Aldo Gonzalez

” When the basis for your actions is inner alignment with the present moment, your actions become empowered by the intelligence of LIFE itself.” – Eckhart Tolle


It starts with the little things… a cliche phrase used to express appreciation of life, “it’s the little things”, but it’s true in many aspects that these little things cascade to create a life much bigger than all the little things combined. Your everyday actions and mindset has a ripple effect on the people in your community and across the globe, along with the planet.

I believe my journey started as a little girl with a deep love for animals; I loved dogs and horses and big cats! I would have been happy to give up my normal human life to go live in the wild alongside such beautiful creatures. I believe most kids have an innate understanding to care for the planet and it’s creatures, but we get detached from nature as we grow older and are taught to prioritize other things. That doesn’t mean the connection is lost forever.

Now we are young adults, parents, brothers, sisters, community leaders and we have the ability to build the life we want through small actions and mindset shifts that are crucial for this journey.

“But, Lizzie I don’t know where to start!?”

I would say it’s different for everyone, based on where you are at on your journey and how passionate you are towards creating your best life. But I can give some suggestions based on my experience. 

Start with these:

• Commit to using a Reusable Water Bottle
• Put more plants than animal products on your plate #MeatlessMonday
• Care for a few potted plants (basil, rosemary, mint are easy) this is truly a mindfulness practice
• Read one of these books
• Eat a meal outside without technology

If you feel called to explore deeper, play with these:

• Build a compost, use it for a garden or potted plants
• Eat one plant-based meal a day
• Incorporate mindfulness into daily life: remain in the present moment while cooking, cleaning, eating or showering 
• Find movement that you love: weights, yoga, kickboxing, dance, surfing etc.

As you start to care for your health, your body and mind will crave more of the stuff that nourishes you. When you think about what you’re consuming (food & media) you are being mindful and this awareness allows you to have greater control over your life. You choose what you consume, how empowering is that!! 

I am a huge proponent of connecting the mind, body, & spirit because when they are aligned with what you love you become unshakeable, even amongst the chaos and grief that life brings, you understand that it is just part of life.

Some final thoughts on where to start:

• Invest in Yourself: whether that’s committing to a 6 month coaching program to help yourself or your business grow, buying only organic produce, planning a healing vacation, signing up for a retreat, etc.
• Join a like-minded Community whether it be virtual or in person or both, community is an essential part of the human experience
• Dedicate 5-15 minutes a day to just Breathe with yourself, feel all the feelings and allow any emotions to arise
• Take a Leap of Faith: quit your job, move to another state, tell that someone I Love You, you’ll know best what your leap is
• Share your journey on social media, your voice is so powerful, inspire others by tagging @unlitter #unlitteryour___

These are all ideas, take them as you will to create your own amazing fulfilling life! They may be biased by my own experiences, yet I believe everyone can take away something. Whether you take the message, “daily actions culminate into more than just your life story but affect the people and planet you interact with”, or you decide to try out an action I described above like composting!  

I want to tell you that it doesn’t matter where you are starting from or how much time you decide to dedicate, it only matters that You Believe In Yourself Enough To START!

What inspires you?

What do you love doing?

How can you care for yourself?

Sharing your commitment is a way to keep yourself accountable (don’t we all need that haha) so tell a friend, journal about it, make a social media post, do whatever you feel will push you and support you on this journey.  Starting MBSR this week at the Treehouse to deepen my mindfulness practice and continue the journey! May we meet along the way……

With love,

Lizzie Shutt 

@livewliz
www.Lizzieshutt.com

Follow my blog “Consciously Connecting” for travel stories, lessons from nature’s wisdom, and plant-based recipes. 

This excerpt from the Dhammapada, a collection of direct teachings from the Buddha, encourages us to train our minds to be free from likes and dislikes.  Why does the Buddha recommend that we consciously practice non-attachment to personal preferences?
 
By reducing attachments, we set ourselves free.  This path of freedom leads to a deep feelings of peace.  Just like with any training program, there is great effort and sacrifice, along with some pain and discomfort.  This path requires daily practice, often starting with small steps to build confidence and strength. We can start with simple things that bring us pleasure, committing to limiting or eliminating their presence in our daily life.  A few examples are:

• TV
• Social Media or other forms of electronic entertainment
• Alcohol
• Shopping
• Ice cream 

Remember to do this with the spirit of training the mind, rather than deprivation or punishment.  When we follow this practice, we begin to reduce the craving/wanting aspect of our minds. Likewise, this can also be done with tasks that are unpleasant and that we choose to avoid. In this case, we move toward those things and bare the discomfort that is often short lived. Again, it is recommended that we start small:

• Picking up the phone when a difficult person is calling or making a difficult call
• Doing the dishes before going to bed
• Folding the laundry and putting it away
• Budgeting or paying bills

This practice requires the spirit of care and wisdom.  It is important to choose things that are helpful, not harmful.  By working on transcending our likes and dislikes, we set an intention to build our own inner strength and wisdom. As the Buddha teaches, “all fetters will fade away”, helping to empower and build confidence when we face the unpleasant aspects of life head on.

