Greetings Shift Into Fifth Community,

This is my 16th Covid-19 Inspired Care Correspondence. And as we all continue to deal with some form of shelter in place directives and/or new Covid-19 realities, I am continuing to think about YOU.

Birthday Celebration in the Time of Covid-19

"In my country, those who have birthdays are the ones who GIVE the presents to those in the village. Something small. Every other day, you receive. It's the giving that is the honor." (Ethiopian Birthday Custom shared by a friend over 20 years ago)

This weekend I had a birthday. I won't lie. Suffering a bit of Covid-19 coping exhaustion. Overwhelmed by the harsh realities of systemic racism. Sheltering in place solo since returning from the desert. Definitely a strange and surreal time. No pity party. But no doubt that in the days leading up to my "special" day, I was feeling a whole myriad of feelings. Not such pleasant ones. Lonely. Isolated. Disconnected. Sad. And they were connected to some not pleasant thoughts and storylines. Unseen. Unworthy. Damaged. Outsider. That thoughts lead to feelings lead to action formula rearing its head once again. With a whole lot of catabolic (negative) energy resulting.

Not one to run away from discomfort. Committed to feel the feelings. And learn/teach how to constructively/productively move through pain. But not add more thoughts/stories is my coaching and personal mantra. Also a persistent practitioner of finding ways to shift and drive my energy toward more positive and productive action,

So as I was finishing my morning run the day before my birthday (part of my self-care routine that has been especially essential during this pandemic period), that Ethiopian custom popped into my head. It was more like a jolt. What if I CHOSE to focus on giving to others on my birthday instead of receiving. Made the CHOICE to take action. What would that look like? Feel like? As I let my mind wander, I passed a bakery with boxes of mini-cupcakes and cookies. What if I bought some of those boxes and started giving them away (I live in the heart of downtown Boston in a high rise building-there's a homeless shelter just a few blocks from my building-no shortage of people on the streets and in my building with which to share).

As I walked home with my stash and new plan of action, I could feel a big shift in my energy. With a skip in my step and a resolve to figure out who I could share with, my lens got wider. The self defeating thoughts started to dissipate. I looked up and around with curiosity. Just before my building, I saw a few men from the shelter who I see pretty regularly. Immediately, I opened the first box. And started to share. Then, I ran into the parking valets and workers of some of the local garages and surrounding hotels who I pass on a regular basis. I shared some more. Then, as I walked into my building, I saw multiple neighbors and workers I hadn't seen since the Covid-19 shelter in place began. I opened the second box and shared some more. This continued throughout the weekend. Multiple boxes of cookies and mini-cupcakes have been shared. Lots of smiles. Even some laughter. Moods changed. Energy shifted. Anabolic/Positive energy created, multiplied and spread.

Happy to report that I had one of the most special birthdays I've had in quite some time. Something I was truly dreading turned into a magical experience. Yes. The basic facts stayed the same. Still sheltering in place solo. My sweet 3 children still multiple states away. Family and many friends so far away. But oh my. A vivid recollection of a beautiful Ethiopian custom lead to a choice to think some different thoughts and a choice to take some immediate action. And it changed everything. Throughout the weekend, thoughts/feelings of so much love, warmth and connection. Both giving and receiving. As my energy shifted, the universe delivered big time. My cup runneth over. Grateful!

Change and Choice

You may say, good for you. But what about me? I share this story as a living example of the process of positive and productive change. It started with challenging circumstances, self-defeating thoughts/stories, painful feelings and lots of negative energy. And, with the help of a wonderful memory, some cookies/mini-cupcakes and the ability to make the CHOICE to think new thoughts/take different actions, it evolved into a whole lot of positive/anabolic energy.

Remember, change is the one constant. Pandemic. Racism. Whatever. Every second, we are changing. It's the one thing that's a sure bet. How we prepare, navigate and handle change is at the core of how we move through life. And grow.

