Rest for the Restless Heart

For the past several weeks I felt restless regarding my life, including my work and my choice to remain single. Recognizing that for me sometimes my restlessness could lead to depression, I knew I needed to do something to change this feeling. Here are the little steps I took to reach out and seek help: I wrote an email to my family to seek their inspiration and my brothers and sisters quickly replied with joyful anecdotes about their families and that lifted me. I called my friend Sheila, one of the dear Murphy family members, who just by hearing her voice lifted me and who invited me camping. Then I taught my yoga class and the students lifted me and lastly in a most blessed gift, Tim, Patty, Olivia and Emily (other Murphy family members) just by chance dropped by my home on their way home from a dinner party. The joy of their presence transformed my restless heart into a beautiful awareness that all is well. In a very spontaneous and unusual decision, I took Sheila up on her offer and went camping the next evening, a Thursday and took Friday off to enjoy a most healing night and Friday day with the Murphy gals and their children. Thank you to my family and my extended family for helping me bring rest to my heart and joy to my life and see that my cup is overflowing. Surround yourself with friends and family and if you don't have friends and family make them. Good friends and good family are the greatest gifts one can have in life, for it is through them, with them and in them that the spirit of God lives and rest is found.

Unbind, inspired by Burkle

Wearing a girdle is quite binding for the body, yet we do so to create a smooth shape. What a relief I felt when I returned home after a long day and many client meetings and removed my Spanx. Just as I sat down to my computer to catch up on the long and unending work related emails my friend Burkle called and we discussed the day's work load, weekend plans and I revealed that I was relived to be freed from those Spanx. We laughed and realized that the girdle's we wear to physically constrain our body's shape became our metaphor for life's other constraints such as frustration, suffering, tension, disappointment and unfulfilled dreams. Burkle and I agreed that often we keep the girdle on too long and not allow ourselves freedom to let go and reveal the joys that are kept bound underneath our girdles of life's stress. Burkle's final words of wisdom for me, "Grecian, feel good in your own skin with or without those Spanx!"

My Family Reunion

I am home now after spending 7 days with my family for a reunion held in beautiful Arkansas. We stayed at the Mount Sequoyah Retreat Center, an alternative destination from the Treasure Cave Lodge, which had been damaged just prior to our intended arrival. Relieved that the alternative site for 28 family members descending upon my parents in just 3 days was found, we all arrived seeking connection with one another. My family includes mom, dad, 4 sisters, 4 brothers, 4 spouses, 1 partner and 14 nieces and nephews together and one related cousin of my brother Pat's wife's family. Two of my nieces were not able to attend as one is planning her wedding and the other attending college. I feel lonely without all of the daily activities arranged and led by my sister Bridget and delicious food bought and prepared by my dad and brother Damien. Each of my family members and their spouses brings unique gifts and talents to the week. I am grateful to all and most of all for my nieces and nephews whose love for play, youthful energy and love for all of us created for me a deep connection with the spirit of the living God in each of us. My loneliness is dissipating as I write this blog entry, I feel more deeply connected and a sense of joy and love is welling up within me. Alleluia for this moment and for the moments with my family this July 2008.

The Morning Hour Has Gold In It's Mouth

My parents had a wooden circular plaque that had a beautiful rooster in the center and around it were the words: The morning hour has gold it its mouth. I often thought it was odd and not worded well nor did I understand its meaning. Ah, now as an adult it deeply resonates with me. This morning I was inspired to write notes of gratitude to several friends, put out my July 4th decorative items and get caught up with bills. It is this hour or so in the early morning that I find my most clear thinking, productive way of being and deep gratitude for the day's beginning. The morning hour has gold in its mouth and that is true especially now.