TODAY A NUDGE to take care of yourself, dear friend. Today, commit to a pocket of time to be still … to breathe and just be.
A bit of the message below comes from Soulfully Ablaze and Live Ablaze – books that were written years ago, far before I had any idea about COVID’s impact on our globe and on my life (scroll down a bit for a Sarah DT health update). But, it’s become more true than ever for me … and it seems, for for most of us: Life is just not easy right now in our work, for our children, friends, and family.
Maybe life has been clipping along at a satisfactory – or spectacular – rate, but you are aware of pain in the life of someone you love or in the lives of those in far-off places. Or perhaps it’s been a really tough week, month, and year for you … a too-long-stretch of hard days filled with confusion and overwhelm. The everyday human strains of health, finances, relationships, or work may have fallen heavy and hard in your lap. Being human can be hard.
If you are reading this with a heart or body throbbing with pain, I’m sending love to you, intending and praying for you to feel seen, companioned, and supported. The struggle need not be the end of your story.
I love this quote from Rumi: “The wound is the place where the Light enters you.” (How does it strike you? Does it connect with your story today?)
There can be pain – great oceans of it – in us, around us. Allow what is broken in you or in the world to capture your attention. Pause and tend to these places. You will find surprises and treasures here – in these deep chasms lie gemstones.
I believe, with all my heart that
at this very moment, there are treasures to be found in the dirt,
in the hidden, in the deep, dark crevices,
in the real bits and pieces in and around you.
Out of the darkest places,
the pain that cripples and blinds, right here,
there is love, hope, and healing.
May you find and receive all that you most need this day.
2 nudges for inspired ACTion for you today
1 – enJOY the below mini PoP (Place of Pause) from Soulfully Ablaze on what to do when life is hard or you find yourself struggling. Or, immerse yourself in the full PoP (a 10-minute reading/experience) that will encourage you to be still and surrender, to ponder and discern, and to engage and commit. (FREE)
2 – WATCH this 10-minute PoP about times of struggle, peruse the playlist this week and pick out a few other PoPs that intrigue you, or dive right in and commit to the whole 40-day video journey in which I guide you through 40 daily 10-minute PoPs on your favorite social media platform: Facebook | IGTV | YouTube.
Place of Pause
A MINI PoP on what to do when life is hard.
BE STILL.
Oof. Pain.
Are you in it?
Or is someone you love in it?
Sending an ocean of love to you, right here, right now.
Whatever is burdening you, imagine tucking the biggies into a backpack. Is it heavy? (Whew—mine sure can be, too.) Imagine, for a moment, that you take off that heavy backpack and set it aside.
Yes, yes—there may be things in it you’ll need to tend to later.
But for now, can you, one strap at a time, take it off, and put it down?
Breathe.
Be.
PONDER.Write about how you feel regarding your story now—what’s working, what’s not? What makes your knees tremble? What gives you butterflies? What excites, what terrifies? Where are the places of crushing pain and heartbreak in the lives of those around you or in the very real and epic tragedies in the world? Is there sorrow in you that leaves you feeling kicked in the gut?
ENGAGE. Set up a text thread, a regular video call, or conference call to check in and promise to keep it raw and real with a soul friend or two. Use the power of technology to connect real time throughout the amazing and hard days of life. … full PoP
Sarah DT’s Health Update
Many have been checking in about my health (thank YOU). Here are the short-ish headlines.
1 … About 10 days ago, I tested positive to the ANTIBODY COVID test – meaning that I *had* COVID / likely back in January. (I’m no longer contagious.)
2 … As research and data about COVID grows, we’re learning about the impact left in the body after COVID – and for me, it’s been lingering and very intense, to be sure. It looks like I am part of the 15% of people who get COVID and have a significant immune response, leaving us sick for a while.
Of those 15%, it seems I’m in a pool of people who have what’s called a “post-viral response” in which we begin to feel better and then are hit with recurring waves of not feeling well. For those who like the science of it, per my dad, “This is likely a response to what is a biochemical thought to be a type of cytokines (a byproduct of inflammatory ‘warfare’ in the body).” Complex and interesting stuff, to be sure!
3 … A test last Thursday showed that my lungs are working at 57% capacity, which offers a big explanation to my fatigue, low energy, and windedness with little exertion. This is likely due to COVID, which has shown to significantly impact the lungs specifically and whole body, even after the virus has been battled and beat by the immune system.
4 … The “treatment” is simply rest, medicine, and working with my docs to ensure we’re doing what we can in the wake of COVID’s lingering impact on my body.
Amidst it all, I’m good. Truly and wholly. Praying in a quiet often wordless way. Loving that. Laying low. Last Wednesday, I started an easy 2-mile daily loop around a park in my neighborhood and enjoying yoga under the trees lakeside. Ahh.
Today, I’m feeling much better after a weekend of medicines that are working to reduce inflammation in my lungs and increase my lung capacity. So thankFULL!
You are in my heart and prayers. I’m over-the-moon grateful to those who have reached out and sent blessings my way. Life is surely better together.
You are loved.
You belong.
We belong to each other.
Let’s standTALL together and light up the world!
xo, -Sarah DT ❤️
