Christmas 2021 did not go as planned for my family.  I’m quite sure I am not alone. For starters, winter storms prevented us from having the “White” Christmas we had been looking forward to at our mountain cabin.  Then, the “Omicron” variant invaded my home in the form of a positive test on Christmas day for my grown daughter. Our Christmas afternoon was spent on a Zoom call from my daughters’ basement quarantine as she spent the next five days in isolation. Yes….we were that family. On top of it all, it’s been a frantic search for rapid “home” covid tests, which are in short supply. I’m hoping to salvage some vestige of a holiday “in person” with my daughter, as soon as we can get a negative test.

I’m very humbled by this experience, and I’ve spent a good deal of time feeling depressed about it. As John Lennon  is famous for saying “Life is what happens when you’re making other plans”. How true that is. Generally speaking, I’m pretty good at finally accepting “what is”, and making the best of it…but this year in the course of finally accepting “what is” I noticed something else…something unexpected.

Unexpected gifts that are wrapped up in initial disappointment

As the days went on and my daughter continued with her quarantine, I became the chief cook who carefully prepared food trays that I left at the bottom of the stairs.  Yes, this is how it works. To my surprise, I discovered I enjoyed this daily task. My daughter, now 33 years old, appreciated my culinary efforts and this was rewarding because of my history with her.  You see, during the teenage years, due to a number of difficult power struggles between us….my daughter did not allow me to feed and nurture her in the way it was happening now. I felt constantly rejected by her. So, this new dynamic was healing for us both.  We did not talk about it.  We just felt it.

It is never too late to heal the mistakes, miscommunications, and wounds from the past

This is the lesson I take from this holiday of constant disappointment. As so often happens, my family did not get what we had been expecting but in the end I at least, got so much more. 

These are the “gifts” we should be always on the lookout for, I believe. It’s not the big stuff that we plan for, look forward to, and expect to happen.  It’s the small, unexpected, unsolicited moments of grace, love, and forgiveness that can take your breath away.

As 2022 rolls around, I wish that all of you could experience these moments…the ones you don’t see coming. Notice, savor, and treasure these moments. You never know when they will happen again.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!! 

Dating these days is not for the “faint of heart”. Sure, we have an abundance of dating apps to choose from, so availability and choice is not really the issue. It’s just that the process itself is difficult. There are so many times when it just doesn’t work out. This is hard on the old “ego” which inevitably is sensitive to the “sting” of rejection. Its just not a comfortable feeling to either be “rejected” or to do the “rejecting”.

What to do?

Take heart, take a deep breath, and consider a few “tips” that will enhance the possibility of finally getting it “right” this time. Paying attention to these “tips” will not guarantee that nobody gets hurt, but it will streamline the process of finding the right “match” in terms of someone who is both right for you and ready for long-term commitment.

Do A “Readiness” assessment on your potential partner

Many people entering the dating market whether online or in person, tend to focus on their own “readiness” to date. This is important, of course, but it’s also essential to really assess the “readiness” of the person you may be meeting for the first time. So, as you enter into those early conversations, it makes sense to focus on the other person. When you have an “external” focus, and are curious about someone other than yourself, you can begin to get a deeper sense of who this person is. Do they “open up” easily to you? Are they really ready for a long-term commitment or is there “unfinished business” from previous relationships?

Listening…should be the goal of your interactions with someone new. Remember that words are easy. Almost everyone who signs up for a dating app knows the “right” words to say, but do a persons actions match their words?
Figuring this out means digging a little deeper!

Is your potential partner curious about you?
As you begin to dig a little deeper into understanding who you are with, notice if they are equally curious about you. This dating process is like a dance, with each of you taking the lead at different points in the conversations. Does this process feel like a dance with equal participation from both of you?

Last but not least, take your time
Anything worthwhile having is definitely worthwhile waiting for, so be patient…with yourself and with the process.

Close to forty years ago I experienced my first Thanksgiving and Christmas without my mother. I had given birth to my first child right when my mother was first diagnosed, so my very ill mother barely knew her grandchild. For me the grief was like a “double whammy” that year. First I was losing my mother, and secondly I was losing forever the possibility of a maternal grandmother for all children I might someday have…including the one I now had. I was inconsolable.

