There is a quote that moved me deep when I heard it for the first time, years ago and it stayed with me untill now and beyond now. It will last for ever inside me. It is from Maya Angelou and sounds like this:
There's a place in you that you must keep inviolate. You must keep it pristine. Clean. So that nobody has a right to curse you or treat you badly. Nobody. No mother, father, no wife, no husband, no-nobody. You have to have a place where you say: 'Stop it. Back up. Don't you know I'm a child of God?
This quote made me realize that also my own negative thoughts had to be changed and transformed, so I myself didn't invade that pristine clean place inside myself, where I find my shelter. It isn't an easy task, and it can be done. When we realize that the voices who undermine and overrule us, who are seductive and seducive are all result of trauma and when we invite them in to open themselves, underneath all the pain .. love can arise for the one we truly are. It cleans the place and creates a safe place. A house where we belong and can be our own self, together with others.
Thanks for this beautiful writing Kaitlin and lots of joy watching, knowing, faces light up when they read your book(s).
Thank you Kaitlin! This is so timely and so necessary - the need to build an emergency shelter within ourselves. I've been thinking about this for a while, not with words as eloquent as yours, but the idea of finding respite within. It is harder now, at least for me, than it has ever been, and I find that the tools and techniques I've used in the past aren't working as well. I deeply appreciate your acknowledgement this need and for sharing thoughts, poetry, and ideas to help us along.
This is so lovely, Kaitlin. I've been really focused on setting welcoming tables, either through tea circles at the end of my forest therapy experiences or at my home for our monthly Sunday Suppers gatherings. We need each other. We need to be kind to each other. And we need kindess to permeate everything we do and share. Thank you for this piece!
Kaitlin. This is similar to what I call “mental health first aid.” Just like emergency shelters, there are moments of panic, fear, horror, big a$$ stress, trauma that require “in the moment” mental health first aid. We need that “mental health first aid kit” - and of course as a body-centered practitioner, I often suggest somatic practices that support the nervous system coming into more regulation..finding some softening and being soothed. I love this all, Kaitlin.
Me too. I come back to the breath alllll the time. It's something we have with us all the time, I tell my clients. And how beautiful the Creator gave us access to this automatic breathing system that we can play with, too. I've been studying the breath since my first yoga class over 30 years ago. And I still feel like a newbie with the world of the breath.
Thank you for this Kaitlin. Today, we just had a young couple ask for a donation of firewood as their.only lodging is camping outside in this fickle New England winter. Two more people victimized by broken systems and indifferent policies. I like your ability to help me see inside and out, to feel and nourish my own heart in ways that leave me grateful and desiring to do more to help illuminate beloved community. Thank you for being there and here!
There is a quote that moved me deep when I heard it for the first time, years ago and it stayed with me untill now and beyond now. It will last for ever inside me. It is from Maya Angelou and sounds like this:
There's a place in you that you must keep inviolate. You must keep it pristine. Clean. So that nobody has a right to curse you or treat you badly. Nobody. No mother, father, no wife, no husband, no-nobody. You have to have a place where you say: 'Stop it. Back up. Don't you know I'm a child of God?
This quote made me realize that also my own negative thoughts had to be changed and transformed, so I myself didn't invade that pristine clean place inside myself, where I find my shelter. It isn't an easy task, and it can be done. When we realize that the voices who undermine and overrule us, who are seductive and seducive are all result of trauma and when we invite them in to open themselves, underneath all the pain .. love can arise for the one we truly are. It cleans the place and creates a safe place. A house where we belong and can be our own self, together with others.
Thanks for this beautiful writing Kaitlin and lots of joy watching, knowing, faces light up when they read your book(s).
Thank you so much for sharing this quote. I’m going to hold on to it ♥️♥️♥️
Thank you Kaitlin! This is so timely and so necessary - the need to build an emergency shelter within ourselves. I've been thinking about this for a while, not with words as eloquent as yours, but the idea of finding respite within. It is harder now, at least for me, than it has ever been, and I find that the tools and techniques I've used in the past aren't working as well. I deeply appreciate your acknowledgement this need and for sharing thoughts, poetry, and ideas to help us along.
♥️♥️♥️
This is so lovely, Kaitlin. I've been really focused on setting welcoming tables, either through tea circles at the end of my forest therapy experiences or at my home for our monthly Sunday Suppers gatherings. We need each other. We need to be kind to each other. And we need kindess to permeate everything we do and share. Thank you for this piece!
Yes and tables are so incredibly sacred!
Kaitlin. This is similar to what I call “mental health first aid.” Just like emergency shelters, there are moments of panic, fear, horror, big a$$ stress, trauma that require “in the moment” mental health first aid. We need that “mental health first aid kit” - and of course as a body-centered practitioner, I often suggest somatic practices that support the nervous system coming into more regulation..finding some softening and being soothed. I love this all, Kaitlin.
Yes! I love this idea, and we need it often…my breathing exercises are definitely first aid for me
Me too. I come back to the breath alllll the time. It's something we have with us all the time, I tell my clients. And how beautiful the Creator gave us access to this automatic breathing system that we can play with, too. I've been studying the breath since my first yoga class over 30 years ago. And I still feel like a newbie with the world of the breath.
And also as I sit with it, emergency shelters ... they are like sanctuaries..within us AND in our communities.
Thank you for this Kaitlin. Today, we just had a young couple ask for a donation of firewood as their.only lodging is camping outside in this fickle New England winter. Two more people victimized by broken systems and indifferent policies. I like your ability to help me see inside and out, to feel and nourish my own heart in ways that leave me grateful and desiring to do more to help illuminate beloved community. Thank you for being there and here!