Warning: do not use this as a way to control eating for the purpose of “dieting,” as that just becomes another attachment or desire. The purpose of training the mind and detachment  is to cultivate acting with “true freedom” without craving or aversion. When it comes to food, as well as other substances it can be an extreme challenge, so start small and build awareness around the cravings or aversions. You do not take up mountain climbing and one week later climb Mount Everest, right? I certainly hope not and just like Everest, when it comes to training the mind around BIG cravings and aversion, it is wise to have a trusted guide. 

During this pandemic you may have seen yourself return to habits that have offered immediate soothing or comfort and have now taken ahold of you. Under extreme stress we can often seek out things that offer immediate relief, however they quickly can take ahold of you and lead to more craving and eventually you fall under its control. If this sound familiar, simply take this guide as a first STEP.

S   Step back (meaning pause) 

T.   Take notice without judgment of the behavior around cravings or aversions.

E.   Enlist help from others or return to your previous training, tools and practices that work. 

P.    Proceed with confidence that you are not alone and that even when the path is rocky, unstable, and even treacherous, that the inner resources your practice has cultivated will be there to support you (and we will too!) 

Need Training? or some brushing up on skills? Join Dr. Davis and Dr. Shutt next month for virtual MBSR. Register here online!

With encouragement and unending support,

Patty and the Treehouse Faculty (aka Guides)

Coming into contact with the Mother is coming into contact with a force of passionate and active compassion in every area and dimension of life, a force that longs to be invoked by us to help transform all the existing conditions of life on earth so that they can mirror ever more clearly and accurately her law, her justice, and her love.
 
By Andrew Harvey
 
 
If only you could hear Andrew Harvey speak about the return of the sacred feminine and the awakening of the fierce feminine (AKA FIERCE COMPASSION) that he and others believe holds the key to the transformation in humanity. I found it fitting with Mother’s Day today, to honor the Sacred Feminine, in all beings (male or female) even within ourselves. There are many gifts that come from connecting to the sacred feminine and one that can be uncovered and nurtured through mindfulness. It is deeply needed in our world, namely “discernment”, the ability to hear different points of view and act from a place of wisdom, rather than defensiveness. Discernment is desperately needed today, to find solutions to epic crises, both within and across nations that are grounded in fear and violence among people, nations, and the earth itself. Discernment reminds me of Wise Mind, and I think Harvey postulates that this discernment also lies deep within and must be awakened. In DBT we teach that Wise Mind exists in each one of us, but often is covered up or clouded by judgments, strong emotions, and cultural and familial conditioning. This ability to know TRUTH, speak TRUTH, and live in TRUTH can be witnessed when the Fierce Compassion of the Feminine, combined with the power of the masculine, is awakened and liberates us to be our authentic self. Sounds amazing and inspiring when Harvey speaks, yet in everyday life can be scary and threatening because of the embedded social conditioning of males and females to live according to the belief that a male or female should think, believe, and act from a gender specific stereotyped way. 
 
This conditioning starts as soon as a baby is identified as male or female in our culture. We experience both the subtle and overt shaping of stereotypical norms via reinforcement of expected behaviors and punishment of anything displayed that conflicts with anything that does not align with the social, cultural, and religious expectations. Yet within all beings there are both feminine and masculine qualities and energies that when fostered and combined lead to acting from a deeply wise place and result in the kind of discernment necessary for transforming us from a world of fear and separation to a world of love and connection. Revolutionary? – Hell yes! Please note this awakening is just as important for men as it is for women. It is equally imperative for men to awaken the feminine that has been disallowed and left men imbalanced with only aggression and power as their source of strength as it is for women to honor their feminine and awaken their masculine energies.
 
This week loin us in honoring the feminine in all beings, including ourselves.
 
Sit quiet for a few minutes in meditation, long enough to settle the mind and body or use a moving meditation to settle and then rest in awareness of your breath.
 
When you feel centered, connect with the place you sense your wisdom or truth arising from (some find the heart/chest, and others find the belly) a space you can sense the truth. 
 
