing.
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I’d stare at it’s strange shape and think about how long it must have grown sideways, how it probably seemed like it had no chance at surviving; which is how I felt at the time, hopeless with very little chance of survival.
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But just as this gorgeous lil’ tree now reaches right for the sun, I too made it through my sideways time. I don’t really know how, adrenaline and delusional optimism were definitely big components, but here I am on the other side — definitely still shaken, but doing my best to reach for the sun.
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We bounce back, if we let ourselves. I’m a lover of the Tao te Ching, which does many things; but one of my favorites is that it applies the patterns of nature to human life, recognizing that we are part of its web. We too reach for the sun, even when unseen forces seem to want to keep us grounded.
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Whatever fuckery is trying to smash you down, you’re gonna prevail. You’re going to be more interesting for it. And you’re gonna shine. You already are. Get that sun! Get it, get it ☀️
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#resilience #resilient #getitgetit #yougotthis #youcandoit #encouragement #inspiration #inspirational #tao #taoteching #treesplease #treelove #treelover #sundaylove #sundayvibes
I made it to @yogalutiononthebluff today, hooray!! It was my first yoga class since the whole near-death-resulting-in-debilitating-fibromyalgia thing, and it was an awesome experience. (It was mostly ground work though, so we’ll see how I fare with the other teachers!)
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It was cloudy this morning which makes me feel like someone’s pushing me down because fibro make life weird; so I almost didn’t go, but changed my mind at the last minute and went without meditating. It was the first time in a month I didn’t do my transcendental meditation before leaving, and I noticed a big difference already— specifically in my reactions whilst driving!
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The last couple weeks I’ve been all chill, cruising, but several people got me all ruffled within a six-minute drive this morning 🤣 I was laughing at myself for getting pissy rather than feeling righteous though, so even if I miss one — still progress. (A month ago it’d have taken at least 20 minutes to really shake it off, my nerves get all frizzed #spoonieproblems #fightorflight ⚡️)
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I’m so excited to finally be here. Free ocean view yoga everyday at 11am?? Pro-veggie GF sandwiches? Anti-dairy I’ve cream? Spectacular thrift and vintage peppered with happy hours and cafes? WTF is this place? So grateful. I love you, Long Beach.
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#transcendentalmeditation #meditation #lbc #longbeachcity #longbeachlife #longbeachlove #yoga #grateful #gratitude #beginnings #4thstreetlb #huglifeicecream #yogalutionlbc #fibromyalgia #fibromyalgiawarrior
I had a gloriously productive day, finally! I had a bunch of “spinning wheels” days in that regard, so I’m very relieved to be moving forward. I feel refreshed in excitement about my work, phew.
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I’m also back at the shadow work after taking some time away. Shadow work is succinctly explained as shedding light on the parts of ourselves we’d rather didn’t exist. So it’s always good times! Haha.
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There’s a bajillion ways to do it, depending on what you’re dealing with. For me it’s a short temper that seems to be rooted in PTSD, so I’m reading two books on the matter — filling out all the questions and everything.
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I don’t even mind it, so I’ve been wondering why I’ve been putting it off; then learned tonight that it’s a common reaction to trauma therapy. #themoreyouknow🌈, eh?
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📸: Beaches, and flowers, and sexy enviro-friendly cars, and vegetables— oh myyyyyyyy 🥰
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#shadowwork #ptsd #emotionalhealth #traumarecovery #healing #healingjourney #wellness #wellnessjourney #writer #writersofinstagram #beach #lbc #longbeach #longbeachcity #longbeachlife #longbeachca
I’ve loved this quote for years, I felt it’s truth the moment I read it; but I feel like I am finally beginning to live it. It’s common (esp for empaths/HSPs) to feel the energy of a situation or group and unconsciously match it in an effort to create harmony, but it leads to absorbing others’ energies all day; which can weigh you down, hold you back, and confuse the fuck out of you.
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Plus, it doesn’t leave a lot of leftover juju do create your own shit, to “imprint your intent on the universe.” This usually means that we wind up creating chaos in some way, half-baked manifestations that don’t quite click. So don’t wait for the world to show you what’s next, what’s left — choose your choices, choose your vibe, and choose to not let anyone fuck it up. ❤️✨
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#empathproblems #empath #empathsbelike #hsp #highlysensitivepeople #energy #energyhealing #energyiseverything #loa #manifestation #createyourlife #spirituality #successmindset #getitgetit #wednesdaywisdom #wednesdayvibes
Grateful for an awesome day. First of all, I finished my book! Again!! Haha. I thought I’d finished it in early 2016, but then life was like, “Oh honey...” So she’s had her way with me for a few more years, and my bookbaby’s all the better for it (#howilostallmyfucks). It’s been cathartic to go through these immenssssely trying years and squeeze out the juice, those sweet hard-earned pearls of wisdom.
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I also got to enjoy the full moon meditation at @thesaltloungelb. It was a typically uplifting experience, surrounded by the warm vibes of like-minded folks, soul-resonating sound healing, plus experiencing what I hope was a “future-memory” as I call them — we were envisioning a meeting with our #higherself, and mine grabbed my hand and we ran to another scene: a kiddo with lush jungle behind him handed me a berry, giggling, and I knew it was going to be gross from the way he and the other the kids were laughing; but I glanced up at someone and immediately felt safe, then ate the gross berry and acted extra-icked out for the adorable giggles. Whether it happens in this world or not, it was freakin’ delightful.
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And then I came to my home I love so much and watched some also-delightful tv from @freeform and celebrated the end of my “balance week” — what I do after breaking my less than 7 drinks/week rule (happy birthday to me) — with two glasses of delicious vino, curled up on my beloved couch. I’m feeling gloriously abundant tonight, as I now chug super-duper-extra water to compensate for the reiki + wine combo; as if I’ve been waiting to arrive at this time and place for a very long time. ‘Tis truthy.
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Happy full moon, hope it’s been illuminating for you as well 😘
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#writersofinstagram #bookbaby #booklovers #spirituality #spiritualgangster #fullmoon #fullmoonmeditation #saltloungelb #grateful #gratitude #levelingup #mysticism #intuition #getitgetit #goodvibes #flow #moregratitude
