Nurturing the soul. Or, today's ah-ha moment

I dare say far too many of us are guilty of it.  Especially as parents, moms or women in general.  We put our own needs on the back burner for the sake of others.  We allow life to become filled with work, chores, tending to our offspring and significant others and we neglect ourselves.  We think somehow, we are less important than others around us. We self-sacrifice to our own detriment.

We are wrong if we operate with that assumption.

The thing is, if we don't take care of our selves, mind, body and soul, we can't really effectively take care of anyone else.  Stress builds and will take it's toll, slowly eating away at our energy, our productivity and our vitality.

Figuring out how to balance this earthly existence with my spirit has been, shall we say, a challenge.  As is the way of the Universe, signs are everywhere, if we are willing and able to recognize them.  I shall illustrate this point by sharing my experience of yesterday with you.

If you know me, you know I'm 'busy'.  I work full time, thankfully at a relatively flexible yet unpredictable sort of job.  I have a sizable house to manage.  I have a teen and a 'tween boy to feed and parent.  They are attending summer camp with hours that are not exactly ideal for my working schedule.  I am planning a wedding and learning to ballroom dance (that's for ME!).  Those aforementioned boys both play premier soccer, and we just finished two weeks of every night of the week try outs.  The practice and game schedule is insane. Then there are countless appointments for the three of us to manage during our already over-scheduled and crazy busy days.  This past week, just to add to the chaos, I also taught a CPR class for my own re-certification.  When I can, I try to advance the mission of Meghan's Hope and Katie's Foundation for Child Safety so that no other child die the way my daughter did.  Oh, yes, I also parent an angel... I go non-stop.  I eat on the go and poorly at that.  I squeeze in exercise with little consistency.  I try to get a massage or body work monthly, but even scheduling that is stressful.  My spirit is neglected.   I am crazy busy.  Sometimes, I feel just plain crazy!

As a result, I do not tend to take time for myself.  I have realized that is not healthy.  Physically, emotionally or spiritually.  I forget to use my own gifts on myself or my family sometimes.

Yesterday was one of those 'ah-ha' moments.  I found out the Reiki-share that I try to attend monthly had moved to Monday evenings.  I wanted to attend.  It wasn't in my calendar.  I had a huge looming list of tasks to attend to yesterday evening, not the least of which was work that had not yet been finished for the day for work-work and a slew of things that are over-due on my personal to do list and really need to be accomplished.  I was torn on what to do.

As I drove around, I saw hearts.  In the sky, in pictures, in my mind's eye.  They have been abundant the past few days.  I know that is a spiritual sign for me.  The Universe was screaming at me! I've also seen rainbows and beauty in the sky day and night that called to me on a subtle, energetic level.  I received an email from a reporter in California who wanted to interview me later in the day for a story on furniture tip-over and safety (oh, hello Meghan!).  I came home from work, sat down at my computer and *knew* I had to go to Reiki Share. Just like that.  It was crystal clear.  Not a moment's hesitation at that point.  I was going.  I was so glad I did, for it was exactly what I needed.

Reiki share is a place where Reiki or other holistic/alternative medicine practitioners and like-minded students of spirit gather to nurture ourselves.  We do a brief meditation and offer each other brief treatment sessions.  It's called nurturing the nurturer and energy and light workers need that as much as those we offer it to!  Those who get message, share it.  Those who need healing, receive it.

Last night's focus was energy and sound healing.  I walked in and immediately knew I was exactly where I needed to be.  Though I only knew two of the attendees, energetically, I recognized at least one other from another time and place.  After meditation, some keen observers determined I needed to be the one on the Reiki table first.  It was such a gift!  If you've ever had energy work, you know that one set of hands on you can be such a gift.  To have 3-4 people working together, using their own gifts of energy healing was nothing short of amazing.  The love that surrounded me was palpable.  The space was sacred, safe and full of healing energy.  I don't know where I went, but it was just what I needed.  I received a note with message from the other side.  I received feedback that validated what I already knew to be true, but complete strangers in this life were able to energetically identify it easily.

We all took turns giving and receiving until everyone had their turn.  The love, light and vibration in that room had changed and was such an amazing thing to see and feel.

To close the evening, two of the guests played the didgeridoo, gongs and Tibetan bowls along with other instruments.  What an absolutely amazing experience.  Such a gift.  It took me a while to get grounded again. I had a wonderful conversation with the facilitator and left feeling more energetically balanced than I've been in a long time and with a renewed commitment to take better care of me.  Driving home, the rain had stopped, there was an absolutely gorgeous bright crescent moon and the stars shone brightly.  I was filled with peace and gratitude. I slept better than I have in a long time.

It's so easy to get lost in the everyday tasks.  To allow the lessons of this journey to be ignored or to stuff the 'work' that needs to be done to heal one's mind, body and soul under the rug because it's hard work.  I encourage you to take time for yourself today.  Even if it's 3 minutes of meditation or sitting quietly expressing gratitude for the gifts of this day.  Focus on the positive, learn from the negative.  Move forward.

I should have known how my day and evening would unfold when I posted this quote on Facebook yesterday, "God doesn't give you the people you want, he gives you the people you need.  To help you, to hurt you, to leave you, to love you and to make you the person you were meant to be".  THAT in and of itself, was a *sign*.

Wayne Dyer says we are not human beings having a spiritual experience.  We are spiritual beings having a human experience.  Regardless of what you believe on a spiritual or religious plain, I encourage you to take the time to take care of you.  Eat well.  Exercise, even if it's just walking.  Laugh.  Have fun.  Nurture your soul and spirit.  Seek body and energy work if for no other reason than to give yourself the gift of being taken care of for an hour.  Give thanks for all that you have and do what you can for those who have not.  Let go of the past, of what no longer serves you and move forward.

I am grateful for this life, this day and for the lessons along the way.  If you are reading this, you are part of my journey and I am grateful for your place in my path.

Peace.