Greetings!

As I look at the magnolia tree in my backyard, I realize I haven’t sent a Sanity Tips note since last December. Then I was in the midst of chemo treatments for my breast cancer, not knowing what the outcome would be. The photo I sent with that note was of the Christmas cactus in our meditation room.

Today I send my beloved star magnolia to you. The tree and I happily announce to you: “We are alive and well. Here’s to Spring sunshine and glorious new blooms!”  

Thanks to the great care of the Yale-New Haven Smilow team, the abundant love and support of so many, and my own life resiliency, I am on “the other side” of treatments and surgery. In the words of my oncologist, “No more chemo, no radiation needed. Just live your life. But remember to take it easy.”

You may not know how precious that star magnolia tree is to me. When I chose a tree to plant in our backyard years ago, I knew I wanted one to remind me of my southern roots, my Kentucky home. Like me, this star magnolia is a transplant to a vastly different, always changing New England atmosphere. Would we survive? Thankfully, we are thriving. But how delicate, how precious, each petal.

While I rejoice at the vibrancy of my own life here in New Haven, I am stunned and horrified by the recent brutal murders in my home town of Louisville, as well as the children slaughtered in my neighboring state of Tennessee. I join with the mothers and teachers and classmates and State Representatives in Tennessee in their resolve to stop the madness...and with the mothers and fathers around the world who are every day losing their precious children to senseless violence.

What will it take for us human beings to wise up…to truly care for our deepest selves and our delicate connections with each other? I don’t know. If you have ideas, please send them to me.

My closing message is the same as what I wrote in the Christmas cactus note:

May 2023 bring more clarity and simple compassion to each of us and to our world.

Warm hugs,
Oasis Sanity Tip

Take some time today to ponder violence.
   Ask yourself:

  1. What does violence mean to me?
  2. When I feel violated, how do I feel? How do I usually react/respond? …How do I want to react/respond?
  3. What is one situation of violence that catches my awareness today? How do I choose to respond to this situation?
  4. What word or feeling would I use to “replace” violence?

Personal example: When I see a little child playing with scissors, I don’t just take the scissors away, I offer a safe alternative to replace the scissors.
Instead of violence, what would I rather have…?
 
 I will be happy to know your responses. E me here.
STAY CONNECTED WITH US!!!
Millie Grenough discovered her own Oasis after a near-death accident shook her out of her fast and furious lifestyle. During her months of recuperation Millie developed the 60-second Oasis Strategies that have helped thousands of people around the world. Millie's Oasis Training Program has graduates throughout the USA and in the Netherlands, Panama, Puerto Rico and New Zealand.. Her books, trainings, international presentations, and coaching have helped people ranging from Casino VPs, US Army Officers and University Deans, to overworked health personnel, prison inmates, and harried parents. 

Millie is an International Coach Federation Professional Coach, a Clinical Instructor in Psychiatry at the Yale University School of Medicine, Licensed Clinical Social Worker and is certified in EMDR-Level II with a specialty in Performance Enhancement. Her trainings are authorized for CCEs by the International Coach Federation.

These occasional Oasis e-notes are for you: to offer little sanity tips, stories from life, and simple invitations to make your life healthier and happier. Please let us know if there is a special topic you would like addressed.
  
©2022 Millie Grenough. All Rights Reserved. Oasis in the Overwhelm™ is a registered trademark.
Written and produced by Millie Grenough.
I invite you to forward this e-note to others. Reprintable when full credit is given.
If you have any questions or comments, or for reprint permission of this newsletter,
please email: millie@milliegrenough.com

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