Developing and sustaining the muscles that support positive, purposeful and productive choices, action, change and energy is the work that we continue to do together in the Shift Into Fifth community. So many of you have started and continue to do the hard work to cultivate and develop the inner tools to stay calm, centered and shift/utilize energy in productive and powerful ways. In other words, you are ready to meet the moment!!!

Self Care

And yes. Self care is ESSENTIAL. Please, stay extra vigilant about your own self-care - hydration, nutrition, sleep, exercise/movement, meditation/mindfulness/deep breathing, practicing self-compassion/kindness/gratitude, laughing/smiling, staying super curious (each day asking who are my teachers today/noting lessons learned-today's takeaways), limiting social media/tv/print exposure, actively choosing/ingesting those thoughts/stories/information that support your optimal self etc. Remember, this is a marathon...not a sprint!

Resources

Accessing Resources is key! Please remember all the weekly SIF Community Covid-19 Care Correspondences are on my blog (www.shiftintofifth.com) with an additional (growing) list of resources for all of you to use and to share with others. PLEASE SHARE! Thanks to many of you, our SIF Community is growing and so is the list of resources-Grateful!

This week, I am sharing a few of the powerful quotes/poems that friends shared with me for my birthday weekend (talk about Grateful!). They touch on core themes connected to living a rewarding and meaningful life. I am also sharing a few recent podcasts that I have found particularly interesting and inspiring.

1. “This life is yours. Take the power to choose what you want to do and do it well. Take the power to love what you want in life and love it honestly. Take the power to walk in the forest and be a part of nature. Take the power to control your own life. No one else can do it for you. Take the power to make your life happy.”

― Susan Polis Schutz

2. “Don't Just

Don't just learn, experience.Don't just read, absorb.Don't just change, transform.Don't just relate, advocate.Don't just promise, prove.Don't just criticize, encourage.Don't just think, ponder.Don't just take, give.Don't just see, feel.Don’t just dream, do. Don't just hear, listen.Don't just talk, act.Don't just tell, show.Don't just exist, live.” ― Roy T. Bennett, The Light in the Heart

3. “Incredible change happens in your life when you decide to take control of what you do have power over instead of craving control over what you don't.”

― Steve Maraboli, Life, the Truth, and Being Free

4. Come to the Edge

Come to the Edge.

We might fall.

Come to the Edge.

It's too high!

COME TO THE EDGE!

And they came,

And he pushed,

And they flew.

Christopher Logue

5. Listen to Ep. 123 – Embodied Change with Dr. Rick Hanson from Metta Hour with Sharon Salzberg on Apple Podcasts. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/metta-hour-with-sharon-salzberg/id923019021?i=1000476444226

6. Listen to The Science of Happiness | Emiliana Simon-Thomas from Ten Percent Happier with Dan Harris on Apple Podcasts. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ten-percent-happier-with-dan-harris/id1087147821?i=1000480100561

7. Listen to Brené on Shame and Accountability from Unlocking Us with Brené Brown on Apple Podcasts. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/unlocking-us-with-bren%C3%A9-brown/id1494350511?i=1000480887474

Please, share any part of these weekly Covid-19 Inspired Care Correspondence emails with your networks. A picture, a cartoon, a story, a podcast, whatever. All meant to support and strengthen one another.And I want to remind you that I am here for YOU - to support you in any way that I can. If that means a quick call for you to rant/vent or simply to get a pep talk for you and/or members of your circles, I am here. Creating more anabolic energy for accelerated positive and purposeful change in the world is at the very core of my mission. Supporting YOU is key to that mission. Please.

Stay strong. Be Safe. Stay Healthy. Be kind.

With Gratitude and Purpose,

Valerie

PS. Humor. Yes. Even now. It's an essential tool for self care that shifts and maintains positive/anabolic energy. Thus, I'm sharing a few new pandemic inspired cartoons/memes.

PPS. And here are some additional moments of zen brought to you by the desert's late spring magic show. Yes, I took a lot of pictures out there:-) I'm also adding some pictures from my recent return to the Northeast. Beauty and light abounds. Beyond Grateful! Enjoy!