Last week I had a therapy client tell me that she is trying her hardest not to think about her grief.
She felt that if she allows herself to think about it, she will entirely fall apart, but actually, the opposite is true.
We cannot run from our feelings because, well, emotions are meant to be felt.
Grief, trauma, and loss are some of the most terrible things we will experience as human beings. The feelings that come along with these times in our life are gut-wrenching. However, we do not do ourselves any favors by running from them. They (the feelings) will catch up to you, and when you least expect it, they will chase you down and knock you over from behind.
So turn, full-frontal, look them in the eye, and invite them in. Talk to them. Hello, sadness. I have not been looking forward to seeing you one bit, but you never go away. You are always here somewhere. So I cleared my entire afternoon to meet with you. What is it that you have come to tell me today?
Be prepared to sit quietly and listen to that message. It will not be easy, but you need to hear this message.
It would be best to take some time to work through it because this is the healthy thing to do. Are you afraid to meet with this pain alone? I understand. Invite a friend over to hold your hand, but this meeting with your feelings needs to happen at the end of the day.
Then hold on to this: To appreciate true beauty, we must understand actual loss. Life is made more beautiful because of the losses we suffer. We have a deeper understanding and appreciation for everything we see and touch in life because we do not take it for granted. We know how special it is.
Sit with your feelings. Give them time to hear what they have to say.
One day a window will open, and they will leave. You will be better, and life will be beautiful once again.
Kayla: A Modern-Day Princess Series Book One is HERE!
Kayla: A Modern-Day Princess: is a heartwarming story about family, role models, dreams, and discovering a determination for growth. This five-part diverse picture book series shines the spotlight on a little brown girl who loves musical theatre and never lets anything get in the way of her dreams. It seems that everyone else has an idea for who she should be, but in the end, she discovers that she is the one who gets to decide.
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Kayla: A Modern-Day Princess: Dishes, Dancing, and Dreams will be available for purchase on June 1, 2021!
The Kayla: A Modern-Day Princess series of #OWNVOICE books is for Dreamers and the Doers of all ages. This diverse picture book series is a heartwarming look at the importance of family, speaking our truth, dreaming freely, and knowing our worth. Book 2 is part of a five-part series that shines the spotlight on a little Black girl who never lets anything get in the way of her dreams.
Parents, Caregivers, and Educators: By investing in this series, you help every child see that Black and Brown girls can be leaders, princesses, and the stars of their own stories. Children need to read stories that include characters who look like them. Offering these types of books to young readers is an essential part of building self-esteem, cultivating empathy, encouraging tough conversations, and letting children of color know they matter.
GO HERE to order your copy of Kayla: A Modern-Day Princess: Dishes, Dancing, and Dreams (Book Two in the Kayla: Modern-Day Princess series).