Love, Loss, and the Timeless Power of Remembering the Good Times

Today I find myself reflecting on the love and life of my mom, "G-ma" - she would have turned 94 today, August 5th.  She was absolutely amazing!  The strongest woman I ever knew, spunky AF and was beautiful inside and out.  Although I miss my #errandswithgma days, I realize how very luck I am to have been gifted spending so much time with her right up 'til the end.  For those who have loved and lost, I hope you find solace in the words you read below...

Introduction:

In the journey of life, there are few emotions as profound as love and loss. These two powerful forces shape our existence, leaving indelible imprints on our hearts. Amidst the inevitable pain and sorrow that accompany loss, we find solace and healing in cherishing the beautiful memories and the good times shared with those we hold dear. This article delves into the profound connection between love, loss, and the healing power of reminiscing about the cherished moments that live on forever in our hearts.

Love: The Foundation of Life's Tapestry

Love is the essence of life's tapestry, interweaving the threads of compassion, empathy, and affection. Whether it be the love between partners, family members, or close friends, it is the force that binds us together, offering support and joy. Love brings laughter to the darkest of days and gives us strength during life's trials. It is a gift that enriches our lives and makes the world a more compassionate place.

Loss: The Bitter Reality

Alas, life is a delicate balance of joy and sorrow, and loss is an inevitable part of the human experience. When we lose someone dear to us, whether through death or the end of a relationship, grief and pain can engulf us. It is during these times of sorrow that we are confronted with the fragility of life and the profound impact our loved ones have on us.

Remembering the Good Times: Healing Through Nostalgia

While the pain of loss may seem unbearable, it is crucial to remember that love endures beyond the physical presence of a person. One of the most powerful tools in healing from loss is the ability to reminisce about the good times shared with those we have lost. By revisiting cherished memories, we keep the essence of our loved ones alive within us.

Reminiscing about the good times allows us to:

1. Celebrate the Beauty of Shared Experiences: Remembering the laughter, adventures, and tender moments shared with our loved ones brings joy and gratitude for the time we had together.

2. Find Comfort in Nostalgia: Nostalgia is a balm for the wounded soul. The memories of love and joy we hold dear offer comfort in times of grief and solace in our darkest hours.

3. Keep Their Legacy Alive: As we remember the positive impact our loved ones had on our lives, we perpetuate their legacy, ensuring that they live on in our thoughts and actions.

4. Learn Valuable Lessons: Reflecting on the good times can also help us glean important life lessons from our experiences with loved ones, guiding us to be better individuals.

Conclusion:

Love and loss are interconnected threads in the tapestry of life. As we navigate the complexities of grief, the memories of the good times become a lifeline, providing solace and healing. Though we may feel the pain of loss, the beauty of love is that it transcends the boundaries of time and space. It is in remembering the good times that we find strength to move forward, carrying the legacy of our loved ones in our hearts.

In times of sorrow, let us take refuge in the memories, embrace the love, and celebrate the profound impact of those we have lost. For it is in the enduring power of love that we find solace, hope, and the courage to face life's uncertain journey.

Seasons...

And I don't mean Winter, Spring, Summer or Fall.  I am referring to the seasons of life.  Seasons of friendship, seasons of career, seasons of family.  You get it.

We all know the saying friends come into and out of our lives for a reason a season or a lifetime.  Really the same thing happens in all we do.  Getting married, you become someone's wife or husband or partner.  You have children and you are mom or dad.  You get a career and you are someone's employee, or boss.  Even C-suite employees report to someone.  If you are a business owner, you may have a board of directors you are in step with - or you are answering to your customers or clients.  Some of these will be for a reason - for a season or maybe a lifetime.

When we are all of these things to everyone, all the time. i.e. wife, mom, employee, business owner.  Are you losing the core of who you are?  Are you getting lost in the hustle and bustle?  Lord knows as the years pass, the hustle and bustle gets more hustley and bustley ;) 

Don't get lost.  Don't lose your identity of who you are at your core.  Remember what you need - to feel whole - to feel alive.  If we give too much of ourselves away, there will be nothing left for you and that is why when we step into our final season - retirement, we sometimes feel sad or lost.

As the month of June arrives - you see many college graduations with children becoming adults and going out on their own.  Mom's and dad's - yet proud, sometimes become saddened with their kids leaving the nest.  Empty nest syndrome is a real thing and it is ok to feel sad, but...  (you knew there would be a but! ;)  do not lose yourself in this sadness!  Try to replace the sadness with excitement that your kids are going forth into the world with all you have taught them, all you have shown them.  Our job is to guide them and encourage them to become successful and contributing members of society.  (Sometimes that works, lol sometimes it does not, lol)  Remember the last posts on "choice"  well, your children also have the ability to choose.  Let them live.  Let them experience, and I dare you to do the same!