Placing a hand on that part of the body, take a few moments to honor the sacred feminine that lives within. Connecting with the aspects of your nature that are nurturing, loving, passionate, and playful. The softer part of you, the part that feels a desire to help the crying baby, an injured animal, or a group of people suffering devastating loss. Perhaps recalling when you were loved and cared for by another being, perhaps a mother or father, a caregiver, a grandparent, a friend, or even a spiritual teacher or therapist. Honoring the feminine qualities of love, nurturing, and compassion transmitted toward you and if you can sense and feel the sensation of being cared about, allowing some time to savor and appreciate it. 
 
Practice patience and understanding if this feeling does not arise, if instead there is pain, loss, or sadness that arises. This is perfectly natural and simply reveals the part of you that longs to receive the love and nurturing or is missing a loved one who has passed or is far away. Take some time to offer self-compassion and care toward yourself via a self-compassion break. This will awaken the feminine that lives with in you.
 
If instead you experience anger, fear or judgment, no worries- this is perfectly normal as well and represents the masculine part of you awakening to protect from any potential painful emotions and unmet needs that still exists deep inside. Practice patience and understanding that it can be scary and threatening to open up to any painful, hidden emotions or unmet needs. Take a moment to name what you are experiencing, take a few deep cleansing breaths, and then move on to another activity for now. 
 
Overcoming the conditioning in our culture is not easy, and certainly is not attained quickly. This may be one of the essential tasks in life, to uncover the lost parts of our self and become whole. All of our offerings at the Sacred Treehouse cultivate wise mind living, through practices of mindfulness and self compassion. Keep following us on FACEBOOK.
 
May all beings everywhere honor Mother Earth, and the feminine life-giving nature that lives within all of us. 
 
Happy Mother’s Day! With love,
 
Patty and the Sacred Treehouse Faculty

Lizzie:

I wanted to create my own retreat day at home and invited my mom to join, although many things emerged that challenged myintention. 

I awoke and practiced yoga outside, but I could hear my dad talking inside. The atmosphere was not the most peaceful. I decided to put on some music, that helped. Then my puppy Riley wanted to join, I accepted her love and loved her back and she went on her way. Sometimes you just need to give a little attention to an issue to resolve it.

As I started to enjoy breakfast and ginger tea, the modern pop music Big Bootie Mix started blaring from the outside speaker while my sister Tori practiced her Kickboxing… not a silent meal. Yet, I could still make it mindful by accepting my state of being and noticing what feelings and thoughts came up. By not remaining “attached” to my ideal “retreat day,”  it unfolded into a fun, relaxing, and wholesome day that included my family, along with tanning, reading, gardening, an@expandedpodcastDRE, and an overall sense of admiration for this beautiful world and all it’s beings. 

During my yoga practice, the flower used for the quote was opening, and each time I looked at it, it opened more #natureisamazing. I noticed the obstacles and turned them into a practice. The very  reason I practice mindfulness, meditation, and self reflection is to observe my reactions when I am interacting in the world, in order to remain in that state of BEING regardless of whatever life throws at me. I could have attached to the obstacles and become upset, frustrated or had given up,  but I chose to see a far bigger lesson, one of  ACCEPTANCE. 

Insta: @livewithliz or subscribe to Lizzieshutt.com 

Patty:

I was looking forward to spending a full day on retreat with Lizzie, so when our plans changed and the wish did not manifest, I let go completely until Lizzie invited me to join her on a half day home retreat. I really needed to give myself permission to do “NOTHING,” meaning nothing around the house or work related. I needed to check out and check in to regain my center. I decided to let go and allow myself to be inspired by Lizzie and led intuitively by what felt right in each moment. 

Just like Lizzie, I was confronted with the interruption of dogs barking, the doorbell ringing, and Tori playing her big booty mix while splashing in the pool. We repeatedly invited Tori to join – she lasted all of 20 minutes and left rolling her eyes at us. We both continued on… silently moving through the day. In the end, we sat reflecting with one another and sharing our experience and insights.  We both discovered that we  made a definitive choice to stay in the practice and allow whatever to arise – letting life be our practice. 

By allowing and not giving up or running away to a quieter place, we were truly able to take refuge in the moment, in awareness itself. Both of us discovered the sense of freedom and joy that was available to us right here, right now. 

First I allowed myself the time and space, and gave permission to put aside the to do list. Then, as the obstacles to the peaceful retreat emerged, an opportunity arose to detach and let go of the PLAN, which allowed us toaccept what unfolded. It was by far the loudest retreat I have ever experienced, packed full of opportunities to let go- let go- let go. In the end all that was left was LOVE, GRATITUDE, and JOY. 

Lizzie and I both hope to inspire others to let go, allow, accept and detach, because we trust that what you will discover in the end is an INNER PEACE of LOVE. 

