A Healing Toolbox

If you’ve been reading this blog for the past ~18 months, you’ll know I tend to not post or interact online when I’m not feeling well due to Ms. MS.

I could go into the details of why I haven’t posted for two weeks, what makes things difficult at times, or rant about this crappy disease, but instead I thought it may be more helpful (for me AND you) to tell you about some of the tools that have helped me make it to another gorgeous sunrise.

Sound good?

Climb aboard!

My tool box components listed below are in no particular order.

1. Meditation/Mindfullness

Meditation is my life saver. Many tools and techniques are available to learn how to meditate if you’re new to the practice. If you’re a pro, I encourage you to deepen your practice. An abundance of books, MP3s, and such are available at your fingertips.

A Few Favorites

∞  Sandra writes about meditation on occasion, providing excellent tips and discussion. I enjoy her site overall and she draws a lively, interactive community. She’s simply one soulful, beautiful, amazing woman. Pop over to her site, have a lookie-see, and say hello.

∞  Engage this two-minute video to stop you in your tracks and help you hit the mental “reset” button: click here for two minutes of bliss.

∞  Chanting is a powerful form of meditation. As a musician, maybe I’m naturally drawn to vocalization and vibrational healing, but the vocal chord involvement and the natural control of the breath that ensues adds power to a beautiful practice. Here is a gorgeous video that always brings peace to my heart and is a good place to start if you’re interested in this practice.

2. Friends/Connection

If you know someone is going through a tough time, please connect with him or her.

From my perspective, I can’t always respond or interact, but letting a person know that you’re popping by to say hello and that a response is not expected or needed, you’re adding bright light to a life. There’s something about receiving emails, cards, real letters, and even txts that can brighten my day. (Heartfelt thanks to those who’ve done this for me, I can’t thank you enough.)

3. Art

Creative endeavors can trigger powerful healing experiences. Seeing—or creating if you feel up to it—amazing photography, design, and the like can change one’s world in unexpected ways. It absolutely does for me.

A Few Favorites

∞  Caroline of Constantly Evolving blows my mind in so many ways. She posts a new photo almost every day and I love her style, both writing and photographic composition.

∞  Ken Kaminesky shoots travel photography. The images are ethereal, unique, and downright yummy. I miss traveling, and he brings adventure to my screen, places I wanted to visit, and reminds me of trips I’ve taken. One of his photos recently graced the cover of National Geographic (yowza!), but I love this photo of the “Wall for Peace” that N.G. had to pass over due to graphic/cover design constraints. Oh la la.

∞  Hugh Macleod is a cartoonist and the author of his blog Gaping Void. He employs an interesting “doodle” style (my term) to create fascinating art joined with meaningful thoughts.

4. Humor

At times, no amount of colorful imagery, chanting, compassion, or the like can bring me out of the “Well of Lost Hope.” It’s then I need to laugh! Bring it on like Donkey Kong!

A Few Favorites

∞  Just this morning, I happened across this video. I’m not usually into “cute animal stuff” and not especially for the purpose of making me laugh, but this one make me giggle in just the right way. Plus, it’s really well done, unique, and just plain cute! Trust me on this one.

Playful Kitten in Slo Mo (click here to go directly to YouTube if having trouble viewing via my blog)

∞  I am a sucker for stand-up comedy. Taking a few moments to troll through some of your favorites can completely shift your energy, and might make all the difference. I recently watched the brilliant comedian Maz Jobraini, I laugh out loud watching his comedy.

Here’s a sample (click here to watch directly via You Tube):

∞  Purchase an old-fashioned hard copy of comics from your favorite cartoonist. I have a few of Gary Larson’s collections. I always find something to make me laugh.

A Final Thought

I am aware all these techniques are simply different types of distractions. However, when the mind is pulled from a darker place into the light, with each pull the soul becomes aware that suffering is a state of mind.

This awareness may not change the fact that you physically feel like you were ran over by a truck, that you feel you haven’t slept in three days (but you woke up only moments prior), or that you are longing to participate in activities which formerly brought joy into your heart.

But, each two-minute respite can slowly, over time, rebuild our frame of mind regarding how we perceive our challenges.

The sun greeted me this morning with a smile. And, I pass that smile to you today. ~xo

**Post Script, head over to Tim’s blog today and check out the goofy way people “save” (i.e., dibs) shoveled parking spots over in Chicago, IL. Pretty funny and awesome, too. A mini preview:

Share your thoughts about anything and everything, if you’re so inclined. What’s your idea of a powerful way to bring joy into your day? Have a two-minute tip to share?

Also, I would be gratefully humbled if you chose to subscribe to receive updates from my blog. You can have new posts emailed to your inbox or receive updates via RSS. (The subscription has no costs associated, and I gave up SPAM when I became a vegetarian, so no worries about receiving that in your inbox.)
~Namaste, friends. _/|\_