Design your December – What Feeds Your Soul?

As the year draws to a close, we tend to get introspective, looking at what we have accomplished, what we hope to get done and what we will do differently in the coming year.   Many of us may experience feelings of regret or find ourselves stressed, anxious or frustrated about where we are now. 

Since we cannot change the past, rather than looking back and berating ourselves, we can give ourselves the gift of looking forward.

We may have started the year with a list of things we wished to accomplish, or perhaps we created a set of New Year’s resolutions such a losing weight, learning a new skill, or getting our health on track.  As the year went  along, unexpected situations may have changed that trajectory.  These small, incidental shifts changed the path we had planned.  Sometimes these unexpected changes take us in a direction we have not considered moving in, but this change serves us well.what feeds your soul?  Often, though, these unexpected situations simply change our path without us noticing the impact – only when we stop and look at what we had planned do we see the effect.

Who you were at the start of the year is not who you are now.  Every day, every moment and with every interaction, you grow and change.   Thus, what you wanted at the beginning of the year is likely quite different to what feeds your Soul now.  You may have the same desires, such as having a relationship, but what you consider important surrounding that desire, has likely changed.  Instead of looking at what you wish you had at this time in your life, let go of what has passed and choose today as a fresh start. 

What calls to you – do have a passion project, an idea, a product or resource that you feel called to bring to the world?  Maybe it is still a seed, not yet formed.   Get a blank journal and write down what it would look like at the height of the project or product’s success, and the impact it would have.  Get inspired and use this inspiration to take a small step towards making this dream a reality. Your dream could be to write a book, as I did – this step you take could be outlining what you wish to share. Play and have fun – there are no limits, only the ones you impose on yourself.

Choose the direction you grow in.  If you spend time with negative, angry people, you will find yourself feeling negative and angry all the time.  Spend time with people who are your cheerleaders, and you will find that you have more achievements than you realize, to show for it.

What one thing have you been wanting to do for you?  Perhaps it is treating yourself to a day of self-care – a meditation, relaxation, reading a book, going out with friends, or allowing yourself space for personal growth.  Make a list of things you would like to do, just for you, and choose one thing from that list to do each week of December.  Feeding your Soul allows you to bring your best to everyone around you.

Design your December to be a fulfilling and joyful month, and close the year in a way that feeds your Soul.

Many Blessings,

Santa

RUNNING THROUGH DARKNESS
MEMOIR OF A SPIRITUAL WARRIOR

BY SANTA MOLINA-MARSHALL ‧ RELEASE DATE: MAY 3, 2022

This debut memoir chronicles a woman’s spiritual exploration and growth as she overcame a disturbing childhood and helped others heal.

Brought to America from the Dominican Republic as a youngster, Molina-Marshall should have led a happy life. Her father was a diligent worker, and his large family wanted for nothing. But the author recounts that her dad had a drinking problem and was a serial philanderer. Molina-Marshall’s long-suffering mother left him for a woman. Then it was all downhill for the bright, 12-year-old girl, who was shuttled between foster care and relatives. According to the author, she was sexually abused by the husband of one of her siblings. This resulted in Molina-Marshall becoming alienated and moody. By 15, she simply tried to survive. In her favor were grit and a restless intelligence. She quit school, rented a room, and found a factory job. Time went by, and for a while she was happily married. Yet when her husband left her, her life truly began. She turned to religion for answers but decided that blaming God for her woes was a cop-out. 

In this absorbing and moving memoir, Molina-Marshall’s vivid storytelling is fearless. She frankly discusses the truths she discovered and the indignities she suffered. These admissions are disclosed with a touch of resignation and plenty of bite. However painful, everything she experienced was a lesson, and she bravely realized that she was part of the problem: “The fear of being hurt, rejected, or abused often led to me feeling lonely and misunderstood. No one knew the agonizing pain I felt being trapped in my thoughts and anger. I was becoming my biggest threat.” 

The author skillfully recounts her intricate spiritual journey. To deal with her psychic wounds, she searched for an inspirational system. Her open-mindedness led her to the interfaith concept—cherry-picking from various religions and spiritual movements, yoga, and Indigenous beliefs as a way of finding peace. Along with her female partner, she built a therapy practice, making use of every spiritual element that aided her and others. The road was bumpy, and she found that women of color in same-sex relationships were not welcomed everywhere. To do good works—and finally live on her own terms—she effectively overcame bigotry.

An engrossing, cathartic account of empathy and success through determination and confidence.

Pub Date: May 3, 2022   |    ISBN: 978-0-578-38315-6  |   Page Count: 264    | Publisher: From Trauma to Triumph  |   Review Posted Online: June 13, 2022