Rise UP Part II

Together, we can RISE UP!

“Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—
to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, 
to choose one’s own way.”

 ~Viktor Frankl

Recently, I witnessed my daughter face a Fast and Furious event requiring  quick thinking. There was no room for error and the consequences could have been disastrous. However, she powered through and overcame it. (more about this in a moment)

She didn’t take it personally.

She didn’t melt down and cry. (though that is not a bad thing)

She didn’t get mad.

She managed.

What makes some become better
and some bitter?  

She now has a new piece of fascinating information that ties into her life’s theme.

There is much proven research on just how much we can do to give ourselves that meaningful and joyful life we all naturally want, or I should say, that happiness we are all after.

I’ve been writing a lot lately about facing challenges so that we can know, “I can do hard things.”  Lately, I’ve been witnessing my peers, my children and, yes, myself go through (on occasion) difficult times; sometimes these times feel never-ending. 

Sometimes, these times are the only times my peers are familiar with.

The familiarity of discomfort suddenly becomes so familiar that it has immersed itself into a way of living and THAT is just how it is! (oy!)

We all know people like this. I understand the tendency.

… but this is not what I’m talking about. I’m talking about enduring difficult times and then learning from them. Facing them. 

Permission to be Human.

This means allowing ourselves to feel the gamut of emotions—the unpleasant ones that sometimes drive us to suppress them through numbing means. Restricting the flow of painful feelings impedes the flow of the positive ones, for human emotions all flow through the same pipeline. 

We are blessed with a rich emotional make-up. We need to give ourselves permission to feel. This helps create a rich, authentic life. Once we are aware of our feelings, we can then choose how we act and respond.

Recently, I took a Gentle Yoga class in Morro Bay, near my mom’s home. My looooong time friend, Jean joined me and together we joined the class taught by a wicked funny instructor familiar with her well-attended class of seniors. 

I LOVED this class!

Within 5 minutes, I could feel the vibration of my body drop from firing on all cylinders to firing on one. I suddenly weighed 1000 pounds and felt magnetized to the floor. I was in 7th heaven. 

“Every now and then there is a quiet stillness when all is right in the world. I cherish these moments, inhale them and place them in my heart for safekeeping.”

-Sharon Rose Hutchenson

When I allow myself to be still, my mind visualizes scenarios consistent with possibilities on how things CAN be. It does this all on its own. Sometimes I laugh at what my mind comes up with. Sometimes it creates impossibilities (but are they really?)

I LOVE these times.

In the end, please know that we all have the possibility to RISE UP. If for no one else, Rise Up for yourself. For your own well-being. For others around you. Be the example.

As for Abigail’s story previously mentioned, here is her story written out from her perspective:

A joyride on horseback quickly turned into a cattle round-up. Upon perusing the 250 acres of ranch property I worked on, we quickly discovered that two bulls, one steer and a calf had broken through the fence and were co-mingling with the ranch’s head of cattle. 

The border collie redirected the calf back through the opening in the fence, but the rest required more effort. 

Fast and Furious directives were appropriately given by the ranch owner to “Open up the gate and do it quickly.” He added, “If you don’t know how, ask for help.” 

The tension was building as we managed well-behaved horses while separating the cattle from the bulls. 

I was instructed to open the gate but was unfamiliar with its installation and struggled to open it. Pressure was on to act quickly. Seconds turned into minutes and the directives were getting louder and more fierce. Afterall, we were managing two very large bulls and time was of the essence.

Eventually I said I needed help. Another ranch hand approached and she too was unfamiliar with the style of gate. Eventually a third ranch hand approached. She had installed the fence over 20 years ago and was familiar with its maneuvering system.

You see, the gate consisted of barbed wire that required a pole winch. When applied, it allowed slack in the wire loop around the fence post which then could be lifted and thrown open. 

Together, this Bermuda Triangle pressure cooker of a problem created significant tension. Not to mention, two HUGE bulls were now head-bumping like two crabby Ferdinands. 

After the bulls and steer were finally rallied up and guided through the gate, we too were gathered for a quick debriefing. “Ok, now what did we learn from this situation?” all of us were asked. Even my mom. We were no longer operating in the Fast and Furious mode and the debriefing allowed for recalibration of emotions.

I faced this hard thing without taking the directives personally. I solved the problem. I, as we all, grew from this experience.

I’m proud of my actions

(And of me)

How are you in a crisis? Where do your thoughts lead you on your life’s journey? Wishing you joy and clarity as you Rise Up in your practice of being human.