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June 1, 2021

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This has been a very emotional and heavy week. So

This has been a very emotional and heavy week. So many are struggling to just make it through each day.

When you hear someone is struggling or suicidal - what is your first reaction? The idea of losing someone this way is TERRIFYING. So many of us want to fix people who have suicidal ideation, because the idea of losing people scares us, ESPECIALLY if you have had an attempt or loss close to you. We work SO HARD to help people “STAY” and beg them to ask for help before doing something irreversible.

I’m realizing there are feelings and unhealed things within those moments - around abandonment and scary feelings of fear that come up when people around us or that we care about - feel unstable, frantic, anxious or are wrestling with feelings that feel too big to handle. At the core of it all - the choice is our own - we have the free will to stay and fight, each day.

I am so happy to be part of kicking off this series of dinners - entitled Suicide Suppers - specifically for people who struggle daily with suicidal ideation and scary feelings they worry about sharing with others for fear of judgement. People living with ideation - and making the daily choice to stay and fight 🖤

I firmly believe these are some of the moments we are missing safe connection with people. To sit with someone, NOT to fix them, not to keep them here, and not even to “make them smile” - but just to let them FEEL and BE in a space where they won’t be judged, and can talk about and explore feelings that are scary and uncomfortable - without the fear of being “committed” or “called crazy”.

THESE are the uncomfortable conversations that are so vital in creating safer spaces.

Thank you @a_sacred_passing for hosting and spearheading this event. Please swipe for more details - and spread the word as needed. 🖤

A friendly reminder to my fellow plant parents.🪴

Most likely you have at least one plant, that is doing better than you are…

I made this realization one day when I was literally watering my plants, checking their dirt for moisture levels, and scrutinizing their changing leaves and blooms - when I got a little dizzy! I realized it was after lunch and I had not had ANY water.

Here I was not missing the watering of my $20 plant from the grocery store, but not giving those same vital things to myself - and nowhere close to as consistently as I did for that plant!

How do we so easily put other people, places and things over our own vital self care?

This is your reminder to:

- Check your water levels! Water yourself! 💧
- Get some sun or go outside. Maybe close your eyes and sway in a ray of sunlight 🌞
- Let your leaves dance on a breeze 🌱

Watch yourself grow, and soon maybe YOU can become your new favorite plant 🖤

Warning: suicide discussion Did your body have a

Warning: suicide discussion

Did your body have a reaction when you read Roberts quote about his suicide plan? Did you wince and gasp at his candor in sharing the emotional details of the moment of his attempt? What happened within you? Did you immediately move to fear instead of compassion?

In reality - THESE are the conversations we need to neutralize. THESE are the conversations that need safe spaces WITHOUT the attempt to “fix” or effort to “make them stay”.

This is about creating safety and compassion to enable people to feel they can share their darkest moments, and get those words, thoughts and phrases out of their heads - and into a communal and safe space for processing. Its ok if you do not have the space to process these things with people - but it’s how we handle the communication about those moments - that can either strengthen or ruin the safe space for both parties.

Robert was the first person - back at my very first gallery exhibit for this project, that walked up to me and told me his story without hesitation. It happens to me often now - but because Robert was my first experience in a public vulnerable sharing space, I will never forget him or his courage.

Think about your saddest and or scariest moment. How easy would that be to talk to someone about…let alone someone you hardly know? Please help me celebrate Robert and his courage today. 🖤

Society is collectively grieving in different ways

Society is collectively grieving in different ways, and that's making public vulnerability more common, almost like people are boiling over and throwing up on each other.

People are finally slowing down and starting the process of sitting in their wounds and staying with themselves for the hard shit. Staying long enough to not just NAME things, but many people are also beginning the process of healing themselves, be it therapy or other shadow work methods.

It takes a level of accountability, self care and emotional maturity, that is TERRIFYING. AND remember it’s happening COLLECTIVELY. That is causing a lot of intense situations and conversations.

All this to say - remember we have no idea what someone may be going through, working on, or processing. We don’t know each others lives, as much as we may feel like we do in this “social media world”.

Lead with love. Give people the benefit of the doubt and use your curiosity to genuinely ask and communicate about things that feel difficult. You never know what Blooms are connected to which Roots, and we can all use a bit more care when dealing with tender things. 🖤

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