I bring this up because the holidays always hold a melancholy feeling for me, as well as a feeling for the “joy” of the season. My childhood Christmases were magical, so I have strived over the years to re create that magic for my children, and now grandchildren. But it’s undeniable. The joy is always tempered with the grief. It is a grief that catches me by surprise at unexpected times when emotion is high and feelings emerge from my unconscious.

Welcome Your Feelings…whatever they are
What I have learned over the years is that the place in our hearts where feelings reside does not discriminate between “good/happy” feelings, and “bad/uncomfortable” feelings. When your heart is “opened up” all the feelings spill over with the demand to be felt and acknowledged. It can feel overwhelming but in fact, it is quite survivable and even beautiful if you allow it to be. I’ve tried, every holiday season, to reflect upon the complicated feelings evoked by the season and this practice has served me well.

Here are some “tips” based upon my reflections:

• If you have experienced any “loss” in your life (and who of us haven’t?)”anticipate that some sad feelings will come up during the holiday season. For me, its memories of my mother and sister that arise, but it could be grandparents, siblings, or a beloved pet.
• Make time for reflection about people/pets you have lost. Share those reflections/memories with others
• Try not to get so “caught up” in crazy merriment that you leave no quiet and reflective times
• Above all, enjoy and remember the moments with the people you love whoever they are.

If there are folks you need to forgive or ask for forgiveness from, now is also the time to consider doing this.

There is no time like the present

The Guest House

This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.
A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.
Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they’re a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still, treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.
The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
meet them at the door laughing,
and invite them in.
Be grateful for whoever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.

Jalaluddin Rumi

When I was in my fifties, I’d have conversations with friends, family members, and colleagues who were just entering their seventies.  I noticed that for many of them their own mortality was becoming very real. I’d listen of course, and do my best to empathize with them, but secretly I would be thinking: “Not me…when I reach my seventies it will be different”.  “I’m going to be vibrant, accepting, and full of gratitude for the “privilege” of attaining this milestone.

HA!!   Now that I’m 71 everything looks different to me.  It’s such a lesson in “you don’t know till you get there”. I too am now facing some very existential questions like “Who am I now?” “What is my purpose moving forward?’ I’m having trouble recognizing and valuing the “old” woman I now see in the mirror.  I’m aghast at the arrogance of my 50-year-old self to think I would not go through this.

What I have come to realize is that “ageism” has internalized within me.  I preach “self acceptance” all the time but in truth I have not fully accepted my own aging self.  I fight it.  I too try to appear “younger” and am flattered when people say, weather truthfully of not, “you don’t look your age”. Here is what I’ve discovered about how to reach a higher degree of self acceptance, and acceptance of the reality of my own “third act”:

Do A Life Review

As the decades fly by we often find ourselves forgetting all of our accomplishments, as well as all the experiences that led us to the place we are now. For me, it’s been really helpful to go back as far as I can remember and reflect upon the “turning points” that led me in one direction as opposed to another.  Through this exercise I’ve been able to acknowledge that I’ve surmounted some pretty big obstacles to be where I am now.  Now I can quietly celebrate myself as I remember this long journey.

It’s very affirming.

Reflect Upon Your Unfinished Business

In my life review, along with remembering all that led me to where I am now, I’m also remembering the things I kind of “let go” along the way. What about my ideas regarding learning guitar or beading?  For whatever reason, I let those things go. There are also friends and the desire for certain experiences that I “let go.” Now is the time to reclaim all of my “unlived” life.

Revisit The Possibility Of   A Spiritual Or Contemplative Practice

This can mean anything from formal religion to meditation to taking long walks in nature or gazing at the stars.  It means refining the “practice” of “being” rather than always “doing” something.  It means listening to beautiful music and/or doing anything that puts you in awe of the Universe and your place in it. 

In my view this practice can be the capstone of a life worth living. Its “zooming out” to a larger perspective and reaching a place of acceptance for all my life has been.

