Creating Room for Grief

January 26th, 2012

The grieving process is natural. Similar to the cycles of the seasons or the ebb and flood of the tides…it is not linear and straightforward, but it comes and goes. At times, we may feel good about life…inspired, energized and in our passion. At others, we may feel sad, fatigued and depressed. Each of these seasons requires something different from us.

          For example, if we are grieving, we may need to draw our energy inward and spend more time resting and focusing on self care. We may have less energy to give and create. Like the winter season, this is a good time to restore our energy for when the spring arrives, allowing the seeds of new life to germinate in the dark soil.

          A couple of weeks before Christmas I found myself feeling blue, heavy-hearted and moody. I was surprised to tune into my body and find hidden grief, sitting under the surface, waiting to be acknowledged. The previous month, I had felt energized and inspired about my business and life, so when grief surfaced, I was resistant at first. There is too much to do to prepare for Christmas. I don’t have time to be sad. Plus, who wants to be sad when there are celebrations to attend? I wanted to ignore and dismiss my grief but ultimately the heaviness in my heart persisted, causing me to feel tired and fatigued.

          Creating room for my grief, I did a stream of consciousness writing exercise starting with, “What I am most sad about is…” This helped my grief to surface and flow in the form of tears. What I discovered was that I was most sad about not having my own family. All of the Christmas cards and pictures of families and kids triggered my on-going grief about not having my own children. It was the “season” for my grief to surface, to be honored and acknowledged. As it flowed, I began to feel lighter and less burdened. With my energy restored, I was able to be fully present with friends and family at the celebrations I attended.

          The week after Christmas, my dog, Rennie, my “baby”, injured herself and my grief surfaced again. She is an elderly dog and had already torn the ACL in her left knee a couple of years ago. Now, with a torn ACL in her right knee and severe hip dysplagia, she is barely able to walk. Ironically, the same thing happened last year…I was feeling sad about not having a family shortly before Christmas and Rennie injured her self and was unable to walk. This year was different though. Along with intense feelings of grief, I was able to also experience deep joy. My emotions were more fluid.

          Coming out of this season of grief my passion and energy for life has been renewed once again. As I let go of my resistance to the process and create room for what IS, I feel more at peace with my life. Grief has become a companion along my journey, like a friend, creating a deeper well of love and compassion within me and as a result, deeper connections with others. I am grateful for ALL that IS – even my grief.

 Suggested Journaling Exercise:

 What is your relationship with grief? Is it like a close friend you create room for and spend time with? Do you acknowledge the gifts that it offers? Or, do you deny it and shove it aside? If you are someone who tends to ignore or resist your grief, set aside time and use the following writing prompt, “What I feel most sad about is…” Repeat this exercise when you feel tired, depressed, sad or irritable. Allowing your grief to surface and flow will lighten your mood and give you more energy for your life.

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How to Cope with Grief during the Holidays

December 12th, 2011

The holidays can be challenging enough with all of the busyness of the season, but if you’ve experienced a major loss such as the death of a loved one, this time of year can be extremely difficult. Family gatherings where your loved one is not present can leave a huge void. Past memories of times spent together can stir up sadness. You may even experience anxiety, depression and trouble sleeping. Further, you may feel the pressure to get into the spirit of the season even though your heart is not into it.

During this time, it is quite normal for unresolved grief to surface. Therefore, it is important to have coping strategies to help you deal with it. The following are pointers to assist you:

  1. Create new traditions and experiences. Recognize that the holidays won’t be the same if you try to keep everything as it was. For example, you might want to take a vacation somewhere new instead of following your normal holiday routine.
  2. Engage in a holiday ritual. For example, set a place for your loved one at the dinner table during a holiday meal and take turns sharing about fond memories you have of that person.
  3. Simplify your gift giving. Give from a place of positive abundant energy instead of a place of depletion. Talk to your family and friends about drawing names to simplify the giving process. In our family, we draw one name and become that person’s Secret Santa.
  4. Participate in activities that bring you comfort. You don’t have to say “Yes” to every invitation. Listen to your internal barometer. If you are feeling overwhelmed, it’s okay to say “No” and take care of your self.
  5. Take care of yourself first. Be prepared that the holidays may be difficult so engage in extra self care i.e. schedule a massage, take baths and naps, watch funny movies, set aside time to be still and meditate.
  6. Construct a list of all activities that relax and revive you. Choose items from this list to help manage your stress.
  7. Volunteer your time at a local charity. Placing your focus on giving to others less fortunate will help you to put your situation into perspective and will make you feel good about yourself.
  8. Keep a daily gratitude journal. Write down all of the things you feel grateful for such as the love of family and friends, your pets, home, work, health, etc.
  9. Talk about your feelings. Reach out and let close family and friends know how you are doing. Be careful not to isolate yourself.
  10. Get outside support. Drop into a grief support group facilitated by your local hospice or engage with a psychotherapist or counselor specializing in grief and loss like myself.

