It’s Okay to Be Where You Are

Here in BC, covid restrictions are loosening and there is a semblance of normality that is unfamiliar after so much time within more structured protocols.   For some, it feels like a celebration that we are entering post-pandemic life.  For others, the effects of Covid-19 linger on - perhaps from personal loss, long covid, or ongoing vulnerability to the illness meaning there is no "back to normal".   As the articles below describe, not all people have been affected equally by this virus.   Why Covid-19…

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buddhas.in.jeans

Although I've been attempting to scale back on my Instagram time, one beautiful account that I've recently discovered is buddhas.in.jeans.    buddhas.in.jeans It's a lovely and heartful respite in the social media world where you will find words of inspiration and opportunities for guided meditations that remind me of what is really important in life.  Being here, now, with presence and love.   Kunal Nayyar (of Big Bang Theory fame) is the creator and content provider.  

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Trauma-Sensitive Mindfulness

As regular readers know, I regularly utilize mindfulness both in my personal and professional life.   It is often a beneficial practice for people with health conditions as it allows us to attend to the present when our minds get pulled into the past or the future.   However, mindfulness exercises are not always positive.  For trauma survivors, some of the common practices, such as meditation, can exacerbate post-traumatic stress and and create feelings of shame and distress.   David Treleaven is a trauma professional and a mindfulness practitioner…

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Declaration Deck

Today I'd like to introduce you to the Declaration Deck. This deck is a valuable tool for both clients and counsellors - it invites you to discover more about yourself and your own journey as you explore the themes and words of empowerment on each card.   Theresa Thomas at In-Power Counselling uses a trauma-informed, feminist, non-oppressive, decolonizing framework in her therapeutic approach.  When she noticed that the available resources to support her clients were lacking, she developed the Declaration Deck.  For those of us coping with…

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Let’s be gentle with ourselves (and each other)

Oops - it looks like the owner of my originally planned content has decided to take a social media break (which I wholly support - breaks can be acts of wellness too!). As we enter 2021 there is likely a mix of emotions present... hope, fear, anxiety, relief, weariness and many more. The Proactively Kind Project is a beautiful place to read messages of encouragement and validation for your experiences and mental wellness.   While the Proactively Kind Project is taking a break, here is another of…

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Between Two Lines

I have a new recommendation for those of you who live with diabetes or care for someone with diabetes.   Levi is a man living with Type 1 diabetes who shares helpful videos and posts about life with Type 1.  He has a great balance of humour and hope that is relatable to many of us who navigate the ups and downs of diabetes. I invite you to explore his offerings: Between Two Lines Instagram YouTube  

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Today

Today I have a headache.  I didn't sleep well so I'm tired.  My blood sugars are all over the map.  And I'm feeling saddened by the state of the world. So today I am giving myself permission to go slow.  To not accomplish everything on my list.  To make breathing, a cup of tea, and listening to the birds outside my window the only items to be added to my to-do list.     I am for once heeding words that I regularly share with clients.  "You…

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Calm Presence

In the midst of the current world situation, it can be a challenge to maintain the usual routines and strategies that soothe us.  Be kind to yourself and those you love - we will get through this and it will end.  It is understandable if you are finding it difficult to manage your mental health - we don't have a template for what is going on and uncertainty is hard for all humans.  For some tips and tools, I like the resources and offerings shared here:…

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Care in the Small Things

I love this quote.  For one, it's simply true for those of us with Type 1 Diabetes - raising a low blood sugar is an emergency and a juice box is a common option for treatment.   Even more so, however, this quote reminds me that there are so many different challenges people face and just as many ways to nurture ourselves through those challenges.  Though we may not know the specifics of another's journey or why they are making the choices they make, we can still…

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Rising Strong™ in 2020

As the end of the year approaches, many of us begin to reflect on the year that has passed and what we would like to see in the year ahead.   If a health concern is part of your story, please consider joining me, along with Karen Gilbert, an Occupational Therapist, a certified Daring Way™ facilitator, and an all around wonderful human being, as we explore ways to revisit our stories and choose how we write the endings.   Rising StrongTM for Health Please visit the Facebook event…

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