Connextion.me

One of the most terrible losses mankind suffers in this lifetime is not noticed by most of us, much less mourned. It is astonishing because what we lose is in many ways one of the essential qualities that sets us apart from other creatures. I’m talking about the loss of the sense of wonder that is such an integral part of our world when we are children. However, as we grow older, the sense of wonder shrinks from cosmic to microscopic by the time we are adults.

Kids say, “Wow!” all the time. Opening their mouths fully, their eyes light up with genuine awe and glee. The word emanates not so much from their voice box as from an astonished soul which has once again been shown their world is full of amazing unexpected things. When was the last time you let fly a loud, unembarrassed, truly heartfelt “WOW”? Not recently, I bet. Me neither. Because generally speaking, wonder belongs to kids with the rare exception of falling madly in love with another person or a good magic show, which invariably leads to a rebirth of wonder for us.

As adults, we are not supposed to say or feel Wow, genuine wonder, or even true surprise. Because those things make us sound goofy, ingenuous, and childish. How can you run the world if you are in constant awe of it?

Of course, there are exceptions. One need only look at the astounding success of Harry Potter, The Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, and the novels of Neil Gaiman (the list is much longer, thank god), to see that people really are hungry for wonder. Still, most adults wouldn’t fess up to that hunger because we don’t want to admit how gorgeous it feels to sit transfixed in a movie theater or reading chair, thoroughly absorbed in a world ten times more interesting and vibrant than our own.

The human heart has a long memory though and remembers what it was like to live through days when it was constantly surprised or enthralled by the world around it. Unfortunately, we have been taught control, control, control all our lives by parents, society, inhibitions, and our education. If you can’t control som**hing, then get rid of it or get out of it or get away from it.

Yet we know both the heart and the imagination really are most alive when they are not in control of things, flying through the clean high air of genuine WOW! without a safety net below to catch us. To live immersed in wonder means both the unknown and the thrilling surround you, as in a great love affair.

- Jonathan Carroll

My friends! I hope you had an awesome Family Day (in BC amongst other places) and if not an official holiday, I hope you had an awesome time with your family this weekend.

ConNEXTion is about deepening the connection with yourself and all those you love despite the fact that they may struggle.

This is a wonderful Ted Talk that looks at addiction and how we as family, friends and society need to support each other. This is the premise behind ConNEXTion.me. Take a few minutes and listen. There are many different ways we can help you.

Everything you think you know about addiction is wrong | Johann Hari

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PY9DcIMGxMs&t=12s

I wonder if you know,
the work your body has done today.
And every day.
How much disease it has fought off.
How many times it could have failed but battled on,
how many ways it could have broken but did not.

I wonder if you know,
the work your body has done today.
And every day.
And each day it has done this amazing job,
without your help,
without your approval,
your acceptance,
your kindness.

Each day it has soldiered on,
regardless of the constant stream of negativity,
pulsing its way from your brain to your cells.
Not good enough.
Not attractive enough.
Not the right shape.

Perhaps it’s time to see your body for what is truly is,
An amazing and mind-blowingly competent machine.
To get your soul to where it needs to be in this life.
To let you live.

I wonder if you know,
how much better you would be as a team.
I wonder.

Donna Ashworth
From ‘I wish I Knew’: https://amzn.to/3JVMJlZ

Art by The Ronald West Gallery

Love this hopscotch!

Choose kindness.

Hope you caught the 10-part series on boundaries. If not, check that out on Instagram:

Today we look at 2 emotions. Anger and resentment

Quite often people lash out because they are resentful. That bitterness drives people to retaliate in the most inappropriate ways.

Anger stems from a boundary that has been compromised. We know over the past week though that we are responsible for articulating our boundaries, clearing and distinctly. We have a responsibility to ensure people know what boundaries are and then take the action based on those steps.

Resentment is a bit trickier. What is at the core? Quite often, resentment comes from passing judgement on others. Does that person deserve more than you? Do you buy into the worthiness scale?

When these emotions pop up in yourself or others, think about what is behind the emotion?

Stealing the moon 🌕

📸

We are now entering that sparkling festive season and the time that can instil fear and heartache into so many. Try som**hing new this year. Take small steps to create a better version of yourself. I will post small steps for you to work through during the holiday season. It could be journalling, breathing, art, or contemplation. Just small steps to get you through the season and start making 2023 the year you resurface from the stress and pain. Today, pick a journal that will become your close friend. The road to peace and calmness starts with gratitude so start by listing all the things you are grateful for. This will be your page one - so you can refer back to it on those tough days.

Do you feel the shift this week? So much is happening. Things are falling into place.

Today....check in with yourself. Just a quick check-in. How am I feeling? Go deeper into that emotion. I may feel anger. I am feeling frustrated. Going deeper, I feel infuriated. Why? How is it sitting in your body? Where do you feel it? Is it feeling tense? Butterflies? Shaking?

Take time to go deep and sit with your emotions. No judgement. Just sit with it. Feel it lessen its grip on you. Stay there. Go toe to toe with your emotions.

Feel it dissipate. Feel you experience freedom from this emotion.

This is the basis of ConNEXTion. A safe, supportive place to walk together. https://www.connextion.me/

I still use these pens all of the time! 🥰

"Dance. Smile. Giggle. Marvel. TRUST. HOPE. LOVE. WISH. BELIEVE. Most of all, enjoy every moment of the journey, and appreciate where you are at this moment instead of always focusing on how far you have to go."

💜 Mandy Hale, The Single Woman:
Life, Love, and a Dash of Sass

Doing some market research. Fill out the survey: https://forms.gle/KDtHXbsYLhBrmrdU8

Left: me, completely broken, 93 pounds, living on the streets, living in fear, in pain, addicted to m**h and he**in, and ready for my life to finally end. I had endocarditis twice from using and I had a hole in my heart. My mom took that picture when she went to rescue me.
Right: I took this picture tonight. Didn't care about angles. Just wanted to show my happiness. 9 months clean. I fought hard for months in the hospital, survived heart surgery, gained 40 pounds, got a place to live, and I have my family and my two cats that help me. I've posted the before pic alot but my story is important. Recovery is possible and it is worth it. ‘
Girl you’re wonderful..!! ✨

♡