With love and gratitude,

Lizzie and Patty and all  the Sacred Treehouse faculty

Confessions of an Introvert: The Gifts of Coronavirus

“There is a LIGHT in this world. A healing spirit more powerful than any darkness we may encounter. We sometime lose sight of this force when there is suffering, and too much pain. Then suddenly, the spirit will emerge through the lives of ordinary people who hear a call and answer in extraordinary ways.”
― Richard Attenborough
 
 
So… I must stay home??  
 
As an introvert, I can’t figure out how this could be bad. I’m fortunate to have a career that allows working from home, but always felt a twinge of guilt executing the option.  Should I be at the office, networking, socializing – like everyone else?  Introverts are energized by solitude and now, suddenly the world wants me to be alone!  Do I have enough yoga pants? Will my book list get some attention?  What will happen to my voice after 48 hours without conversation?
 
While I initially looked forward to the “New Normal”, something entirely different has manifested. This was not the introvert paradise I imagined.  After 30 days of social distancing, I recognized a profound change. Little gifts appeared daily. Here are some silver linings I have discovered:
 

• Gratitude for the Moment
  Death is inevitable. To die alone is terrifying. Is a stealthy virus hiding in the smiling faces of people you know? Yikes! My parents and significant other are vulnerable. Will our next kiss kill my boyfriend? I fear for what tomorrow brings; yet, here we are, safe in this moment. I am healthy and my important people are safe and healthy, too. I am thankful.
   
• Change = Opportunity
  Opportunities to change can only happen where we make the space for it.  For months I’ve struggled to add some healthier habits into my daily life, yet I was entrenched in a rut reinforced by decades of indifference.  Suddenly my old routine is irrelevant.  Everything is new, and adding in a positive change is just as easy as trying to retrofit a bad habit.  
   
• Family doesn’t just happen. 
  Family relationships are under the spotlight. I wanted to believe being at home with my children would bring us closer together, but it did not.  Time was not keeping us apart, it was effort. My children are introverts, so their natural routine includes more alone time.  Having time available did not mean they were ready to jump out of their rooms and play Scrabble with me.  I needed to make the move for us to connect. My effort is the key.  
   
• Everyone in our community is ‘Essential’.
  Introverts often exercise the “I don’t need anyone” option. Now I have a better view of our “interconnectedness.”  Medical professionals are taking huge risks to help others live.  Closed restaurants are feeding the unemployed and teenagers are bringing groceries to their elderly neighbors. From the delivery driver to the warehouse worker to the people who make toilet paper, every person is important and their contributions are all essential to our community.
   
• Time is a measurement, not an authority figure.  
  Last month, my life was dictated by the clock.  It’s time to wake up, time to go to work, time to make dinner. In the New Normal, time no longer wardens me. I can still have a schedule, but now it’s based on “what” I need to do and not “when” it needs to be done. I wake when I’m rested, work when inspired, and eat when hungry (or when my children “remind” me for the third time!)  Adjusting my schedule to my natural energy levels has made me much more productive. 
   
• United, we are strong.
  Nothing unites us like a common enemy. Covid-19 has no political preference, nor is it partial to any one nation.  It is the disease versus all humanity.  We are all in this together, and we must join together to survive.   
   
• I really do like people.  
  There, I said it. Introverts do have friends and after 30 days apart, I miss being with them. Not just communicating, but actually experiencing them.  I miss their energy, warmth and touch.  I have a deeper appreciation for all my relationships.

 
Coronavirus did not bring these gifts into my life, they always existed. The pandemic pushed me to open my eyes to find my way along this new path and as a result I can see all that is before me.  Sometimes fear narrows our focus so that we only see the tragedy.  But the light is always there.  When we can bring all into perspective, our suffering will ease ever so slightly, and our happiness will be that much more precious. 
 
May you and your loved ones be as healthy as possible, and may you be open to the many gifts hidden in this struggle.
 
 Lisa Ladomer, A Founding Treehugger at Sacred Treehouse
She put the Sacred in Sacred Treehouse and still does!

You + Earth = BFFS: Being Mindful of Our One & Only Planet

Earth Day is here and what better way to celebrate our beautiful planet than to be mindful of the waste we create! We live in a convenience-driven world. People are praised if they can make something cheaper, faster, and easier to access and highly valued when it saves us time, but often these inventions become detrimental to our ecosystems. 

This Earth Day, Wednesday April 22nd, I challenge you to:  A PLASTIC FREE DAY and perhaps even inviting the whole family to join efforts to reduce overall waste by playing the R.E.D.U.C.E. Game or engaging in some of the suggestions below. 