By making room for grief to surface and be expressed this time of year, you are giving yourself the gift of deeper healing and transformation. You are also giving your family and friends the gift of your full Presence….There is no better gift that you can give!

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Ocean Magic – A Celebration of Life

November 7th, 2011

“Life is a celebration of awakenings, of new beginnings, and wonderful surprises that enlighten the soul.” – Cielo

The sun felt warm on my skin. It was mid-morning late in October and I was wearing shorts and a t-shirt while walking my elderly dog, Rennie. Smiling, my heart was full of gratitude for the beautiful day.

I peered down the street towards the beach, only three blocks away, and wondered why there were sailboat masts bobbing up and down so close to shore. Earlier, I had read in the newspaper about the humpback whales feeding just outside the harbor. I wondered if the boats were there to see the whales. Excited, my pace quickened as I headed straight to the beach, away from our usual route, dragging Rennie by the leash.

Approaching the beach, I saw hundreds of pelicans and seagulls circling in the air, some diving for fish, creating huge white splashes of water. There were also dozens of kayaks, paddle boards, sail boats and motor boats floating as if gathered for a party. They must be watching the whales, I thought.

Then, a sleek black hump surfaced in the water, white spray shooting straight up into the air. Close by, another spray of water doused a nearby kayaker. There must have been half a dozen whales. I starred in amazement as these large creatures appeared and disappeared into the liquid mystery. With my eyes fixated on the surface of the ocean, I anxiously awaited their next appearance.

As Rennie and I settled on the beach to witness this celebration of life a local resident stopped to chat. Excited, he said, “I’ve never seen anything like this and I’ve lived here since the early 80’s!” On-lookers scattered the beach some with binoculars. Like me, they wanted to take part in this historic event.

I continued to gaze at the commotion and noticed a seal bobbing up and down the waves as it traveled the length of the beach. A pod of dolphins soon appeared, surfacing and diving in pairs feeding on the frenzy of ocean nutrients the whales had stirred up. Taking in the abundance of life, tears trickled down my cheeks as I thought, “I can’t believe I live here. This is my back yard. How can it possibly get any better than this?”

Then, out of no where, a sea otter appeared, on its back facing the sky, floating near the beach break right in my line of vision. That’s when I lost it. Sobbing, tears of joy surfaced from deep within me as I opened to fully receive the abundance all around me.

Reflecting on this ocean magic, it occurred to me that all of the hardship I had endured (moving twice, being hospitalized, etc.) the last several months in getting me here to this place, in this moment had been well worth it. I realized that everything I had been through was all part of the higher plan for my life and was moving me towards the fulfillment of my dreams.

I also wondered if I would have been able to deeply receive the beauty and magic all around me if I hadn’t gone through the challenging times. It was as if the tears I had cried and the pain I had suffered had carved a deeper well that also contained my joy. I understood on a new level, poet Kahil Gilbran’s quote, “The deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain. Is not the cup that holds your wine the very cup that was burned in the potter’s oven?”

With this new awareness, my trust in life continues to grow.

“Ultimate freedom has nothing to do with your life circumstances – it is the freedom of allowing the self to dissolve into the waves of the ocean. It is the freedom that is born through one’s absolute trust in life.” – Richard Rudd

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Grief Counseling Services Now in Santa Cruz!

October 21st, 2011

If you’ve experienced a major loss in your life such as the death of a loved one or pet, a divorce, illness, miscarriage or job lay-off, it is normal to go through a grieving process. Unfortunately, society today does not honor the mourning process and encourages us to “get over it”. Many of us feel we have to quickly move on with our lives. If we repress our grief, though, it can cause all sorts of problems such as anxiety, depression, physical illness and a general feeling of dissatisfaction. If we express our grief on the other hand, we will experience more joy, vitality and purpose in our lives. Here are some suggestions to help you express your grief:

1. Feel your feelings. Meditate and journal every day to get in touch with your painful feelings. Start writing using the prompt, “What I really lost is…” Write for ten minutes without stopping. Then, sit and meditate for ten minutes. Continue to write as new thoughts, feelings and insights surface.