What were things in your world you used to love to do that got pushed to the side or put on a back burner while you cared for your children?  while you worked countless hours at a job (you may or may not have even liked).  Hobbies you used to love, friends you used to see?  Live. Your. Life.  Become the person you have always wanted to become - or reignite the passion for yourself you used to have.  I always share with clients - it is NEVER too late! 

Whether you are still mom and dad - or now maybe caring for your own mom and dad - or you are finding you are identifying too much with a job, take a deep breath - close your eyes, and picture the perfect you!  Connect with your higher self (that perfect version of yourself) and move towards that.  One small step at a time still moves you forward.

Don't get lost in someone else's dream, make sure you are living your own.  And if you are?  Kudos to you!  We are very few and far between - so I ask this of you - reach out to a friend you see may be in need...  give them a hug, spend some time, lend an ear...  Talk to them about the wonderful person you know they are, and remind them - not to get lost...

We are all in this together.

Worth repeating...

Hello and Happy May!  We have talked about "choosing happiness" before I know, but this post will be truly about all the choices available to you.  Stay with me.

This is not only about choosing happiness in general - but looking at the larger picture.  Who you surround yourself with, the foods you decide to eat, the products you decide to use.  

It. All. Matters.

Those who know me, know I have severe allergies.  So much so, that I have to be extremely careful what I eat, drink as well as products I use or even supplements I take.

When you have to look at every little thing with a very discerning eye, you learn allot!  You are always investigating, trying to figure out what the best options are, for not only yourself, but others.  Maybe you family?  Friends?  Loved ones?  Those also suffering some of the same symptoms?

Knowledge is indeed wealth, and as I get older, and wiser, I thoroughly enjoy learning more and more about how to optimize my health, and in turn, help others.

Choose wisely.  Recognize when your body is letting you know when something is not quite right.  Pay attention to the signs.  Your body is a wealth of knowledge and gives you signals.  You just have to be willing to listen and notice.  Remember to get quiet enough to listen.  The more you pay attention the more signs you will see.  It is quite interesting, magical really.  All so you can bring your body into complete balance and master this adventure we call life.

Everyones goal is to live a happy and healthy life.  It's never too late to start.

April - came and went...

Yes, April came and went with no post.  I had two destination weddings and a pretty big Women's Conference to plan for!  When I tell you to be sure to take the time you need for yourself, well, let's just say - I practice what I preach!  ;)  <3 

Let me share with you what my April looked like:

Sunrise to sunset and everything in between - yes, April was a good month indeed.

Take time to enjoy yourself and live life with no regrets!  Lord knows I do!  ;)

Enjoy life!

Be well,
Mary-Anne

Your personal Mission Statement

We all know our companies mission statement, or at least we should.  What about your personal mission statement?  Not straight goals, not how you want your epitaph to read, (although these do play a part in what your mission statement will be), but a mission driven statement on how you are going to live your own life to it's absolute fullest.

With business, it is all about serving their customers.  The companies vision plus core values and how they benefit others.  What if you were to think long and hard on what the perfect version of you should look like? How you would like to feel?  What success looks like for you?   How your success would benefit you and your future?  What the perfect version of you would look and feel like?   What could you come up with?

With the Spring equinox comes new beginnings, (Happy Spring btw ;) what about springing into the new season with a fresh new look at you!  Start with values - what is most important to you?  Take a look at these:

"My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style" -- Maya Angelou*

"To make people happy" -- Walt Disney, Founder of Walt Disney Productions*

Mine is simple and to the point...  "Inspiring those seeking inspiration.  Pure intentions.  Positive results."   One of my main pillars of happiness for me is giving back and service to others, that fills my tank.  I spent many years working with individuals who were not truly looking to make a change.  They would come for sessions, pay me to work with them, but they were not ready.  Personally, it did not feel right taking their money, and I would let them know I didn't feel they were in the right place, and to call me when they felt ready to make the necessary shifts.  You know these types of folks.  They go through the motions, but really do not want to change, to get better, to become more effective individuals; they are stuck in the proverbial rut...  disguised as a groove.  You have them in your world every day.  They like complacency.  And that's ok.  That works for them.  I work with those that complacency does not work for; folks that strive for more - that's where I come in.  Bottom line...  I love helping people get to happy.

So back to your statement.  You saw a couple of examples.  What type of person are you looking to be?  What type of life are you looking to live?  Create a statement that not only inspires you to become that person; to live that life, but truly how you want people to remember you.  Like a I stated before, goals and an epitaph come into play, but this is the statement of how you will live your life to it's fullest, not simply how you will be remembered.  What will, every time you read it, help you become and remain the best you possible?  What would living your best life look like?