Humanity has caused much harm to the planet, resulting in more extreme weather patterns, enormous out of control fires, a reduction of natural habitats, an increase in species extinction. However, there is hope for humanity and nature to once again thrive alongside one another. This will not be easy because it requires breaking habits, trying new foods, or growing your own, and the changes needed often require people to step outside of their comfort. Some changes I have incorporated into my lifestyle is to minimize plastics, eat a plant-based diet, grow some of my own veggies and I started researching and buying products from companies who are B-corps. 

These changes are something that everyone can take proactively and you don’t need to wait for government legislation or the next flood to force a community change. I find it helpful to form connections with like-minded organizations and people in my direct community like, Wise Tribe and UNLITTER, to build support, learning opportunities, and especially for collaboration when it comes to inspiring change in others. 

I never saw myself as a “leader” yet others attach that label to me because I have become more vocal in sharing my love and commitment to healing nature and humanity and therefore cannot help but inspire others to join this necessary global effort. If you have time, or find you are bored during some of the downtime of COVID19 pandemic shutdown, take some time to research local organizations and get involved NOW. Of course I would love for you to become a #1000WiseTriber with me because we can definitely use the help right now (trying to feed 40 families for 6 weeks). There are endless ways to get involved and start making small changes. 

• You can do your part on a daily basis by utilizing your purchasing power to show companies what you want to support; it’s as easy as supply and demand. As consumers, we create the marketplace we want! Use Earth Day or the whole week ahead as a challenge to start being more mindful of the products you purchase, where did they originate, what are the ingredients I can’t even pronounce, what kind of package does it come in?  

• Cooking zero-waste meals, making your own natural home and self-care products, or walking to the grocery store (in ordinary times) are all such empowering acts. Seeing  a trash can fill up so quickly with just a few takeout containers breaks my heart, so I decided to give you all the tools you need to learn the essentials of living a zero-waste day!

*Disclaimer I believe that it is not always the most functional to be 100% zero-waste, so don’t kill yourself over it. If you’re trying that’s a good enough start! I’m going to aim these tips towards a plastic-free and reduced waste day, because you can reuse and recycle your “trash” too!

Play the R.E.D.U.C.E Game This Week!

Recycle. 

Eat more whole foods.

Ditch the paper goods.

Use containers, not plastic baggies.

Create uses for garbage.

Eat leftovers.

One of the biggest contributors to our trash cans is from cooking. This week for meal planning Hit The Produce Aisles!

The amazing thing about taking care of the planet is that it coincides with taking care of yourself. Choosing to buy plastic-free items helps reduce your consumption of processed foods and opens doors to eating more whole foods. 

An easy example would be choosing to buy a bunch of apples rather than containers of applesauce. The apples will contain more fiber to feed your gut microbes, less sugar, no added preservatives, and probably more nutrients compared to the apple sauce on the shelf. Just as the apple is good for you, eating it fresh removes the waste from the production of applesauce from polluting the Earth.

• Grocery Shopping Tip: Have you ever noticed the layout of a grocery store? 

For many stores it’s best to shop only on the outside aisles- think about it – those aisles are either the refrigerated or produce sections, these are the foods that are less processed and can also have less packaging. Choosing to eat whole plant foods is the safest bet to reduce waste, preserve the planet, and fuel your body all in one bite!

Here are a entree recipes on my site you can make to celebrate a plastic-free day! 

• Black bean sweet potato burger, skip buying the bun and use a lettuce wrap, choose to make sweet potato fries with them if you want it to be more filling!
• Sweet potato gnocchi

Note About Bulk Buying: Typically bulk shopping is the main go-to for plastic-free shopping, however during this pandemic groceries have shut down their bulk sections and pre-packaged items in plastic containers so funny enough we won’t be shopping there! For the future, I recommend finding a bulk department near you that you can bring reusable jars and containers to fill up on staples like: rice, beans, oats, granola, dried fruit, nuts etc. 

We all have daily habits that have developed over weeks or years and we simply don’t think about their consequences. I encourage you to be mindful of your daily habits, keep a list for the day about what you toss. Try to R.E.D.U.C.E. your waste this week!

5 Mindful Daily Habit Swaps:

• Keurig Coffee pods → a reusable pod, brew a pot of coffee, or green tea.
• Napkins →  cloth napkins or wash your hands when you’re through. 
• Plastic Cutlery → real dishes that will save you money long term.
• Soap bottles → bar soap made from natural ingredients: LUSH is my go-to store! Honestly their shampoo is the only one that can de-grease my crazy hair!
• Plastic Water Bottles →  a reusable one! 