I’m working on this part, and I like to think I will be engaging in this practice up until the very end 

Recently a member of my extended family died. It was unexpected…at least by me. Truth be told, my relationship with this particular person has been rocky over the years so it is not surprising that I would not be the first person to get this news. However, it did surprise me that I experienced an enormous wave of regret when I realized I would never again lay eyes upon a person in whom I had invested so many strong emotions over the span of 30 years. That’s a long time for anyone to be “holding on tight” to feelings about being “badly treated” by somebody. Also, if I’m being honest, I had in recent months wondered if I should make an attempt to reach out in the spirit of “putting this whole mess to rest” in some way. Intellectually I knew that I had contributed to the impasse in this relationship. I also knew that it would be good for me to “own up” to my contribution and apologize for it…regardless of weather an apology was forthcoming from the other side. And yet…I resisted. I was able to convince myself of my righteous position as the “aggrieved party”

Everything looks and feels very different to me now. I now understand the concept of “finishing business” with people while they are still alive…if you have the opportunity to do so. It is common to hear that we should always remember to tell our loved ones that we love them because you actually never know…right? From my perspective now, I’m thinking it’s equally important to finish more complicated business with people with whom we have had more difficult times. It will save you from a more “complicated bereavement when they die.

I’m not saying its always possible, or even advisable, to reach out to people who have been obviously abusive and toxic to us. Sometimes its really better to cut people out of our lives completely .I have a few of those people as well.

This was not the case with the person I recently lost. There was room to find peace and reconciliation in this relationship. For many reasons, it would have to be my initiative that broke our stalemate. There was no risk of anything bad happening to me. Only good would have come for both of us. I wish I had reached out, and I will next time

Its difficult to live comfortably in the “hopefully soon to be” post pandemic era.  We are bombarded these days with mixed messages about what is going on with Public health no matter where we live, and this confusion affects every aspect of our lives.  “Who can we trust?”  “Who should we believe?”  When contemplating all of this, it occurred to me that we are currently all “called” to develop two key character traits as we navigate current circumstances.  We must have faith and we must have patience.

At the most basic level, the faith we are called to have right now is the faith that we will all is ok.  We will survive this challenging time…and maybe even learn to thrive. It’s an existential faith really, but where do we get it?  Where can we find it?

One way to call upon faith is though religious or spiritual practice.  That works well for some folks.  For others, developing faith might begin with a process of “remembering”…that is remembering what you can and do have faith in. Do you have faith in yourself for example, or do you have basic faith in your primary relationships or the ability of the sun to rise and set each day? Believing in all of these things is actually an act of “faith” so take time to remember the miracle of everyday life…every day.

Along with this…you might try gratitude, as this will strengthen your faith as you give thanks.

As for Patience, it can be challenging to be patient when you feel the ground literally shifting under your feet as you listen to the rules change about what you can and cannot do. It can make your head spin to try and keep up with it.

To develop patience, I would also suggest the practice of remembering. Try remembering all of the many things you have accomplished in your life and how it often takes time.  Remember the old adage, “All good things come to those who wait”.  Also, keep in mind that the ability to “wait” patiently for the results you seek, also referred to as the ability to “delay gratification”, is highly correlated with long term happiness, long life, and success.  Yes, it’s true. Studies bear this out.

So, take a moment. Remember all that you have faith in and focus on developing and expanding this faith. Then, be patient with your world, and be patient with yourself.  Give thanks for all of your blessings and dream confidently of better days ahead.

When we are surrounded with quality relationships, we live longer and happier lives.  What is sometimes overlooked though, is that we must also strive to have a healthy relationship with ourselves.  How do you feel about yourself?  Do you like the way you show up in the world?  Do you like who you are becoming on this wild and crazy ride called life? Are you “growing” or are you “stagnating” on your journey? 

It many sound trite, but it is also true that if you don’t like yourself, you are making it harder for others to like, and want to be around you.

We hear a lot, I believe, about people who “don’t live up to their potential”.  Maybe this was how you were viewed. The question then becomes, “What is my potential?”  “Who gets to determine this, and how do I know when I get there?” These are all thorny and complicated questions to be sure, and can only be answered when you spend some time discovering your true and “authentic” self. Only then can you set out goals for yourself and do your best to reach those goals.  

It becomes a problem, I think, when you have expectations for yourself that are unrealistically high, and/or too informed by others who constantly tell you they expect “great things” from you.  This is where the concept of perfectionism comes in. “Perfectionistic” thinking means that everything you do must be “perfect”, and that anything “less” than perfect is, by definition, not “good enough”.  Of course, nothing is ever perfect so it becomes a set up for never feeling that you are good enough…at anything you do.  Also, if you have “internalized” an inner “critic” that is constantly judging and comparing yourself to others, you can end up feeling quite depressed, hopeless, and anxious.  It is a very high cost to pay.