Have fun with it!  Good luck and share down below, if you feel ever so compelled, on what your mission statement is for you!

Mary-Anne Schelb is a holistic health consultant that inspires those seeking inspiration.  She utilizes positive intentions which produce positive results for her clients.  She has spent the past two decades helping people get out of their own way.  Let her help you navigate your own path to...  Intentional Calm...  

*There are some great sites out there for your own personal mission statement.  While I was researching, I found a couple of examples that I pulled from this site:  blog.hubspot.com/marketing/personal-mission-statement 

Spring is in the air... or is it?

We have been very fortunate and have had a very mild winter, then BAM!  Snow...  What the ....  ??  And these temperatures??  Below freezing??  Really??  Yes! We are realizing it is indeed still winter and that's ok.

Spring is coming, no need to worry.  Spring always comes once the winter is through with us...  but - don't waste the winter.  The winter is a time for preparation.  A time for gathering information, so when the spring comes, we are ready!  

Ready for what you ask?  That, only you can answer.  What are you looking for?  What are you looking to do?  To change?  To accomplish?  

Something to ponder...

Maybe you have always wanted to write a book.  Do some investigating on what it would take.  What about taking a watercolour class since you always wanted to paint your own abstract to place above your couch.  Yes, you!  What if you always wanted to run a 5k.  There are apps for that!  Couch to 5k!

So many options, with so little time left to winter.  People hibernate in winter.  Many of us do not like waking up in the dark, only to come home from a hard days work in the dark.  For some it is quite depressing.  And for others...  it is the incubation period!  A time for growth behind the scenes.  A time to go within, alone with yourself, with your thoughts.  A time for development, grooming, getting ready for the big reveal!  Doesn't that sound so much more exciting than hibernating??  C'mon, brush the chip crumbs off your pajama shelf and admit it!  Stand up - stretch those muscles, wipe the sleep from your eyes and jump on board!!

And...  if you are having difficulty trying to figure out what your big reveal is, or could be...  call me!  That's where I come in!  :)

Mary-Anne Schelb is a holistic consultant that inspires those seeking inspiration.  She has spent the past two decades helping people get out of their own way.  Let her help you navigate your own path to...  Intentional Calm...  

Photo credit:  Photo by PNW Production: https://www.pexels.com/photo/white-mug-with-a-black-script-on-notebooks-8250986/

Happy 2023! In the Face of Adversity: True Grit!

 I hope this post finds you well and truly living your best life in 2023!  We have had to pivot and shift so much in our day to day, I feel pivot is now what we do best!  "What happened?  No problem!  Plan B!" literally rolls off the tongue much easier than it ever used to, and if it doesn't, well...  keep reading, as this article is for you!

We have all heard the story about glass half full and glass half empty, right?  Well, those same folks are classified into two different groups:  One that feel life is happening "to them" and the other - life is happening "for them".  Call it what you want, but there are folks that continue to look on the bright side of things, and then there are still others who will always find the doom and gloom in any situation.

Silver lining?  Doom and gloom.  Which one would you choose?

And yes, it is, just that simple!  Happiness is a choice people...  and you too can choose to partake!  Now, don't think it's all rainbows and unicorns, we work hard to be and remain this happy!  But that is our choice.  It may take a little getting used to, however, if you shift your perspective, even just a little, and I quote Wayne Dyer - "the things you look at change" from The Power of Intention.  You may not be a believer as you read this, or maybe you are, (congrats!)  but if you practice tiny shifts in your perception, of the situations around you, and how you feel they are there to punish you, ask yourself, what can I learn from this experience.  Even in the face of immense adversity, there is a gift.  Mind you, I am not saying that some situations are not sad, or even bad, but it is all in how you choose to experience them, and how long you choose to sit with the "sad" or "bad" feelings.

You are the only one responsible for your own happiness.  You are not to rely on others.  Not your spouse, not your partner, not your parents (unless you are still in diapers ;)*, not your children, not your job, nothing and no one but lil 'ole you!  So, if you are relying on someone else to make or bring you happiness... (and be honest) take a long and deep look within as to why you are not happy, and then do a self-discovery as to what would make you happy.  What truly would make your heart sing...  and do that!

Forget waiting for that rainy day!  Get to happy...  NOW!  You won't regret it!

Here's to a happy & prosperous year for all of us!

If you have trouble getting to happy - reach out and Intentional Calm can help!

*any parent reading this knows that a child needs to be able to self soothe, so at a very young age - we instinctively learn how to make ourselves happy.  just sayin'...  tap into that!  Check out Eckhart Tolle - Power of Now - and begin to look at the world through the lens of a child again.