We can own our story, where we’ve come from, the mistakes, heartache, and struggle, and choose to write and embody a new story for our life.
I’ve experienced more than enough loss and grief for a lifetime. Certainly way more than any of my friends. I’ve said goodbye to grandparents and aunts and uncles mostly to cancer, I helped my family bury my mom 18 years ago and my dad 7 years ago after watching cancer destroy their bodies. And almost 10 months ago, at the time that I’m writing this, my beautiful 23-year-old son, my firstborn, left this world.
Unfortunately, because I’m 49 I also know that there’s a slim chance that I’m getting out of this world without holding space for more people I love as they leave their time on earth, more unexpected and tragic goodbyes, more challenges to come, more sitting deep in discomfort and remembering to breathe.
We are strong enough to do this
We are strong enough to do this. I know this often doesn’t feel true – life can be hard. But we don’t have to figure it all out at once. One breath at a time, one moment or hour at a time, we are strong enough to do this. Living fully often hurts. But it’s worth it.
I also want to share that you are allowed, you can give yourself permission, to feel it all. To feel and give voice to your anger, guilt, rage, despair, comfort, hope, peace, and even joy as you walk the lonely, bumpy, horrendously rough terrain of grief.
You have permission to feel it all and to tell the truth about it all. Not everyone will know how to hold space for you, you may lose some friendships exactly when you need them most, you may feel raw and weary but you are strong enough to do this work.
You are strong enough to do this work, friend. We don’t have to be perfectly strong, always strong, or independently strong. Just strong enough in every moment to take one more breath, one more step forward, or send one quick text asking for help when we feel like we’re drowning. I’m telling you what I need to hear. What I repeat to myself these days.
We grow into the strength that we need for every season.
what does it mean to embody A NEW STORY?
The dictionary defines “embodiment” as “the representation or expression of something in a tangible or visible form.” Somatic teacher Prentis Hemphill teaches that “embodiment is what is currently practiced or habituated in us. It is also the process of becoming more aware of and practiced in behaviors.”
There are times where we come up to a crossroads. We come to the end of ourselves or the end of our story. This is a pivotal time in life in which we must exercise our power of choice, our agency, and choose our path forward.
No matter where we’ve come from, we get to keep writing a new story for our life.
Old wounds can be stitched up. Old instinctual patterns of thought, emotion, and behaviour can be replaced with new patterns. You can acknowledge reality, the joy and the pain, and turn your heart forward to embody a new vision for your self and your life.
We can’t grieve our losses until we name them.
Linda Thai
10 posts to help you reclaim your voice and agency and embody a new story for your life
REMEMBER: To walk in freedom and feel safe, at home, and joyful in your body and your life you must reclaim your voice and your agency, embody a new story for your life, offer your light, and trust that we grow into the strength that we need for each season.
HOW TO SHOW UP WITH STRENGTH WHEN YOU MUST BEGIN AGAIN
Forced or willingly there come times in life when familiar ground falls away and we are thrust into turbulence or transition and must begin again. Read the full post here.
WHY FEELING STUCK MIGHT ACTUALLY BE A HAPPY THING
Feeling stuck can be a signal that you’re listening in enough to realize you are being called into deeper self-awareness, toward growth or shedding what no longer serves. If you’re feeling stuck, you have work to do. You’re being called to wake up and pay attention. Read the full post.
I DECIDED TO FULLY LIVE EACH MESSY AND BEAUTIFUL DAY
Deciding to live is also about showing up each day awake and aware, willing to taste what comes your way: the joy, the anxiety, the exasperation, the delight; the wins, the struggle, the sunshine, and long nights. It means slowing down and noticing the gifts of each ordinary day. Read the full post.
7 Self-Care Practices for When Life Feels Painful
In painful seasons of life when it feels like we’re drowning it can feel incredibly hard to see our way forward. These 7 self-care practices help me show up when life is painful. Read the full post here.
IT TAKES COURAGE TO BECOME WHO YOU REALLY ARE
None of us have truly “easy” lives. We all encounter struggle and opportunity to sink or rise above. We each receive the same invitation to growth. Life will happen either way, but our experience of life will vary wildly depending on whether or not we accept the invitation. Read the full post.
TURNING 50: CLOSING OUT A DECADE OF STRENGTH AND STRUGGLE
The past decade of my life has been full of sorrow and pain, practicing strength and bravery, but joy, adventure, deep growth, and day upon day of ordinary beauty too. It all came tangled up together and I’ve decided to embrace it all. If I want to live fully, I see no way around this. Read the full post.
You Can write and embody a new story for your life
I saw myself carrying sloppy buckets of joy, one in each hand. They splashed over onto my bare feet as I slowly walked up the grassy path. Moments before I saw in my mind’s eye a big gaping wound being stitched up and *heard* the clear, resounding thought: “this is no longer your story. You will write a new story.” Read the full post.
a journey TO FREEDOM OR HOW TO BECOME REAL
I suspect when most people envision a life of freedom, it mostly looks neat and tidy, shiny, orderly, all wrapped up with a big, bright bow. But what if REAL FREEDOM, in actuality, feels much more like messiness, adventure, risk-taking, stretching, questioning, fighting, releasing, allowing, receiving, savouring, and trusting? Read the full post.
TO THE LATE BLOOMERS: IT’S NOT TOO LATE
If you feel like you’ve missed the boat, or haven’t ‘made it’ yet, I want to encourage you to reframe this. Instead, look at the remaining years of your life as full of opportunity, no matter what your past looks like. You get to bloom, more than once, and when you are ready, not when the world thinks you should. Read the full post.
rebranding middle age: learning to feel safe, at home, and joyful in your body and your life
Coming Autumn 2022. In the meantime enjoy a free workshop and learn how to feel safe, at home, and joyful in your body and your life. Enjoy the workshop!
NOW WHAT? RESOURCES TO HELP YOU live whole and brave and embody a new story for your life
Take another intentional step.
join other brave, weary, and curious women doing their own work
The Brave and Beautiful Membership Community is one way that as brave, curious, and weary women+ in the messy middle of life we can gather together, forge healthy relationships, and practice choosing our response to life. You’ll receive quality evidence-based education, weekly coaching, and an invitation to quarterly workshops to nourish and strengthen you mind, emotion, and body. The BB provides connection with other interesting and growth-minded humans from different corners of the world and can help us live healthier and joyful lives because the journey is best made in brave community. Learn more or join the waitlist here.
let’s work together through private coaching
Acknowledge your agency and power of choice and use it to build a life and world you want to live in. Recognize that we grow into the strength we need and find our way in action, not before. Develop strategies for getting unstuck when needed and take responsibility for learning the tools that will allow you to write and embody a new story for your life. Learn how we can work together.