Hi friends. Welcome back to picture love. I'm going to have to very soon rerecord my intro because this show has definitely evolved. And it's partly because I'm evolving a lot. And I think that's part of our human journey is to understand that the only constant is change. And if that sounds too repetitive, because I've said it before, I guess that just goes to show I really believe it. But, today I did not do a good job of LIFE-ing. Have you ever had those days where you look back and you're like, boy, I could have done that better. And I'm not doing it from a place of,\ I'm not being down and critical, but definitely looking back and realizing there were things happening during the course of my day that in the moment it didn't feel good. And I just wasn't aware enough. I wasn't zoomed out enough to see myself and realize why things were so off. And I'll just take a few steps back. This episode is. Especially for those who have a light that other people look to for guidance. You know, whether it's leadership or you're that trusted friend that everybody knows they can go to and, and confide in, or maybe you're the one who people feel safe venting towards, and they know that you listen because you love and you're empathetic and you care and you want to help. So if, if you relate to any part of that, that's the really the person I'm speaking especially to today. And I noticed that the day got off to a really great start. I got an early start and, and a lot of the things I meant to do, I did. And I was. I was really in a good place. And then I discovered that there were people that I love who were not in that great space and I wanted to help because I can and because I love them. And it was more than one having a, having some rough patches all at the same time, whether it was in person or on the phone or in my messages. I got to the point where I was literally putting out fires that were not my own. They weren't my own fires to put out. Can you relate to that? Well, I just have such a well practiced habit of wanting to help and I want to introduce something that I am really working on. I believe it. I've, I've learned it to a degree, but it's not habit yet. And that is how to help without having to fix it. I don't, I'm not raising toddlers anymore. You know, I don't have the same roles as a mom. Um, my friendships have grown and developed. I don't have the same roles that I did once upon a time. Our marriage has evolved and we are in different stages of life and therefore our roles change. And so it's all logical. It's all logical, but when we have really well learned habits, those habits become, you know, neuropaths and they cause behaviors that are so well practiced that sometimes when we face new situations with old solutions. There's a lot less satisfaction that can result in that. Can you, can you relate? Well, I'm realizing looking back, you know, that old expression, are you picking up what I'm laying down today? I picked up way too much of what other people were laying down. That wasn't mine to pick up. It's really honestly what it is. And I'm not here to place blame and I'm not here. I have no regrets whatsoever, but I. My growth edge right now in this, this moment in my time is I want to develop a habit of curiosity, the kind of curiosity that makes you open your eyes, open your ears, close your lips and zoom out and take that bird's eye view out of with the intention of just gathering information and putting things in the context of a bigger picture. And if you hear my dog in the background, she completely agrees. She is schooling the other half of this marriage. I'm kidding. I'm totally joking right now. She just has a lot to say down the hall and I think she's cute. So I'm not going to edit her out, but so I have some, some questions for you. Do you identify as somebody who is emotionally sensitive? Are you sensitive to other people's emotions? I know I am. Um, when I think back of a time when I was first, maybe the most conscious of it was when I left my teaching career. And, um, I didn't realize how much freedom I wanted from the negativity that a lot of my colleagues Were not conscious of they, there were degrees of, of unrest and, and dis ease among my colleagues who were definitely overworked, under appreciated, underpaid, under compensated, under celebrated. And. They're just, they were many, many colors of genius that went unrecognized. And I wanted so much to give myself, and this was subconscious. It really was not something I could consciously verbalize at the time, but I wanted freedom from those emotions that I sat and ate lunch with and worked on concerts and programs with. And I wanted to free my heart from being in this sadness incubator. That I was teaching in and I've experienced that in multiple schools districts in different states here in the united states and While I loved teaching and I loved my students and I loved the music that we created together And I love the friendships that I developed with colleagues and staff and administration and and families um, there was just a lot of healing needed and I I And I didn't realize at the time that my healing couldn't happen until I left that situation. And I think we've all been in places where we outgrew them or, uh, they were just never a fit in the first place. And it was really important to move on. I mean, it can get that way with kids who are getting ready to graduate high school or different stages of, of their education. Kids of all ages, that is sorry. To the adult students out there who sometimes feel excluded with language like that. But for all of us, um, perpetual students, there are times where it's just time to graduate because you've absorbed and you've accomplished all you can at that stage, at that level, in that setting. So, I hope that wasn't too many tangents all at once. But yes, remembering that I needed to graduate from that teacher's lounge. I needed to move on from. That career, because I was, I was really sad because of the sadness I was surrounded with. Well, I had bits of that today, the same exact thing where, you know, people I love needed help. And, um, some of it I could do something about and others I couldn't, other situations I