2. Engage in activities that keep you in the present moment. Move your body through exercise. Engage in hobbies such as painting or gardening. Spend time in nature to help you feel centered and grounded.

3. Get in touch with where grief lives in your body. Sit quietly and meditate. Listen for where grief lives in your body. As you get a sense of the energy of grief, give it a name and ask it why it is there and what it needs to continue to heal.

4. Write a letter to grief. Tell it how it has affected your life. Allow it to respond. What does it need from you to continue to heal?

5. Write a letter to your deceased loved one. Share how their death has affected you. Say what you didn’t have a chance to say while they were still alive. Offer forgiveness or ask for it. Express gratitude for the time you shared together. Next, write a letter back from your loved one. What would they want to say to you?

6. Engage in meaningful rituals. What did your loved one feel passionate about? What did you enjoy doing together? Plant a tree and hike to it every year on their anniversary. Or, scatter their ashes in an area they enjoyed visiting.

7. Memorialize your loss. Dedicate a park bench in your loved ones honor or have a piece of artwork created such as a collage of pictures and memorabilia. Check out: www.BereavementArtists.com for more ideas.

8. Give back. Volunteer your time helping others. This will help you feel a sense of renewed purpose while offering you a healthy perspective about your loss.

9. Reach out for support. Don’t isolate yourself. Reach out to friends and family who support you. Join a support group or engage in one-to-one counseling.

Questions to ask yourself to determine if you may need extra help:

  1. Do you frequently experience feeling irritable, annoyed, intolerant or angry?
  2. Do you feel an ongoing sense of numbness or isolation from others? Do you feel like you have no one to talk to?
  3. Do you feel anxious most of the time? Is it interfering with your relationships or ability to concentrate?
  4. Do you feel preoccupied with your loss and think about it constantly even though it has been several months?
  5. Do you feel restless and in high gear, like you need to be constantly busy?
  6. Are you afraid of becoming close to new people for fear of losing again?
  7. Do you find yourself acting in ways that may be harmful to you like drinking more, driving recklessly, or entertaining thoughts of suicide?
  8. Are you heavily burdened by taking on too much responsibility?
  9. Do you feel stuck in your grief, unable to move on, even though it has been some time since your loss?

If you find yourself answering yes to any of these questions or would like additional assistance with following the above suggestions, then I encourage you to reach out for professional support from a therapist or counselor who specializes in grief and bereavement, like myself. You don’t have to walk through your pain alone.

(Karen is the author of Sail Into Your Dreams: 8 Steps to Living a More Purposeful Life, a speaker, Life Transformation Coach and Grief Counselor. She assists her clients to heal their grief, so they can experience more joy, vitality and purpose in life. If you are ready to heal your grief and move on with your life, call Karen today for a FREE 30-minute phone consultation to determine if her services are a good fit for you. (831) 359-2441. She offers private phone, Skype, or in-person sessions. You can also check out her website for more useful information about this topic and to join her mailing list to receive future articles and offerings: www.LiveAPurposefulLife.com)

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A Year in Transition

September 29th, 2011

“Discovering your Groove and creating a luscious life is all about allowing for Grace through your next transition.” – Shann Vander Leek

The sun was an orange ball of fire in the sky as it sank lower over the horizon. I reached the end of the jetty and sat on a large rock to witness its final dip into the ocean. Dolphins surfaced only yards away as they fished for their evening meal. Two sea otters playfully floated on their backs in the harbor entrance where kayaks, fishing boats, outrigger canoes and sail boats entered and exited the marina. My heart filled with gladness and delight as I thought, I am finally home!

It had been an entire year since I first had the revelation…I need to move back to California, to be close to my family. My husband, John, and I had developed a wonderful life in Colorado over the past five years. Further, the cost of living in the Bay Area was much higher and the population more dense. We wondered how we could maintain the laid-back lifestyle we had grown accustomed to and if we would have to compromise our values to live there.

In mid-May, I drove my car out with a load of our belongings and visited the new home we had rented in Menlo Park, just fifteen minutes away from John’s work and my mom’s house. The weather was rainy and gloomy as was my mood after seeing where we would be living. Compared to the property we lived on in Golden, this was going to be a step down in terms of lifestyle, but would cost us about $700 more a month in rent. Feeling the heaviness of disappointment, I cried. What did I expect? This was one of the most expensive places to live in the entire country and one of the reasons we hadn’t moved back to the Bay Area sooner. So, of course we were going to get less for more.

