Better, Faster, Stronger

Happy Canada Day from a proud Canadian.

Facebook – which I use only judiciously and strategically – likes to remind me what happened on this date over the years. I can completely turn it off if I wish, and for a time, those daily trips down memory lane had the power to completely undo me. So much so that I completely stopped Facebook for awhile.

Then I learned how to build my social media bubble: I “unfollowed” a whole community of people; I changed my notifications and trained myself to leave the app alone. And I went away to focus on healing.

Walking. Music. Talking. Sharing my story. Yoga. Weight lifting. More walking. Sleep stories. Mindfulness. Journaling. Gratitude. Random acts of kindness. And embracing all of those who gathered around me in my time of need. I called on an army of helpers, and made myself my Mission: to once and for all see me for the magnificent creature I am, and lean into Just Being Me.

It has been a project more daunting than any other I have faced: harder than organizing a national conference; grieving the loss of a friend to suicide; renovating a home from top to bottom; starting a new business; or helping my best friend through terminal cancer. Redefining my relationship with myself, my body, my spirit, my talent, and my enormous heart has been an act of love. And it has been hard, hard work, rewiring my brain.

It started as - and continues to be - a daily devotion, as I keep focused on gratitude, stay present, and gift myself with my favourite things: drumming, walking, and when Layla arrives in two days, I will join a vibrant community of dog lovers and add doggie play dates to my daily rituals.

My Facebook feed is once again inviting me down memory lane. These days, I enjoy looking back – to see just how incredibly far I have come. I am a new creature, and see those images through new, loving, compassionate – and grateful – eyes. Thanks to all of those experiences, the bad and the good, I stand here better, faster, and stronger than I have ever been. I am sharing my experience both in the workplace and with anyone else who cares to hear about it, and I have one simple message:

Make yourself Your Number One Project. You are not alone. Ever. Reach out. Talk. Ask for help – it is all around you. And it’s worth it – there is gold underneath all of that pain. I promise you. Pure Gold. 

“All of my wisdom came
From all the toughest days
I never learned a thing being happy...”

Happiness Jones – the Wood Brothers

Comments

  1. Victoria ProcunierJuly 2, 2018 at 3:15 AM

    Thanks for sharing your story Lea. It always inspires me. Much love from Ireland. - Victoria

    ReplyDelete

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