couldn't do anything about. But what I could do is show them I love and I care. And um, so that's what I want to spend more time developing habits and neuropath for is the ability to help without having to fix things. By being curious, we can gather information and observe myself and my physical response and my emotional response to other people's situations. I can love them. Um, and I can help without having to fix it. I'm going to give you an example of something that I did and you might call it a ritual or a prayer or there's just so many different ways to label this, but I call it my beach ritual and now that I live near, very conveniently from the Atlantic ocean, um, I love to go there at least a couple of times a week. And I will look for a shell on the beach. And I like to look for one that has lots and lots of holes in it. And I visualize that it's like a sponge. It's like an ocean sponge. And I like to, while I'm walking, um, Um, you know, listen to the sounds and the sights of the ocean and the people and the birds and the dogs that might be playing in the sand or, um, the birds that are fishing. And I just love to take it all in, but I like to infuse that shell, that Holy shell with love from my heart and I'll keep it in my hands and I'll keep it in my pockets and I'll even, um, Before I'm finished, hold it up to my heart and envision that love and light from my heart is just filling up every crevice. Of this beaten, battered, holy shell. And I invite it to just be filled up with my love. And then with gratitude, I fill it up with gratitude for the beautiful experience. And if there is somebody in particular who I want to send extra love to, I will include that too. And then with a thank you and a prayer. I wait for the right moment. And usually that moment is when the surf comes and unexpectedly splashes my feet because I don't do it in the ocean. It's a little cold for me right now, this season here in February and, and I'll throw it out into the ocean and I'll do it with the intention of transmuting. Um, any negativity, any sadness, any pain, any disease, any illness, um, anything that feels like the opposite of love and ease and healing. And I will just send it to the ocean with gratitude and love for her beauty and asking her. The waves to carry that away and transmute whatever needs to be transmuted and Deliver my love and messages and my gratitude wherever they need to go And so it's something that I and I don't even really like I thought I was there at the beach last week And I didn't even explain to any of my friends what I was doing But I was meeting a group of women there on the beach and before I left and you know I did my ritual and picked up my shell and had a little quiet, you know, moment for my ritual and they threw it in the ocean and it just felt good because then I go to sleep feeling like I'm sending those messages. It's like sending a thank you note in the mail. Except this one is through mother nature. And so if that feels good to you, please use it. You don't have to physically do it. You can visualize, you can put YouTube on and listen to the sound of surf or turn on social media, where there are beautiful people who love to do lives right there on the ocean and they're different parts of the world. And you can have that sound if you need to, but you can literally visualize having a shell in your hand. And wanting to infuse it with gratitude and love and support and healing and all of the positive intentions that you wish and asking for anything of unease to be transmuted the way it, you know, for the highest and the best. And so those are some of the ways that we can help without having to control a situation or having to physically. or logistically fix it. So that's something that I really hope, helps somebody today who's looking for a tool, a tool they can use, to help yourself and those that you love. And please don't ever forget that nature is, is there for us, but also needs us. And so there's nothing wrong with including a blessing. For the oceans, for the animals, for the sky, for the earth, whatever it is that is on your heart and your mind at that moment. And again, whether you do it physically in person or visualizing it in your mind and heart, it has the same effect. It's just one. You might have to clean the sand out of your toes and another way you might not have to, but sometimes we just need. To have quiet times to listen and, and care and not pick up the heavy burden that somebody else is carrying that's not ours to have, but by showing them that love or by expressing love on their behalf, it really does make a difference because I really think that we've been deceived. In this lifetime, I really, really believe in my core that we are all connected and we have just developed this society of based on beliefs of separation. I really feel like we are pieces of a whole and, you know, no matter what part of the world you're in or from or where you're living now, whether you know my name or I know yours, whether we've ever, ever held hands or not, it really doesn't make a difference. We are part of the same life time right now. And for that reason, I. I'm just extending my intention of extra love. I'm reaching my metaphorical and energetic handout to you and just offering you a shell, a shell full of love and good intentions and healing and, and a promise, a promise that I'm going to continue to practice loving. without having to always fix it. And that my friends is how I am picturing love in the world right now. And if that resonates with you, I invite you to join me and take the shell from my hand that I'm extending you and pay it forward. Share this episode with a friend and see if they will participate in this beautiful act of transmuting whatever needs transmuting and loving and honoring that which deserves to be noticed. And may we all develop curiosity muscles that allow us to see. What we might not, what we might be overlooking and allow us to hear what maybe we've been ignoring and to make space in our hearts for what really is meant to fill us up. All right. Until next time, just keep picturing love and maybe take a picture while you're at it I love you. See you next time. Bye. Bye.