Food for further thought:

Grow some of your own food or subscribe to a CSA to receive local farm fresh seasonal produce. Plants, both trees and crops, play a huge role in reducing climate change. Trees sequester and utilize CO2, a main greenhouse gas. While eating local seasonal organic crops reduces transport emissions, pesticide and fertilizer usage, and promotes a more natural agriculture field that will increase biodiversity and create habitat for native species. 

This is a lot to take in, it’s a lifestyle change that won’t happen overnight. I am always trying to learn and adopt new practices of mindfulness into my life. Cooking, eating, and shopping mindfully may save you a lot of money and the planet a lot of suffering. Treat yourself and the planet special this week and hopefully it inspires you for weeks to come! 

Happy Earth Day! May all beings everywhere be happy and free from suffering. 

“Live Dirty, Eat Clean & Green”, 

Lizzie Shutt
@livewliz 
Check out my blog here!

Every one of us is losing something precious to us. Lost opportunities, lost possibilities, feelings we can never get back again. That’s part of what it means to be alive.”
― Haruki Murakami, Kafka on the Shore

            Throughout the globe we as a collective human race are dealing with loss. And if we are all adjusting to loss, then we are all collectively in a grieving process. Americans as a breed are such do-ers that we often struggle with grief and loss because there is so little “to do” about the emptiness and pain it can create.  The restrictions and pain that are being felt worldwide are a call to those who can- to uplift in any way- to do so. That’s our collective call to action—do what you can to uplift. For some, this will be a time to find a deeper inner strength,  pool of calm and/or an inspiration inside that can be a springboard to assist others and light the way.  For others, this may be a time of such deep fear and grief it might take their breath away and immobilize them.  Most of us will fall somewhere in the middle and our reactions will reveal to us how we handle uncertainty, restriction, loss, sorrow, fear, loneliness or disappointment.

“Grief does not change you, Hazel. It reveals you.”
― John Green, The Fault in Our Stars

            For those who are primarily in adjustment to living with restrictions, cancellations and uncertainty, this is a moment of opportunity to take whatever Mindfulness or Awareness lessons you’ve gained to a new level.  Use all your tools to stay in the present moment, to navigate the waves of fear, take conscious action when needed and also see what this GLOBAL event can  teach us. Since the stay at home order was given, during every sunset my neighborhood is now filled with people on their front lawns, children playing on streets and sidewalks, dogs taking their families for a walk, people cruising on bikes and in golf carts, and lots of joggers/walkers. We are aware of each other in a palpable way and offering what help we can. Younger people are reaching out to older people, we are greeting each other with smiles and waves—it’s touching. Personally, I’ve cleaned out stuff I’ve been meaning to get to for years, called family members and friends who’ve I’ve been “meaning to call,” and slowed down enough to pay better attention to the needs of my family, my body, my garden and my Spirit. When tension arises, I lean on meditation, yoga, inspiration and wise friends to keep me from being pulled into the strong undertow of fear. Here are five simple ways to consider navigating this time and to find acceptance: peace, engagement, centeredness, and even joy during this time of quarantine:

• Slow down; enjoy more. Notice how good it feels to strive less and have life move more slowly– more time for loved ones and Life’s’ simple pleasures. 
• Find gratitude and abundance- here, now.Count your blessings, count your shoes, sort belongings, open your pantry, and really notice how much you have.
• Do one thing at a time.Create a practice of being undistracted and present with children, “family”, food, exercise, cooking, and work tasks. Apply this same practice to your use of TV, social media, alcohol/substances, snacking, and checking the market, to help maintain awareness and balance.
• Take action where you can, innovate when you need to and finally let go when all options have been explored. Action can reduce anxiety however it can also keep us spinning. Through discernment, find clarity to see what’s needed. 
• Connect with your loved ones, your neighbors, your community and your inner life. Many people are missing social contact and avenues of support. Find ways to increase your sense of connection and ability to serve others as able.

“Losing me will hurt; it will be the kind of pain that won’t feel real at first, 
and when it does, it will take her breath away.”
― Gayle Forman, If I Stay

            For those of you grieving the death of a loved one (or collapse of livelihood), your sense of loss and grief will be more intense and it’s critical that you find places of support. At first sudden loss may create a numbness or shock. This is actually protective because once the numb/shock wears off we are struck by waves of pain. Based on the kind of loss and how repetitive it is, the grieving could take longer to get through, but eventually healing will occur. If the death/loss “shouldn’t have been,” such as the loss of a child, sibling, spouse, partner and/or with someone who had been healthy prior to the virus, it is critical that you find someone to talk to who truly understands what you are
 living through. If you’re a medical provider or first responder and are living through repetitive exposure to loss, support is also critical so the traumatic nature of these times do not take root in you (such as with PTSD).   So much can be written about the myriad of ways we are impacted by deep grief and loss. However at first it’s key to understand what’s normal (and therefor healable) about the grief/loss response. 

