Resourcing For Resilience

I hope this finds you deep in the rhythm of whatever helps you stay grounded in these wild times.

I've been immersing myself in gardening (aka spring weeding) and watching my garden spring back to life. This little patio garden has been three years in the making. The first year it was scorched by the summer heat and a watering system mishap where most everything died. Last year there were a few more losses to the heat, more perennials planted. This year I'm delighted to see most of the plants returning and filling in so they shade and protect each other once the intense desert sun is in full swing. 

Gardening gives me perspective to face the chaos and intensity of the times and teaches me that cultivating resilience is essential. It's easy to put self-care and inner resourcing on the back burner when we feel squeezed.

The more deeply I learn about the nervous system and its relationship to our overall wellbeing, the more I recognize the need to prioritize the small and simple acts of daily self-care.

Remember that self-care isn't just the trips to the spa, massages, or getaways. True self-care is the connection of everyday moments that bring you a sense of respite and enjoyment. Think of the moments you most look forward to, the moments when you breathe deeply or sigh with relief and release. I love this image 💗

Right now my self-care looks like a rose flavored latte in the morning with my breakfast. Walking our wee doggo a few times a day. Sitting on the patio and taking in the sweet scent of the honeysuckle vine in bloom. My weekly visit to the nursery, no matter how brief, to walk among the plants and perhaps bring a little something home to add to my garden.

You might read that and think you don't have time for such frivolity, that it's not particularly "productive." I get it. I remind myself often that the most productive thing I can do is take a moment to rest, breathe, and connect to the ground. This is how I'm staying relatively sane in an increasingly insane world. 

I firmly believe that our ability to traverse these challenging times depends on our ability to remain steadfast in our presence, our practices, and caring.

When we're consistently stressed out and overwhelmed we tend towards shutting down. It's essential to replenish your inner resources daily so you can go the distance with whatever is on your plate and in your heart. 

I hope you'll join me in stringing together little acts of care throughout your day. It's not about adding more to your list. It's about building your capacity to tackle that list in a way that feels lighter and more manageable.