![]() Many of you are aware that this fall, we had several hurricanes hit the state of Florida. Thus far, I’ve been quite fortunate and blessed in that we (my family and I) have not suffered any real damage or trauma. We’ve lost power and internet, or lost a piece of our fence, or even bickered a bit during the preparation and stress of anticipation, but overall, our home has been the perfect fortress. For those who have suffered the major impacts of these hurricanes or any other major weather/natural disaster, it can, obviously, be life-changing: houses crumbled or flooded out, cars lost, physical injury or even death. These are not small things, for houses are really our homes, representing safety, our “nest,” our sanctuary. Cars are our transportation, and therefore our freedom & our livelihood. And our physical bodies, well, of course, hold all of it… spirit, mind, and ability to experience this world, joyfully or otherwise. For those who are in the midst of the challenges, the storm-after-the-storm, just breathing in and out can take effort. And it seems that people all over the world recognize that fact and offer the energy of kindness and blessing. In fact, before, during and after the storm, there were so many wonderful people reaching out to me! Some of these people were close friends or family. But some were social media friends. And of those, some were people with whom I almost never agree! Yet, they showed genuine concern for our safety and well-being. They offered prayers, good wishes, and advice (like putting important papers in the dishwasher, for example). I think this is the power of hurricanes… or any real concern, for that matter. We can bicker about opinions, about philosophies, about our place in the world… but when push comes to shove, when we get back to Maslow’s first two layers – basic needs, physical safety – we seem to all “get it” and agree. We are one. What if that was how we approached every situation and conversation? What if we started to put some of our annoyances, irritations, and differences into that perspective? What if we stopped over-dramatizing our own opinions when people disagree with us, and started looking for how to support those human beings underneath all the fear and rhetoric? It's not easy. Perspective is one of the most difficult things for me to maintain. My blood pressure immediately goes up, or I snap some sarcastic comment, or I roll my eyes disrespectfully, and then I have to force myself to ask, “Is this a real concern? Or is this just the result of emotions, personality, ego and opinion, as we all try to grow and find our way to enlightenment?” In our current, first-world existence, the one where we get to read and write blogs, it’s often the latter. But occasionally, a hurricane comes along. Something comes that truly does threaten our very lives, and we get to see the power of a joyful spirit, the supportive energy of generosity, and the connectedness of us all. When was the last time you felt yourself get wrapped-up in a discussion/debate/argument that limited your ability to experience the power of joy? Can you reconsider the huge blessings you are experiencing that allow you to focus your attention on such things as these? Can you see the human being on the other side of the fence? Not just the unknown, generalized group of people you mean to be ardently defending, but those names and faces with whom you are currently engaging in discussion? Who would you offer your hand in time of need? Because it’s always a time of need, and hurricanes help us see that more clearly.
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![]() After more than a decade, I am returning to my Living in Joy project! I invite you to join me. Thank you to all of you who, over the last 10 years, asked me about my book, my blogs, and my speaking engagements. Yes, I had stopped writing and talking about joy for a bit, but why? The short answer is that I suffered a bit of a crisis of conscience. How could I write about remaining in touch with my “joyful self,” when I was not feeling particularly joyful? It’s been interesting for me to reflect on this. In many aspects since 2012, my life has been wonderful. In fact, during this time, I fell in love and got married, met new friends, kept and nurtured deeper relationships with old friends, and moved to paradise (a pretty home in Florida, with a sunset view). I have been happy. But I have also been working in a few very stressful jobs, and I was not feeling particularly successful. Imposter syndrome had taken hold of me at work, seeped into my home, and made each day a struggle. I couldn’t think of this Living in Joy project without feeling overwhelmed and exhausted. It occurs to me that this is exactly what I was trying to write about and remind people to NOT do… I was so focused on the struggle and trying to get out of it that I completely lost track of the value of gratitude and the absolute release of that struggle. Just being. And reflecting. And enjoying the ride, even with the twists, turns, and 10-story drops that make me dizzy. And it took one thought, of gratitude, then another, to shake me out of it. I started getting those little, mental-emotional “hits.” Have you ever noticed them? Like angels, they must be everywhere all the time, but it’s my experience that they remain relatively invisible until you’re ready to invite them in. A friend said, “Ugh, I hate everything, right now. How do I just relax?” and I thought: I feel like I used to know this answer. And my angels agreed. A panelist at a conference said to the entire audience, “You don’t have to know everything to share what you do know,” and I thought: Hm. I can struggle to remain joyful, too, and that’s just honesty. I can share what I do know. And my angels agreed. And my boss, of all people, asked, me, “What would you do, if you could do anything?” Aha! A question I’ve asked myself and others many times, but forgot to ask for the last ten years! Yes! What WOULD I do? What has been nagging at me, and trying to get out? What iterations of me as a professional (author, nurse, teacher, singer, leader…) make me feel like the most inspired version of me: daughter, wife, and friend? And my angels reminded me. A “comeback” is when someone returns to an activity or pursuit that they were known for, previously. I may not have been very well-known for this work ten years ago. But I feel like I knew myself better. Or, rather, I was more in touch and listening more closely to my heart and the things that keep me grounded in joy. So, here I am… on the comeback trail. Ready to share, explore, win and fail. Living, again, in joy, through all the fun and fury that life has to offer. How about you? Over the last few years, have you had an inspiration that you followed? Or one that you ignored because you were “too busy”? Or one that keeps tapping you on the shoulder, but intimidates you? I’d love to hear about it! Let’s nurture our own underlying pulse of joy and inspiration again, together. What would you do, if you could do anything? |
ShellyWhether I am experiencing my life as a nurse, leader, teacher, manager, wife, daughter, friend or something else, I believe that my gift has been my ability to sort through the noise of emotions and circumstances and find joy in all things. It is my purpose to use that ability to help others realize their own strengths, successes, gifts and passions. This is how I want to spend my life. Subscribe
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