" To everything, turn, turn, turn, There is a season, turn, turn, turn "

I don't know how many of you are familiar with this song written by Pete Seeger in the late 1950's and then rose to fame when performed by the iconic group The Byrds in 1965. 

It was adapted from a biblical excerpt from Ecclesiastes I discovered as I researched in preparation of this post.

Why am I sharing this with you? Well, I had an epiphany yesterday and want to share it with you.

I'm a busy person and, truth be told, I have always taken some degree of pride in being busy.  Many years ago, during an especially busy period in my life as a single parent, juggling full time plus work and trying to find my soul I took on the role of eucharistic minister and visited housebound elderly women to bring them communion.

I soon discovered that my visits went well beyond communion as I would stop by the Irish bakery and pick up some scones with jam and butter along with tea so we could chat together after I gave them communion and eventually, that became the focus of the visits. 

During one of the visits one of the women made a comment to me that has stuck all these years "if you want something done, ask a busy person".

Being busy has been my life's credo, I found my worth (and worthiness) in my busyness.

Just recently I was challenged about my busyness addiction. 

This year I wrote my 3rd book and additionally was invited to write three separate chapters for three separate publications (I have submitted two of them - whew - and look forward to wrapping the final one up soon). This is on top of running my own business, trying to pivot my services in the throws of a global pandemic to stay financially afloat while desperately wanting to be there for my children and be the best gosh darn mimi on the planet. 

As I was contemplating my 'what's next' with my business coach and outlining my Q1 priorities for 2021, I found myself dipping back into busyness, wanting to add more activities, commitments to my plate (actually I have been toying with a PhD program and what better time to pursue something like that than now, Right?!) - it's my default setting.

My wise and wonderful coach said: "Nature doesn't bloom all year round", cautioning, If I continue to try and bloom all year round I run the risk of burning out.

"Inspiration comes from being, not doing" - Mel MacIntyre

So, I went for a very long walk. I walked down by the river, processing Mel's wisdom. 

2020, and truly my whole life, has felt like I have been in the bush, the jungle, carving my way through my life, always surviving, doing busy like my life depended on it.

What would I do in the clearing? What would I do if I wasn't busy? Why am I obsessed with being busy?  

And, then, I walked by a tree. It was an old tree and all her leaves had already fallen.  She was mostly bare, save for a few residual dried up leaves.

On first glance, I thought she looked ugly.

And then came the epiphany!

If I wasn't busy 'blooming' people would see me bare and ugly; I realized my fear of being seen, vulnerable, standing still, no leaves, no blooms, no writing deadlines, no speaking gigs, meetings, no anything, just me .. being .. me.

As that feeling washed over me I stared at the bare tree, what was she showing me? She had some gnarly knots and squiggly wiry branches exposed now that her canopy lay crispy and decomposing all around her trunk.

I saw my fear and tried to calm her and in that moment I saw the tree in a completely different light.

She was strong and had the scars that highlighted her journey, her triumphs and her tribulations; she wore them proudly, no regrets. 

She began to look courageous, elegant and wise.  

She guarded the corner of the cemetery that abutted the street. I thought about her cycles through the seasons, watching over, comforting, shading loved ones who have left this world and also comforting those who were left behind.   

I realized her need to rest and hibernate in order to fulfill her destiny not only to her next canopy but to those she comforted, those she guarded, protected, impacted by her simple, solid presence. 

Her leaves, decomposing on the ground, provided nourishment to the earth and the ecosystem that resided just above and below the surface.  Even in her current state, bare and barren she was giving while she was resting, restoring and rejuvenating herself.

And I thought...

Maybe I could hibernate too? Maybe I have planted enough seeds this season, bloomed long and strong enough.  Maybe it's time to release busy and just be for awhile, for a season.

I watched the the dried tall grass along the river sway in the breeze, just moving with the wind, no resistance, no expectations, simply in sync with nature, enjoying the present moment.

As 2020 winds down, I invite you to join me, release your busy and enjoy the lusciousness of being simply, elegantly and beautifully YOU!

Trust me, I know it's not easy, but we can do this together. 

I'm a little afraid of leaving busy. I don't know what I will find in the clearing, but after my walk I am a little less afraid and starting to feel excitement about leaving the jungle of busy behind.

In the clearing I can lay on my back and gaze up at the stars, I can run, and dance and sing in the clearing.  I am free of the snare of busy; I get to choose instead of react in the clearing.

But, I know I have to prepare myself for this new experience, I need to be intentional, otherwise my old ways of 'being' (my default setting) will take over and I will be right back to my busyness existence stuck, as if in quicksand.

In building the content for the  Trauma Informed Professional Certificate Program  I am preparing myself for the new me and a new life of being that informs my doing. 

As my team and I have been creating the content for the Advocacy Attribute, I have been reminded of how all aspects of  being  interlace with each other; how crucial it is that our actions, our doing, be informed by our being. 

This is the magic we bring to the sacred caring moments we create to ease the suffering of other and of ourselves.

Trauma informed developmental care is the overarching framework that encompasses all aspects of wholeness for the babies and families we serve, and for ourselves as well. 

This model embraces all ways of providing developmentally supportive care to ensure consistently reliable, compassionate, evidence-based care.

I invite you to reignite your passion and purpose to bring meaningful connection to the service you provide to vulnerable individuals around the world through certification as a  Trauma Informed Professional. 

Through December 31st, tuition for this assessment-based certificate program is 50% off the standard tuition that will take effect January 1st.

Don't miss this opportunity, enroll now, even if you can't begin till next year to take advantage of this special early bird pricing

ENROLL TODAY

Clicking this button will bring you to the program overview page and two different pricing options:  Pay-in-Full ($749.00) and an installment option ($267.00 x 3) (final pricing = $801.00) 

The suffering alleviated through the adoption of a trauma informed approach goes beyond the physical; it is the emotional, psychological and spiritual suffering humans experience in crisis that must be alleviated.

It is the suffering of the baby and family, but also the suffering of health care professionals who bear witness to tragedy and trauma in the course of their service to other every day.  

“I swore never to be silent whenever and wherever human beings endure suffering and humiliation. We must take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.”
― Elie Wiesel  

Have any questions?  Interested in enrolling your team? 

We do have group discounts available!

Schedule a call with me next week and take advantage of this super early bird tuition for the  Trauma Informed Professional Certificate Program  before it expires, December 31st, 2020.

I want to learn more!  

Our current cohort represents professionals from the  NICU, CICU, OB/GYN, Industry, former NICU Parents  and beyond. 

This  certificate program  is for  ALL  who interface with vulnerable individuals, families and the clinicians who serve them.

I look forward to sharing this journey with you.

Thanks for reading me. 

Stay safe

Mary