 I remember it well, following the small, quiet woman down the hallway that led to the candlelit room. She talked softly as she told me her name and explained how long she had been a massage therapist. As we reached the doorway, she paused and said, “Before we go in you must leave your burdens here.” She reached for a basket that was hanging next to the door. How did she know I was overflowing with worries? Burdens? I was holding more than would fit in her small basket. Was it that obvious? Were they clinging to the white cotton robe I wore like lint balls that you want to pick off before someone notices? Smiling at my puzzled, fearful expression she explained, “My Native American Culture believes in leaving your worries at the door before you enter a place of peace. You must put your burdens in this basket, so our time together is free of worry, concern, or despair. This will free your spirit and you will relax into clear serenity.” I looked at her dark, sincere eyes and began mentally going through the list I carried: my father’s illness; work; family; appointments; bills; the list went on and on. I cupped my hand as if I were pouring these worries, and so many more, into the basket and silently hearing them clunking as they piled in. She smiled broadly as she saw the weight lift from me and become the duty of the basket. For the next hour as I inhaled the smell of lavender and my muscles were relieved of their stress, I thought of the basket, the ritual, the splendor of it all. My mind had also been relieved of tension in a very real way. I left feeling warmer, lighter, happier. That evening I realized what I had forgotten. I had not stopped to gather my burdens from the basket as I left. Was I supposed to? Did I fail Burden Basket etiquette? I couldn't forget the experience - The reverence I felt as the basket was explained to me, the seriousness of the ritual and the calmness as a result of the process. I needed one. I needed a basket of my own. So I began searching. It wasn't until several years later in a small shop in New Mexico that I found one. A Burden Basket! With great excitement I purchased it. Once I was home with my treasure, I hung it high at the entry of my meditation loft. I took joy in the dumping of my burdens before I would enter my quiet space. Now, it was more peaceful without the chatter -the irritating chatter of my worries. And still, after years of this daily practice, I forget to gather my burdens as I leave the room. Pennie's Life Lesson: "Do not allow burdens to hold your mind, your heart, or your home as their resting place. Remove them from your space of serenity." YOUR TURN...
Share your thoughts and experiences relating to this post in a comment below. And please feel free to email me at: [email protected]. Thank you! ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ All Rights Reserved Copyright © 2013-2021 Pennie Hunt This was written and produced by Pennie Hunt. Feel free to forward and share this post. Please keep the entire message intact, including contact, logo, and copyright information.
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 I remember Friday, March 13, 2020. In February Covid19 was a growing concern in other countries. By March it was spreading through The United States with cases slowly showing up in the Midwest and Rocky Mountain areas. I was curious. I listened to the reports, but pretty much went along with my normal routine. Until March 13, 2020. That was the day Disneyland closed. I heard the announcement on the news and quickly called my husband who was out of town. Before he said hello, I blurted out, “They are closing Disneyland!!!” To me, that was a tipping point. They were closing the happiest place on earth. Disneyland had only closed three times since it opened in 1955. For the national day of mourning after John F. Kennedy was assassinated in 1963, the earthquake of 1994, and for September 11, 2001.This was serious. This was SERIOUS. We all know the plot of the story. State by state, city by city, restaurant by restaurant things shut down. We locked our doors and secured our hearts in cocoons of safety. We joined in living the same story. We began making masks. Zoom became our new gathering space. Curbside grocery pickups became the way to get out of the house and takeout food deliveries became our new date nights. We learned to teach our kids at home and kitchen tables became our workplaces. Holidays were small and personal. Travel became a walk to the mailbox. We watched the numbers climb and said goodbye to loved ones. Sadness, grief, and loss became our main conversation topics. The story should not have been about politics. The story should not have been about the validity of science. The conversation should have been about love with questions like: Do you love yourself enough to stay safe and healthy? Do you love your family, friends, and community enough to support and respect their health and safety? Do you respect them for how they choose to do that? The flowers of spring, the heat of summer, pumpkins of fall, and the snow of winter blurred together as we counted the days off the calendar. Now a new spring has filled our lives with vaccinations and hope. The numbers are showing promise. People are coming out of their homes. Lines are forming in airports. Businesses are opening. After my first vaccination, I remained cautious. I wondered if I knew how to do it – how to get back into the world. I have never been a person who dives right into the cold pool water. I am more of a tiptoe-er. I ease in letting the water slowly work its way higher and higher, allowing my body to adjust. I began visualizing how my reentry to life would be. My second vaccination brought tingles of excitement and anticipation. I felt like I was walking in a little deeper and the water was rising over my legs. When I passed the mark of being two weeks post my second vaccination it was time. I hugged my grandchildren. I went into stores. I ate in a restaurant. I quickly learned where I felt comfortable and where I did not. I hugged my grandchildren again and again. I am still not diving in the deep end, but I feel pretty good about being waist-high in the water. I said in the beginning of this pandemic that I felt the most important lessons are learned in the most difficult of times. I believe the way we take care of ourselves has changed. I hope we have learned how to wash our hands more. I hope we have learned that we may not all agree, but we can experience the same story and respect the way others interpret it. I hope we have learned how to slow down, how to care for each other, and how to appreciate what and who we have in our lives. I hope that we have learned to love each other a little more. We may be moving at different speeds, in different chapters, or experiencing different versions- but we are in the same story. Whether we tiptoe or dive we will all get back into the water. And guess what, the happiest place on earth is coming back. After being closed for 413 days, Disneyland opens next week! Pennie’s Life Lesson: “We can all experience and understand the same story in different ways.” Pennie Heart to Heart THE DAY THEY CLOSED DISNEYLAND YOUR TURN...