Moving the u-haul out with all of our belongings in June, I settled into our new place and did my best to make it home. Not only was I going to have to get used to getting less for more, but also the busyness and noisiness of the area. As an empath, I experience energies and the energy of this place was intense. Initially, I had a hard time being still and meditating in our new home. Compulsion fueled my movements. Not only was I getting used to this new environment, but I was feeling pressure to get my business going and to find part-time work so we could pay our higher bills.

Unfortunately, only three weeks later, I landed in the hospital with a high fever and infection. While there for ten days, other complications arose, making this the most miserable experience of my life. I was unable to find my spiritual connection and felt completely lost. Further, I hungered for the home we had left, the quiet and stillness of the mountains and being surrounded by nature. Depression set in as my illness lasted for five weeks and I was unable to move forward with my new life.

During the early days of my recovery, we were given notice that our rental property was going into escrow. The new owners planned to demolish the property and build new houses on it within the year. So, we began looking for our next home. We looked north in the wine country. There, we could get more for less and experience a slower paced lifestyle while still being relatively close to my family.

After several job interviews and car trips north, no doors opened. So, we sat down and asked, “What is it that we really want? What makes us feel alive?” Being near the ocean was the answer. Why not check out Santa Cruz, a community only an hour away and right on the coast? The next morning, we took off to explore. There just happened to be an open house for a little cottage, only blocks from the beach and harbor where I grew up sailing as a kid. I grabbed our rental application as we headed out the door. Who knows where this might lead, I thought.

After viewing the cottage and driving around the neighborhood, we were sold. Not only would we be near the ocean, but we would be able to engage in our passions such as surfing and sailing. On Labor Day weekend, we had found our new home and only three weeks later, we are moved and nearly settled. Once we became clear about our heart’s desires, the doors opened quickly and the process flowed.

This transition has been intense and has lasted a lot longer than I could have ever imagined…being in the unknown, letting go of what we loved in Colorado, saying goodbye to friends and clients, adjusting to our new lifestyle, making new friends, starting over with my business. It has been a lot of work. But, in the process, many lessons have emerged.

For example, I have learned about the importance of taking time for integration during transition. When first arriving in California, I had the expectation that I would be able to hit the ground running and dive right into my new life. But, my illness forced me to slow down and stop. In order to adjust to my new life, there was much I needed to let go of such as grief and old limiting beliefs that no longer served me.

Not only were we re-organizing our lives externally, but an internal re-organization and shift needed to happen as well, to make room for the new life we intended to create…a life full of possibilities, passion and vitality.

“A loving journey of transition begins by nurturing self care. If we honor our inner selves we not only live our divine blueprint, we also embrace the richness of humanity as we promote spiritual enlightenment.” – Micheal Teal

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Dive into Life!

May 28th, 2011

Sobbing, I exclaimed, “I finally have my life back!”

Sitting on a catamaran on a beach at Mission Bay in San Diego last week, my step-mom, sister, her boyfriend and I took time out to celebrate my brother, Kyle’s life on the anniversary of his death. He had been gone for twelve years now. We talked about what his life might be like if Cystic Fibrosis hadn’t ended it at the early age of fifteen. Would he be married? What type of work would he be doing? What type of person would he be?

As we reminisced, we also spoke out loud what we would want to say to him as if he were sitting right there with us. My response was, “Thank you! You have helped me get my life back.” Since Kyle’s passing, I had often felt his presence in helping me open doors, bringing about opportunities for my business and life. I especially felt he played a huge part in bringing me all of the amazing healing opportunities over the past several months.

A year ago, a medium channeled Kyle for me during a healing session. She shared, “I see him bouncing you on a high board. He wants you to dive off into life, to enjoy yourself and life more fully.” The grief I had carried over his and my father’s deaths and all of the early pregnancy losses over the past nine years had weighed heavily on me. My life force energy had been depleted.

Today, weeks after completing the pregnancy loss therapy group, my energy is at an all time high as I prepare for a major life transition and work hard to re-vitalize my business. I am up every day between 5-6am and need less sleep than I did before. Further, my physical health is stronger. I even have the energy to pursue a long held dream. In just days, I will be moving back to the San Francisco Bay Area, where I grew up.

