The Ties That Bind

Our world is in flux and with so many changes, it has become a struggle to hold on to what we know as normal.  We are also having our eyes opened to the struggles and pain so many face daily.  All this change, all this pain, can leave us feeling lost and unbalanced.

No matter where in the world we are right now, we all have the same desires.  We want our friends and family safe and healthy; we want to reclaim our peace, our balance, and our normal. universe 4573369 640 This commonality among us shows us the truth that we can practice unity, understanding and love – at heart, we are all in the same place. 

While we might not control external circumstances, we can certainly control the way we react and what we bring to others through our interactions.

Decide to find one good thing each day and it will be there.

We can choose to see everything that is missing and that we have lost, or we can choose to find the good in every interaction.  Turn on the news or step outside your door and you might disagree with this statement.   The fact is, if you tell yourself to notice butterflies, you will constantly find butterflies everywhere.  Seek love in every interaction and you will find countless examples.   Go ahead and decide to find one good thing each day – observe the results that come.

Bring love to every experience

With every person you speak to, whether at the grocery store or on a call, bring love and understanding.  Be patient with those who rub you the wrong way; seek things to love about them. Ultimately they feel the same fears, have similar hopes, and need to feel safe and loved too.  Next time you find yourself in a difficult situation or dealing with a difficult person, show them the kindness, patience and love you would want shown to you.

Do one thing each day to feed your soul

To be able to share love and kindness with others, start with yourself.  Love yourself enough to rest when you need to do so.  Love yourself enough to take action each day to give yourself whatever you need.  Perhaps you need a long soak in the tub, listening to a meditation, reading a book or even just going for a stroll.  Feeding your soul will give you the strength to deal with tough situations and still come from a place of love.

Truly connect with others in every interaction

We are all hungry for connection, caring and kindness.  Reminding one another of all the good in the world by showing kindness and love, goes a long way to helping and healing ourselves and others.  Showing up and letting others know that you see them, hear them, and support them, creates unity and healing for them and you.

What experience did you have today that made a difference to you?

Be well, Be Blessed

Santa

 

RUNNING THROUGH DARKNESS
MEMOIR OF A SPIRITUAL WARRIOR

BY SANTA MOLINA-MARSHALL ‧ RELEASE DATE: MAY 3, 2022

This debut memoir chronicles a woman’s spiritual exploration and growth as she overcame a disturbing childhood and helped others heal.

Brought to America from the Dominican Republic as a youngster, Molina-Marshall should have led a happy life. Her father was a diligent worker, and his large family wanted for nothing. But the author recounts that her dad had a drinking problem and was a serial philanderer. Molina-Marshall’s long-suffering mother left him for a woman. Then it was all downhill for the bright, 12-year-old girl, who was shuttled between foster care and relatives. According to the author, she was sexually abused by the husband of one of her siblings. This resulted in Molina-Marshall becoming alienated and moody. By 15, she simply tried to survive. In her favor were grit and a restless intelligence. She quit school, rented a room, and found a factory job. Time went by, and for a while she was happily married. Yet when her husband left her, her life truly began. She turned to religion for answers but decided that blaming God for her woes was a cop-out. 

In this absorbing and moving memoir, Molina-Marshall’s vivid storytelling is fearless. She frankly discusses the truths she discovered and the indignities she suffered. These admissions are disclosed with a touch of resignation and plenty of bite. However painful, everything she experienced was a lesson, and she bravely realized that she was part of the problem: “The fear of being hurt, rejected, or abused often led to me feeling lonely and misunderstood. No one knew the agonizing pain I felt being trapped in my thoughts and anger. I was becoming my biggest threat.” 

The author skillfully recounts her intricate spiritual journey. To deal with her psychic wounds, she searched for an inspirational system. Her open-mindedness led her to the interfaith concept—cherry-picking from various religions and spiritual movements, yoga, and Indigenous beliefs as a way of finding peace. Along with her female partner, she built a therapy practice, making use of every spiritual element that aided her and others. The road was bumpy, and she found that women of color in same-sex relationships were not welcomed everywhere. To do good works—and finally live on her own terms—she effectively overcame bigotry.

An engrossing, cathartic account of empathy and success through determination and confidence.

Pub Date: May 3, 2022   |    ISBN: 978-0-578-38315-6  |   Page Count: 264    | Publisher: From Trauma to Triumph  |   Review Posted Online: June 13, 2022