So…how can we deal with our “inner critic” and perfectionistic thinking?

A good place to start would be to change your relationship to the concept of failure.  If you start a project and it doesn’t work the way you had hoped, have some patience with yourself, and make an assessment of how to do it differently next time. Expect failure as an important part of learning.  Try again.

As a bonus of learning to expect failure, you will find yourself trying new things that you would not have tried before. Often Perfectionistic people restrict their activities to things they “know they are good at”, and therefore cut themselves off from enriching and fun experiences.

When you take the requirement of “perfectionism off of the table for doing things with others, you will also find you have more harmonious relationships.  This is because you don’t have to be the “best” at everything.  You can let others “win” sometimes and be ok with that. You can even celebrate with them .You can, in fact, strive to be more like someone you admire.  

So…let yourself off that “perfectionistic” hook.  Concentrate instead on the experience of doing whatever it is you are doing. Enjoy yourself and enjoy being with others in a truly happy state of mind. 

Perhaps the most important part of re-emerging from our “caves” now that the pandemic restrictions are lifting is reconnecting with friends and family. Many people have commented to me in recent weeks that they have come to a new understanding of the importance of relationships in their lives. Yes…. we can maintain our connections through our devices, but its not the same. We need the touch and the feel of others in our lives. We need the “in person” “relational field” if you will.

But what about the people in our lives who have “wronged” us in one way or another? What about the ex spouse who betrayed us, or the friend who let us down and hurt us deeply? In short…what do we do with people who we just “‘can’t forgive” In our own minds we may be thinking that what has been done to us is just “unforgiveable”. We may also believe that if we forgive it means we are agreeing to “forget”. (Hence the old adage “forgive and forget”) We don’t want to forget because it leaves us vulnerable and lets the other person “off the hook”. Ironically, the other “party” may not feel “on the hook” at all. This is all in our mind a good deal of the time

I’d like to suggest that a far better strategy for letting go of all the hurt and resentment we may be feeling about another person who has hurt us is to “forgive and remember.” Regardless of whether you ever want to see this person again, the “forgiveness “ is within us. It’s an active internal process which involves doing a clear eyed and honest inventory of what actually happened and then making a conscious decision to “let go” all of the anger and resentment that is so unhealthy for us in so many ways.

Here are some steps you can take to facilitate this process:

1. Take some time to remember exactly what happened in as much detail as you can. If you are still holding a lot of anger, try to move to a more neutral perspective where you can ask yourself: Did I contribute in any way, large or small, to “co-creating” this situation? By “contributing”, this might even mean sticking around for the abuse, or being in denial about warning signs.
2. If you are able to identify your “contribution” forgive yourself for whatever part you played. Have empathy for yourself for whatever you might have done to “land yourself” in this spot
3. Once you can “forgive” yourself it becomes easier to forgive the other person involved. Perhaps you can find some empathy for this person and begin to understand their “side” of this story.
4. Congratulate yourself for the strength of character it took to go through this process. Now you can feel in an empowered position where you can make a decision. Do I want this person in my life? Do I want this person to occupy space in my psyche? Its up to you. This person could be absolutely despicable and “toxic” to you on every level. But still…have you learned something? That in itself is valuable, so focus on that…rather than the person.

One final caveat to keep in mind: It never works to make your forgiveness contingent on the other person’s apology. (You may think they “owe you” an apology”) For one thing, they may never feel they need to apologize. For another thing, this means you are giving the other person power over your timing and your process. Take your power back.

So, come out of your cave. Embrace everyone you love. And maybe, just maybe this can also be the time to take a look at unresolved relationships from the past. You have the power to achieve resolution.

Human beings are remarkably adaptable. During times of crisis, such as wars, man made and natural disasters, and, yes, pandemics…we mobilize. Our collective human “brain” registers very quickly that there is a very real existential “threat”, and we learn to reset our brains to adapt to a new set of rules. The “rules” often permeate every facet of our daily lives…how we live, how we work, and how we play. Neuroscientists refer to the brain’s ability to adapt as “neuroplasticity”. This is an amazing skill that has allowed our species to survive and thrive.