Preparing for this major life transition has been challenging in many ways…saying goodbye to friends and clients, leaving a place I love for the unknown, organizing all of the logistics, packing, etc. But, I seem to be up for the task as my vital energy continues to carry me forward.

Going through this recent grieving process was not fun and pretty. I felt raw, vulnerable and emotionally drained. It was extremely hard work to release such heavy and painful feelings. But now I am reaping the rewards of my hard work and courage as I have more energy for life. By going through the destruction and chaos of the storm and releasing the old emotions, a huge space has been created for new life to be birthed.

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Emerging From a Cocoon

April 30th, 2011

Discouraged, I thought, “I wish I could afford to go to therapy.” The grief over my last miscarriage and my pet’s illnesses weighed heavy on me. Further, for the past nine years, I had experienced one early pregnancy loss after another. Tired of leaning on my husband and friends for support, I largely dealt with my grief on my own.

Within days of crying out to the Universe for help, I received an auspicious e-mail in my inbox announcing…”A New Mourning: Healing after Pregnancy Loss Therapy Group offered at NO COST.” I was astounded! Soon after, more offers for free healing were made…a massage given by an energy worker who specializes in grief and loss; a healing session with an intuitive friend who channels and does body work; three healing sessions with a Reiki master and Re-connective healer; a Watsu water therapy session.

Once I made the commitment to heal my grief, the doors opened and I was supported in ways I could have never imagined. But, not only did I need to be willing to reach out for support, I also needed to be willing to receive it. When I met with each healer, I consciously said to myself, “Open your heart and receive.” As a therapist and healer myself, it had always been challenging for me to be on the other end of receiving.

With each healing session and therapy group, I experienced deep emotional release. Hidden feelings like anger, bitterness and shame surfaced from places I had no idea existed. I worked through emotions of hatred towards my body for not doing what I wanted it to do. In my first therapy group, the facilitator suggested we flow write from the prompt, “What I lost is…”

I was surprised to learn that one of the things I was grieving most was the predictability of life. My experience of pregnancy loss had taught me that life was unpredictable and I had very little control. Like a child having a temper tantrum, I released my anger and frustration and surrendered more deeply into the abyss of the unknown.

Allowing these painful feelings and emotions to surface, I felt raw and vulnerable, unable to find my center. Like being in the middle of a storm, dark clouds overhead, rain blocking my view, I also felt fearful and uncertain. Emerging from the storm, like a butterfly emerges transformed from its cocoon, I am finding my new center, one that is stronger, wiser and more trusting of life. With more room in my heart, I am better able to receive the richness and blessings all around me.

It takes great courage to emerge from the cocoon after the storm, as we are faced with letting go of our comfort zone and stepping into the unknown. We may ask, “Who am I?” No longer a chrysalis, but a beautiful butterfly, we need to find our new wings so we can fly.

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Letting Go of Control

February 25th, 2011

Skiing at Vail last week I found myself holding back and being tentative. On my first run of the day, I had ventured off the groomed snow into some deep powder and immediately fell. It took me several minutes to get back up as my left ski was buried. Digging my ski out, I vowed to stay away from the powder for the rest of the day. Preoccupied with worry that I might fall again, I felt tense and didn’t enjoy myself.

Yesterday while skiing at Loveland, I encountered fresh powder again. This time I decided to go for it and ski the powder. I repeatedly told myself, “You can do this! You can do this!” With a positive frame of mind, I was able to relax more and let go of control. Skiing fresh tracks, I experienced the sensation of being carried by the snow, as if I was floating. The difference in my experience from the previous week was tangible…I had much more fun!

Reflecting on this experience, I wondered how often we hold ourselves back in life because we have been hurt before. Perhaps, we vow never to get married again or shun off romantic relationships all together because we don’t want to be vulnerable. We hold ourselves back in our creative endeavors because we don’t want others to judge them unworthy. Or, maybe we allow ourselves to engage, but because of our fear, we tense up and don’t enjoy life.

When we are able to let go of control, relax and allow ourselves to be vulnerable and take risks, the world opens up to us in amazing ways. New opportunities present themselves. Passion, joy and inspiration become our daily experience and we feel like we are living up to our fullest potential.

