The personal theme for many of us in the collective this year has been between the intersection of gratitude, grief and drowning. No one has been immune to what has been felt globally and what we privately have been experiencing within the four walls of our home. I am not here to relive it; rather, I am here to remind us how we can grow from it and heal through it together. You are not alone and we are stronger together my friends. A few thoughts as we approach this holiday season: consider this a personal energy boost and reset for ourselves as we head into the month!! Here’s to resilience, here’s to hope and to kindness as we enter into a new week! I love you all - AR
Create Your Calm + Give Thanks
Being calm is a necessary ingredient for effective creativity. The world is filled with noise and this year has been loud. Let’s look at this as an opportunity and a silent invitation to go “inward” for a few quick mood-lifting journal prompts that will continue to shift your mindset from hopeless to hopeful!
I have to train my brain. Yep, I said it. It is a natural human response to look at all the things not working out for us, or dwelling on the negativity in our day. What we focus on expands and we have the ability to challenge new, powerful pathways in our mind (Google “neuroplasticity”). I do this personally with micro gratitude lists in the morning or at night. This will get YOU in the habit of looking at tough moments (or even the mundane) as opportunities for growth and insight, allowing us all to walk through fresh new doors.
Pick up a pencil and start small! (I do this in my notes app on my phone or even on the back of a mailer — toss out perfection and let's get to it.) Some examples of mine are below. These micro “Thank Yous” help me stay present throughout my day and get me in the habit of giving thanks.
Thank you heart, for pumping blood through my body and letting me feel - everything.
Thank you mind for the ability to think critically and develop creative solutions.
Thank you breath-work for creating a safe place for me to go to create stillness.
Thank you fear for letting me know the direction to go into for growth.
Thank you creativity for showing me my purpose and meaning.
Thank you pillow for supporting my neck and mind while I sleep.
Thank you home for helping me feel grounded and safe right in this very moment.
Thank you for the cup of coffee warming my hands and energizing the day.
Thank you for the crisp autumn air filling and awakening my lungs
Thank you clean water! I see light streaming through the steam in my shower and it inspires me daily.
Thank you Ben for helping with the laundry (miracles do come true).
Thank you for letting me be a child of this universe and connected to you.
To round out the year, I challenge us all to “take 5” and show up for ourselves, and the small priceless moments that afford you stillness and nourishment with this daily prompt.
P.S. My “Love Over Fear” print makes the perfect companion for your journaling station. ALL prints in my all-new AR Print Shop are 15% off with the code HOLIDAZE when you purchase now through December 25th.
Giving back + Opening up
The secret to happiness is helping others. Women and children in this country get my support. In college, I was fortunate enough to partner with BBBS.org as a “Big Sister” and I have done the due diligence to where I know my financial support is going with the social impact organizations I am mentioning below. Access unfortunately is a “privilege” in this country and their are those in our nation who do not have fundamental access to basic human needs such as food, healthcare, education and mental health outlets. I suggest us all to examine the moments and stories that break our hearts and find ways we can give back. Let the pain of these stories connect us to purpose and service.
According to the USDA, over 18 million children will be facing hunger and or living in “food insecure” homes this year. Donations to reputable food banks on both local and federal level. I have personally found No Kid Hungry a wealth of information in understanding various programs and how each dollar helps.
The Loveland Therapy Fund provides national assistance to black women and young girls seeking therapy services. Education, access and care for those who have experienced any psychological distress or access to alternative therapies surrounding mental illness is vital for living a full life.
I encourage us all to educate ourselves around the racial disparities in medical care across the U.S as it also relates to the racial inequities in this country. Harvard.edu came out with an informative article “America is Failing its Black Mothers” and finally our policy makers are paying attention to the climbing maternal mortality rate among expectant mothers.
Here’s to resilience and restoration. Despite Native Americans accounting for nearly 2% (5.4 million) of the U.S. population, philanthropic funding for the population remains less than 0.5% percent of annual grant dollars. We need to do more.
If this list touches you, please feel free to add to it and share it with your friends….. #SharingIsCaring!
For the holidays, I am offering signed and personalized copies of THE NEW SOUTHERN STYLE that may be purchased through our local book store, Parnassus Books. They ship nationally and this is the perfect gift that will reconnect you to your creative power and cultivate the strength of community. This is a gift that keeps giving.
