Navigating the New Old World

We once again find ourselves shifting our lives. For the past two plus years, we were in a state of lockdown, and though restrictions were gradually eased, many of us haven’t felt completely free.

We adapted to the restrictions and now that they have been lifted, we are once again left figuring out our current version of normal. For many of us, we changed our lifestyle so much, that going back to the lifestyle we lived pre-lockdown, is foreign. From learning and studying, to where we went, what activities we could do, and even how often we brought groceries, changed. Now that the restrictions imposed on us are no longer valid, in a sense, we are having to rethink and restructure our lives. This may feel like a heady sense of freedom, with a dose of fear, as we go into summer.

Live the moment

Navigating this change can feel overwhelming.

  • Too much choice can lead to us feeling chaotic and doing nothing.
    Now that we can go anywhere, do anything and we are not restricted, we get to truly experience life again. When you feel overwhelmed, stop, breathe and recenter. Take time to clear your head and give yourself permission to embrace this new version of the country you live in – doing this gives you the clarity to make a decision. Once you have done this, what is your chosen path?

  • Having no enforced limits again, we need to take time to see if the past imposed limits have become habits, and we have now become the ones limiting ourselves. Is there something you have wanted to do that you could not do before? Could you now take action to make that happen? What is the one thing you would like to do this week, that is within your budget, and you can create the time to do? When are you scheduling it on your calendar?

  • We may also find ourselves living in fear – the fear that this new freedom could disappear; fear that what caused it to be there in the first place, is still lurking. Ask yourself if this fear is valid. Does this fear come from you or perhaps something you heard or read? Do you really believe it? Close your eyes, connect to Source/God/Universe and from this connected place, ask yourself if you really do believe that what you fear is possible. Often the fears we hold are not really our own beliefs, but rather the beliefs that we unconsciously adopted.

Summer is on our doorstep. We can choose to step forward bravely and embrace the gifts we just received – the sense of freedom, the reclaiming of possibility and the blessing of choice. Let’s celebrate our growth, our resilience, and the choices the lie before us.

What will you do to embrace this new freedom today?  Share and inspire others.

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