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Navigating Grief

December 18th, 2010

Grief is a mysterious creature. It lurks unnoticed in the dark corners of our hearts only to be un-leashed by the simplest of provocations…listening to a song, looking at a picture, watching a movie, a brief thought or memory flashes through our minds reminding us of our loss. All of a sudden, a torrent of tears wells up within and comes tumbling out, unannounced. In amazement, we wonder, “Where did that come from? I thought I was done grieving.” Just when we feel we have grieved all we can, there is still more.

There is no rhyme or reason to the grieving process. It is different for every person. What remains the same is our choice about how we navigate it. We can express our grief and thus allow it to open our hearts, freeing us to fully live. Or, afraid of experiencing another loss, we can close our hearts and hide from life. Now, not only have we lost someone we love, we die inside. Our creative life force energy is sucked dry causing us to feel anxious, depressed, tired and unfulfilled. Trudging through the day, we wonder, “What’s the point of living?”

Grief has been a constant companion on my journey since I was a young girl. At the age of ten, I remember crying in bed alone at night over the loss of my pet dog, Cinder, who I considered to be my best friend, and then soon after, when my father moved out and my parents divorced. It accompanied me when my brother, Kyle, was diagnosed as a baby with Cystic Fibrosis and died fifteen years later, and then three years after, when my father died unexpectedly from cancer. As I’ve weathered each storm, I’ve become stronger. No longer afraid of grief my heart has opened and I am able to experience along with my grief the joy of living.

It takes courage to keep our hearts open and acknowledge our grief. When honored and allowed to flow, it can move through quickly, like a lightening storm in summer that lights up the sky and drenches the land. Within minutes, a rainbow appears as the sun makes its presence known. As we cry and release our grief, our tears become an alchemizing agent, turning our sadness into joy. We realize we would not be sad in the first place if it were not for the love we so deeply felt for whomever we are grieving.

Inviting our grief out of the darkness and allowing it to flow, we give it an outlet, not only through our tears, but our creative endeavors. When my brother died, my step-mom delved into making pottery and glass jewelry. I engaged more with my writing. As we express our grief, the death we are grieving is then turned into new life. This is the alchemy process. We become the agents of transformation and in the process we are transformed. Feeling alive inside, our vital energy is renewed and we are restored to a life of purpose and joy.

“Death is not the greatest loss of life. The greatest loss is what dies inside us while we live.” – Norman Cousins

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The Heart Rock Story

December 18th, 2010

Cruising on I-90 form Washington back to Colorado, John and I are ready for rest after eight hours of driving. We stop at a campground with easy access to the freeway, just outside of Missoula, Montana. Fortunately, the campground is practically empty. We set up camp among tall ponderosa pines and bushes tucked away near a creek. It is the perfect respite from our long trip. Enjoying the solitude and beauty of our site, we decide to stay an extra day.

Sitting on a large rock at the edge of the creek, I allow myself to slow down and be in the moment. I notice small butterflies, bees, bugs and ants busy doing their thing. I take in the gurgling sound of the creek, the blue sky, and the warmth of the sun. At the height of the hot summer day, John and I don our bathing suits. We frolic and play in the creek, dunking our heads under the cold rushing water, and skipping rocks like we did when we were kids.

I lean down to pick up a rock and enjoy the way it feels in my hand. I notice its shape, a heart. It has cracks and white lines running through it. Further, I notice tiny white crystals emerging from within one of the cracks at the top. Fascinated, I ponder the rock’s story. It seems similar to mine somehow.

Then the rock speaks, “I have been here for ages and have witnessed the cycles and seasons of life. People, animals, trees and even forests have come and gone. With each death, I’ve seen new life born and creation continue its dance.”

“How did your body get this way?” I ask.

“My body has weathered the passage of time. Exposure to the elements, the harsh winter storms, has caused cracks to form in my structure.”

I admire the unique shape of the rock with all of its cracks and imperfections.

“The cracks have created a profound depth within my being from which I can relate to all of the other broken heart rocks, to their grief, loss, pain and suffering.”

Amazed, I reflect on my own life and how each storm, each experience of disappointment and loss has made me a stronger, more loving and compassionate person.

“The crystals you see emerging from my cracks are my Spirit. The love, light and joy of who I am is now able to shine more brightly through the spaces the cracks have created.”

I get it. When we allow our trials in life to break open and soften our hearts, rather than close and harden them, our beautiful spirit shines through.

Deeply grateful for the heart rock and its inspiring message, I bring it home with me as a reminder that the trials in my life have made me who I am today – beautiful, perfect and whole.

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