Welcome to fall! This is the first official day of the new season. That means holidays are just around the corner, cooler weather is just around the corner (maybe already settling in where some of you are from), and the end of the year is just around the corner. This is the time of year when we need connection more than ever. It’s easy to get lost in the mad rush of it all, but thankfully we have Wellness Wednesday to keep us in check.
Before we talk about this week’s quote from Fannie Lou Hamer, I want to thank our Behaviorists Courtney and Holly for sharing these awesome pics on Instagram. You can see everyone’s pics by searching the #wellnessMB hashtag. Go say hi and make new friends!
This Week’s Thoughts
I love how each of the quotes Bulaong has chosen for us reflect on different types of connection. In the first week, it was our connection to each other. In the second week it was our connection to nature. And this week, it’s our connection to time and place—namely our personal histories. I believe that a deep understanding of our histories can help determine and set the course for healthy futures, even if those histories were trying times.
A couple of years ago, I endured a difficult chapter in my own history, when a series of sequential events threatened my emotional well-being forever. I could feel myself slowly slipping away. I didn’t recognize the person in the mirror anymore, and I wasn’t sure if I’d ever see her again.
After three and a half years, I had finally come to the realization that there was no point in hoarding my dead limb of a relationship. It was killing off the rest of me, and for some reason, I had the hardest time letting go. Mainly because I had put so much time and energy into the relationship, I couldn’t imagine having to start all over again. But once it was severed, I began putting myself back together.
While I was picking up the pieces, I found out my older sister was severely sick and addicted to prescription medication. I decided to rededicate myself to helping her, using my savings money that I had loaned my ex. He had promised to pay me back, and so I waited. Eventually, nine months later, I was still waiting and my sister died…
We aren’t separate from our pasts. We never can be. Our pasts are part of our shape and form. As long as we stay connected to our truth, we can draw strength from the lessons we’ve learned. This was the hardest time of my life, but it wasn’t lost on me. I began living my life with real conviction and no longer just going through the motions.
This Week’s Challenge
Think about one difficult time in your past. Then think about the bridge—the thing that helped you move past this difficult time. What sorts of positives came from your struggle? What lessons did you learn? Did any friendships form because of this? Or did you discover a new strength you didn’t know you had? Take a moment to appreciate how far you’ve come since then, and really let your gratitude sink in.