Share your thoughts and experiences relating to this post in a comment below. And please feel free to email me at: [email protected]. Thank you! ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ All Rights Reserved Copyright © 2013-2021 Pennie Hunt This was written and produced by Pennie Hunt. Feel free to forward and share this post. Please keep the entire message intact, including contact, logo, and copyright information.  Several years ago, my son and his daughter came to spend the afternoon with me. It was one of those days that screamed for ice cream. Sitting in a booth at Dairy Queen, I watched as my granddaughter’s chubby two-year-old hand clutched her cone when suddenly the ice cream began dripping down the sides and over her fingers. My son, in true fatherly- fashion, leaned over to lick a drip. Pulling her cone back, she quickly flicked up her other hand in front of his face and said, “Just walk away, Daddy!” Not being all together clear on what I had heard, a mixture of surprise and amusement blurted out of me. “What did she say?” I questioned. My son began chuckling and replied, “She said, “JUST WALK AWAY.” They teach the kids to say that in preschool when someone does something they don’t like. They raise their hand and say just walk away in an attempt to avoid an argument. She has learned this pretty well and has decided it works at home on us too.” I could not stop thinking of the brilliance of what I had just learned from a 2-year-old. I understand there are times in life when just walking away is not appropriate. We all have responsibilities and obligations that even when difficulties occur, we cannot and should not walk away from. But there are times in life when conflict can be avoided by just walking away. How many times could we just walk away --even temporarily, to cool down, clear our thoughts, and take a mental time out before tackling the problem? Think of situations you have experienced that seemed worth an altercation at the time, but in hindsight were minor issues. Was it really worth complaining about? Was the scathing letter really worth writing? Were the words thrown in anger worth the damage they caused? Right now, I am sure replays of regret are running through your mind. Can YOU create a Just Walk Away Plan with your spouse, partner, or family? Everyone involved must understand the terms of the agreement. When the words, “We Need To Walk Away,” are spoken it means the conversation will suspend and those involved will disengage. When tempers cool, circumstances calm, and the climate clears then come back together to revisit what happened. You may find the issue is no longer important enough to talk about. When you adopt and accept this procedure you will be surprised at just how backing off for a while can create a calm space to re-calibrate the situation from a possible conflict into a positive communication experience. You will begin to assess situations quickly and the vision of a hand will go up in your mind’s eye warning you that this may be one of those occasions where it is best to Just Walk Away. There are bigger times in life when walking away for good and never coming back together is the right option. There are times when we hold on too long to friends, relationships, and careers. Why do we do this? One word - Fear. You may have been inseparable with your friend for years, but now your lives have drifted apart- but the memories and unfounded loyalty created a cocoon of guilt that keeps you in a one-sided friendship. The stress of a job may be jeopardizing your health, but you are afraid of searching, applying, interviewing, and rejection – who will hire you? A romantic relationship may not be good, but fear of being alone keeps you from leaving. Walking away for good is hard. It should not be done on a whim or in a fog of anger. It takes deep thought and heart searching. When the place of resolve fills you with the peace of knowing it is time, walking away permanently can be the right thing to do. Until you let go of the fear and walk away, you will never see what beauty the future may bring. Whether it is a temporary cool down or a permanent break, there are times when the right thing to do is walk away. Pennie's Life Lesson: “There are times in life when the best option is to Just Walk Away.” Pennie Heart to Heart JUST WALK AWAY YOUR TURN...
Share your thoughts and experiences relating to this post in a comment below. And please feel free to email me at: [email protected]. Thank you! ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ All Rights Reserved Copyright © 2013-2021 Pennie Hunt This was written and produced by Pennie Hunt. Feel free to forward and share this post. Please keep the entire message intact, including contact, logo, and copyright information. |
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