 The following is a list of most common responses:

shock, numbness, disengagement, denial, anger, disbelief, hurt, pain, sorrow, “what if’s,” intrusive memories, poor focus and retention, crying jags, tiredness, going into hyper drive, “why bother,” talking to loved ones who’ve died, wanting to touch their things, going through photos, taking all the photos down, eating too much, not eating enough, unable to sleep and unable to get out of bed, and sometimes feeling alone with your grief.

After working for over 5 years as a Bereavement Counselor at a local hospice, I can tell you every one of my clients emerged from their grief; some slower than others, but healing eventually occurred. If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms, find someone who can support you exactly where you are– and most of all practice self-compassion. Grief and loss force us towards the deepest challenge there is to be human and so we need knowing, wise and gentle companions on the road to recovery.  

My sister will die over and over again for the rest of my life. Grief is forever.
 It doesn’t go away; it becomes a part of you, step for step, breath for breath. I will never stop grieving Bailey because I will never stop loving her. That’s just how it is. Grief and love are conjoined; you don’t get one without the other. All I can do is
 love her, and love the world, emulate her by living with daring and spirit and joy.” 
― Jandy Nelson, The Sky Is Everywhere 

Please stayed tuned to Sacred Treehouse facebook and email to receive offerings on the process of grief, loss, adjustment and healing. Take care of yourself and those in your world.

Sending Love and Compassion,

Anni and the Sacred Treehouse Faculty

We are all currently experiencing a significant traumatic event. For some, the effects (both short and long term) may be minor, and for others there will be significant effects that endure for some time. This is the reality of the COVID-19 pandemic and the current state of our world today.

Call it a grim outlook if you will. But in my line of work we encourage bringing awareness to suffering, “if you can name it you can tame it.” This allows for both a reprieve of the secondary effects of resisting and denial, and also promotes healing and resilience building. So now is the time more than ever to bring mindfulness to ourselves and our current, ongoing collective struggle. Many of our students recount daily how blessed they feel to have the tools to manage the overwhelming emotions and the rapid fire changes coming at us daily. Others find themselves reaching out for supportive tools and adaptive ways of coping with this pandemic and the unseen changes it is bringing with it on a local and global level.

So where to begin? Here is a simple, easy mnemonic you can refer to when you are feeling out of sorts. A “pro re nata” or “PRN” as-needed technique, if you will. 

P — Pause: Take the opportunity to literally stop whatever you are doing. Even if just a moment or two. Invite stillness, even if just in your physical state. 

R — Recognize: Recognize what you are experiencing physically, emotionally and mentally. Common early effects of having experienced a traumatic event include: fatigue, physical agitationor jumpiness, muscle tension, emotional numbing or flattened emotional expression, confusion, sadness, and anxiety. Tune in to what you notice without judging those things or pushing them away. Even label them with words as you observe what is here, like “tight shoulders” or “super tired” or “feeling heartbroken.” 

N — Normalize: Remind yourself that the things you are experiencing are absolutely to be expected in consideration of what we are collectively enduring. They are NORMAL reactions to an ABNORMAL situation. You are not crazy, weak or inadequate. Judging yourself harshly only adds salt to the proverbial wound. Please take this invitation to soften around the discomfort, acknowledging that your nervous system is responding to this threat to safety exactly how it is supposed to. 

Most importantly, always remember that you are not alone. The above PRN technique can be used often and might even be a part of a daily reflection to check-in with yourself about how you are managing. But also know that reaching out to others that understand your situation and who you can be honest and vulnerable with, can also be a powerful salve for suffering.

Follow us on facebookand share videos and stories about using the PRN tool.

May you be safe, healthy, and free!

Nikki and the Sacred Treehouse Faculty

I shared this quote from the author, Mark Nepo, last week in the Sacred Treehouse’s closing week of MSC class and I can attest that GRATITUDE is a practice that is getting many people through this ongoing Pandemic. Aldo and I had the pleasure and joy to be teaching an MSC, Mindful Self Compassion, 8 week class during the outbreak of COVID-19 and we were fortunate to get through class 7 in person, before moving the final class to ZOOM. I was blessed as a teacher to have the most amazing co-facilitator, who worked patiently with me and assisted in so many ways to make the class a true spiritual experience of love and compassion for all. Muchas gracias Aldo Gonzalez!

