::lessons from the bud light bandit::

This time of year, when the snow melts and leaves behind piles of dirt and trash, always gets me a little twitchy.  I'm that crazy person walking down the street in my pajamas picking up trash and cursing.  With the crazy winds we had last week, everyone's trash barrels (including mine) tipped over and trash and recycling blew everywhere.  So each day I try to get out and pick up a little more to quiet the voices in my head that make me bananas.

Since we moved to town, I've noticed a ridiculous amount of Bud Light cans thrown to the side of the road in our neighborhood.  Every time I see them, I can't help but yell WHO IS THIS CRAZY PERSON WHO THROWS BUD LIGHT CANS OUT OF THEIR CAR WINDOW?!?!  I've always called this person the Bud Light Bandit. And I've always wanted to pound the crap out of them if I ever find out who they are.

The other day I was driving down the streets near my house and realized that the Bud Light Bandit has returned, in full force.  I can't blame it on the wind, or the melting snow.  These blue cans just seem to be mocking me, and testing my patience.  But I took a deep breath and realized that maybe these cans are teaching me that I don't have any control (duh), and no matter how many Bud Light cans get dumped all around me, the best I can do is get out there and pick some up and keep going.  There are always going to be more cans.  I have no control over the Bud Light Bandit, just like I have no control over pretty much everything else that life throws my way.  It's my reaction that I can control, and only that.*

(*but if I do find you BLB, I will still want to kick your ass)

::breathing into the pain::

So I tweaked my shoulder.  It might've been that sneezing fit the other night, when I sneezed approximately 50,000 times in a row.  Whatever the cause, physical pain is no joke. My body has been good to me and I'm usually injury and pain free, but it's tweaks like this that make me want to curl up in bed and shut down.  It's been making me think about my clients and how lots of them deal with chronic pain on a daily basis.  People come to me broken and begging for relief.  I do my best but sometimes the cause of the pain just doesn't want to budge.

But pain can be a teacher if we allow it.

Wait, what?  It's not easy.  My temptation is to try to fix it, and fast.  Slathering on oils, balms, stretching...anything that will make the pain disappear.  But what if there was something else that could facilitate the healing?  Healing from the inside out?

Which brings me to my point----breath.  I've been thinking so much about deep breathing lately and while laying in bed with the heating pad on my neck and shoulders, I read this quote::

"Put your hand on the affected area, take a few breaths while you let your hand warm up, and ask for focus:  What do you need from me now?  What step can I take to help?  Let the pain speak.  You might get an odd little flash:  Rest.  Stretch.  Stop sitting with your legs crossed.  When I first started doing this, my self-talk would get in the way-- I can't do this;  it's delusional talking to myself--but when I'd shut up and listen, I'd usually hear something.  Keep asking:  What do you need?  Get quiet and listen for a response.  It might take a minute or two, or five or six days, but if you start to ask, you can regain that natural, healthy internal communication. 

Get curious about what you can learn from your pain.  A plant has a taproot--one primary, big deep root--and lots of secondary roots.  You don't have to find all those smaller roots, but you do need to find the taproot of your pain.  Discover, go deep, and shift.  What does the area in pain need?  How can you give your pain a voice, and then offer it what it needs?" 

-- Ana T. Forrest, Fierce Medicine

So instead of fighting against the pain, I've been trying to ask my body what it needs.  I've been working hard to send the whole area deep, cleansing breaths.  Instead of pushing the pain away, I've been welcoming it in and seeing where it takes me.

Let's be clear...I still think pain is a giant pain in the ass, but until I'm 100% cool with the lessons it has to teach me, I'm just going to keep sending it breaths.

xo

::give love::

Give love::  so simple, and yet so important.  It should be effortless-- yet sometimes it's the most difficult thing to do.  It's my mantra every day---Want to feel good?  Give love.  Having a bad day?  Give love.  Feeling worn thin and overwhelmed?  Give love. 

I've had this song by MC Yogi on repeat.  Here are some of the lyrics-
-----
Love is the answer, love is the key, love is the glue between you and me
Open up your heart and you will see, love is the thing that'll set you free
'Cause love is the remedy love is the cure, love is the only thing that'll stop the war
It's what the whole world is looking for, so what in the world are you waiting for
Give love, give love away
Give love, give love away
Give love, give love away now
Give love, give love away
Give love to your brother, love to your father, love to your mother, your sons, and your daughters
Give love to your sisters and all your friends, shine your love in all directions
----

Today, and every day.
Give love.