Butterflies, Beaches and Bored Meetings!

Have you ever marveled at how a butterfly could begin life, stuck away in a cocoon yetbecome so wondrously transformedinto a creature ofbrilliance, magnificence and movement?

Ever imagined that the ocean mightactually bereplenishingitself with each wave that breaks uponthe shore? Seemingly bringing ingood news to the shore before rolling back to take away all the stuff that was not meant to be.

Ever marveled athowdew-drops provide the first quenching tothe thirsty earth, as the first light of day dawns in?

What about the resilience of trees under the harshest of storms, bending to take the wind, yet bracing itself to stand again, after the storm passes?

Lessons are abundant in the realms of nature and we can use the environment as the first response to our selfcare repertoire. Our blueprint to self-care.

The power of nature to transform, heal and position our trust in, is such a fortune to humanity.

My life has been perceivedby some as one of sheer and idle luxury, after all, it seems I am always at play. Perception can be so irrelevant when one understands the importance of prioritizing play to make sure that work can always be effectivelyexecuted.

As empaths and in our general human interactions, (relevant toourpersonality types), we expendand engagemany types of energies and emotions that are part of our work and journeys of service. If we do not establish terms for refilling our wells andkeeping balance, it will become such an overwhelming life - that might rapidly be classified as an "existence".

Self care and healing haveto begin with first being truthful with self and to establishing and confronting what triggers our emotions and makes ussad, happy, angry, calm, excited and all the otheremotions in between. Mastering self and emotions is the first step to connecting with the positiveoutcomes that are expected.

Carving out specific time to regroup is one of the most important gifts one can give to oneself and it must become one of the habits that are incubated and included in the personal success formula. It must be done truthfully and loyally and should be a non-negotiable application.

I never feel guilty about self care, even when remarks were made about the carefree life that I adopted and more so, when one measures my diverse categories andlevels of daily responsibilities - even without children. For me, I took a conscious effort to learn how to prioritize self-care in my insanely demanding routine and in a sometimes "uncaring" world.

For me, my "self-priority"startedafter the loss ofmy father, whodied very suddenly of a massive heartattack, hoursafter celebrating an enjoyable and very festive Father's Day with me. I was broken and torn apart and had to seek out grief therapies to come to terms with this trauma and sudden loss.I alsofelt compelled to obtaining the keys tolife's secret and sacred codesto keeping a healthybalance on myown terms. I was vulnerable but knew there was a healing that was in our natural habitats that would bring joy because it was from a simple and familiar space.Thereafter, my new mantra became"embrace every moment -leave nothing undone".

So,together with a few friends who shareda few responsibilities in common - self employed being at the fore of our similarities,wecreated a weekly "Bored Meeting" which consisted of getting together to avert"boredom", while using nature as our backdrop for rejuvenation, pleasant exchanges, laughter and a few fun moments to be downright silly. Somejokingly saidwe wereall "Bored of being Directors"and all needed to retreat for our own sakes and that of those we served.

Our weekly "Bored Meetings" were "chaired" at Maracas Beach - Trinidad and Tobagoand our"committee"grew over the years. We began by taking our own chairs to the beach,then began supporting local small business by renting from the local beach entrepreneurs. Our"meetings" also evolved as some of our peerstook on new responsibilities in their families and careers but they also benefited from the actions that were already cementedin those days ofweekly commitment.

Today our "Bored Meetings" have become rebranded as self-care days and while we don't all congregate at the same time, we all continue the same action in some form or fashion - keeping in touch and articulatingour intent to self-love, self-care and self-protecton our own terms.

The ocean has healing properties, water has the most calming effect on our senses and most of all, we are all made of and formed from water from our conception and creation. Why else should we be fearful of finding or acknowledgingour ground-zero and taking a moment to get our cocoons chipped away so we can emerge healed;soaring in the wide open air and tastingthe freshness of life?

My self care mechanismsupports my connection with nature while placing nature as a central source for love, healing, meditation, rejuvenation and renewal and not to mention a ton load offun! Who can ever stay Bored for long?

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