In MSC, week 1 through 7 focuses primarily on cultivating the skills and deepening our inner resources needed to manage the tough stuff in life, such as the pain, the suffering, and the misfortunes that are inherent in human life. Fortunately, just as we hit the time of social distancing required to flatten the curve of this virus spreading, along came class 8. The theme of class 8 was embracing the rest of our lives with mindfulness and self compassion and includes the practices of gratitude, savoring, and self appreciation. Aldo and I were disappointed and sad to end the class in a virtual format, yet to our surprise the love and connection of this group was so powerful it could be felt across miles as we gathered for our final class and the lessons were in perfect time.

In our final class, each of the participants expressed gratitude for the MSC course, for each other, and even us! The felt sense of community and caring at a time like this was the the exact medicine required for a time of uncertainty, fear, and change. It was the little unexpected things we experienced on ZOOM that quickly shifted our sadness and disappointment to gratitude and joy. For starters, the appearance of so many furry and feathered friends on the camera was a delight, followed by teenagers who were curious about what Mom was doing and what Dr. Shutt looked like, peeking into the computer.  The cherry on top was the loving compassion showed by a young child who rubbed his momma’s shoulder as tears rolled down her face during her share about the transformation she experienced in the class. I could literally feel our collective hearts melt. 

Fortunately, it is not the end of our opportunity to practice and learn together, as the graduates of this class are invited into the ongoing Tuesday evening Sacred Treehouse Sangha that is now being offered virtually each week at 6pm on ZOOM. One of the silver linings of this pandemic is the force it put on me to do the Sangha online and our ability to have all of our US and international snowbirds join us year round.

If you do not already have a daily gratitude practice, take a few minutes to make a list 10 things you are grateful for today. Let them be super simple, like ice, socks, coffee, a neighbors smile, lotion, Whits ice cream, the cool breeze, upbeat music, clean sheets, and quiet time. 

Some other ideas: 

• Establish a daily routine each evening to reflect or start a gratitude journal.
• Invite your family into the practice by having each member share something each evening at dinner.
• Send a text or a letter to someone different each day expressing your appreciation for something small.  
• Include yourself each day, appreciating yourself!

 I would love to hear about what you are grateful for today on Facebook.

With love and appreciation,

Patty and all the faculty and Sacred Treehouse. 

“The garden of love is green without limit and yields many fruits other than sorrow or joy. Love is beyond either condition: without spring, without autumn, it is always fresh.” 
– Rumi

Have you ever wanted to change your career or transform your life? In essence, this thought has planted a seed that can grow into change. As a garden grows, we flourish and change in life. We start as a small seed, and with proper care and nurturing, we grow. A plant grows with proper hydration, nutrition, and sunlight. A plant grows by the change of season. A plant grows with sunlight, oxygen and the soil of the earth.

Gardening has therapeutic benefits because it teaches us about life, healing, and control. Just as a seed flourishes and grows, we also evolve each day. A garden teaches us to learn to value and ground ourselves. Also just like a plant, we bloom and sprout. We also die and go back into the earth.  A garden teaches us to be present, to be mindful, and to let go and allow the cycle of birth and death to unfold again and again.  

We are not in complete control of life; a garden also is vulnerable to life. There are factors such as weather, bugs, and neglect that can affect growth. In life, we all have weathered the storm. We have had to deal with pain and conflict. When we learn to let go of control, we embrace peace; a flower learns to bloom. As each plant blooms, it is fragile with unexpected nature. It needs the nutrition and care to thrive. In each season, it can change. It might not have an abundant harvest. It might be a bounty of produce. 

I started my garden during a time of change in in my life, and it became a metaphor for a chapter of this life. As a dietitian, it also became a metaphor for my practice. It was symbolic of my passion. Nutrition is necessary for growth and development. With each season and with each year, we provide our body with the energy and needs to maintain body function. As an RD, I encourage my clients to embrace diversity and to learn to nurture themselves. I am passionate about my professional growth and each season that will manifest. 

We are each a unique flower – beautiful and growing each day. We need to breathe and be grounded. We need to be watered and fed. We need to be rooted in our needs and honor our season. We need to learn the skills to live in harmony with our surroundings. We need to learn to build strength against the elements that are not in our control. It is important to be mindful. 

My literal garden continues to grows each day and I planted a variety of vegetables, spices, and herbs to foster diversity. In turn I receive the sunshine and Vitamins with each harvested plant. I love to share my produce with colleagues, friends, and family, just as we share moments of laughter, sadness, and other experiences. The garden in my yard has become a metaphor for life and my practice. It provides me the time to reflect on growth and evolution. It reminds me every day the power of nutrition. It reminds me of the importance of my ability to educate clients on the importance of nurturing their bodies. most of all it brings me closer to what matters most and great joy in sharing the harvest.

Take time to harvest your life intention.  Take time to yield your abundance.  Take time to nurture.  Take time to be mindful of your own garden.

Lee Cotton