Just as we have survived many crises in the past, much of the world (not all) is now emerging slowly out of the covid pandemic. We abide by “shelter in place” and masking directives, and we have learned to connect via video devices. However, we have also “learned”, I would argue, that we should fear large indoor gatherings…including family gatherings.

But now…now things have changed again. We have the vaccine! The world is opening up and we are encouraged to participate more fully in life again. Among people I know, however, it is not so easy. We are fearful. Our wonderfully neuroplastic brains are registering “threat” when we see a large unmasked crowd. Conversations about vaccine status are awkward…but necessary. Some of us find ourselves retreating into the safe “cave” of our home where we know we can control the environment. So what can we do? We want to get back into life again, but we are scared. Here are some thoughts on the subject:

Be patient with yourself, and others. Discuss your fears as you listen to the fears of others. We are all different and have our own individualized timetable. Respect the differences.

Stay true to yourself. Don’t compromise any of your own feelings and beliefs for the comfort of others.

Make an incremental plan to re-engage. The experience of covid was traumatic, so you are now in the post traumatic phase where you gradually re-expose yourself to the things you would never do during the “shelter in place” phase.

Know that the longer you “cave” in your safe space the harder it will be to break out. The danger of “sheltering in” for too long is that “agoraphobia” (fear of leaving home) can develop.

Be more physically active as you play outdoors more. Nothing dissipates stress better than physical exercise, and it creates “feel good” endorphins as well.

See if you can identify unexpected “perks” to this covid experience. For me it was learning to use Zoom and exploring the regional parks. What about you?

Laugh and Play. Last but not least, engage in activities with others that bring you joy and laughter. Nothing resets the brain better than sharing the good feelings of joy with loved ones. Your neurotransmitters will be flooded with endorphins, and you will realize you are not alone…far from it.

AS WE HAVE ALL SUFFERED TOGETHER SO SHALL WE ALL HEAL TOGETHER

What does “Trauma” actually mean? A good working definition could be “any experience that comes our way too fast, too soon, and too much”. As human beings we are equipped physically and psychologically to adapt to a certain level of change in our environment, but if the change comes at us “too fast”, too suddenly, and with too much intensity, our systems become overwhelmed. The “overwhelm” is not really about the situation, per se, its more about our ability to react to the situation.

The Pandemic Is A Collective Trauma

Using the above definition, it is clear that a global pandemic fits the definition of “Collective trauma”. None of us has ever experienced anything like this before, and it is still going on with no clear end in sight. For over a year the predictability and security of our daily lives has been disrupted, and we feel afraid and uncertain. It is not a comfortable feeling.

Trauma is a condition of both body and mind.

Here is the thing. The body and the mind are meant to work together as a “unifying” whole in order for us to be perfectly prepared when we sense a “threat” in our environment. In days of old, when “early man” had to move quickly away from the very real and immediate threat of a wild animal, for example, our nervous system went into hyper drive. Extra adrenaline and cortisol were able to curse quickly through our neurotransmitters and provide us with energy. Once the threat was gone, the adrenaline and cortisol were rapidly dissipated. This is the way it’s meant to work. Fast forward to today’s world and the very real and ongoing existential “threat” of global pandemic, and we see a build up of the “stress” hormones of adrenaline and cortisol. We find ourselves in constant fear and hypervigalent “readiness” for a perceived potential catastrophe

So, how can we “recalibrate” our nervous systems to deal with the stress, which has become our collective trauma?

The answer, I believe, lies in all the ways we can begin to “soothe” mind and body. Soothing is achieved through physical touch, for example, so incorporating multiple experiences of physical “touch” can be vital to our well-being. This can mean simple “hugs” (when safe), with your friends and loved ones, or it may mean a massage, or a hot bath or shower. These “sensory” experiences can help to dissipate the stress that is stored in the body so we can reintegrate body and mind again. Also important is plenty of restful and restorative sleep. Even if you are alone, you can practice good “sleep hygiene and you can establish a physical connection with yourself by laying a hand over your heart to feel your heartbeat, or giving yourself a simple squeeze. These simple gestures are life affirming and grounding. They can be very important.

So, take some time with yourself to think of all the ways you can make a better physical connection with yourself and with your world. In the end its all about the connections.

It may sound trite, but its still true. We will get through this together.