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Some days the world feels like a lot to carry. The headlines, the worries, the storms both out there and inside us. If you've felt that weight lately, you're not alone. And you're exactly who we're thinking of this month.
In just a few days, we're honored to welcome Maria Sirois for a free talk on why beauty and goodness matter in a world of chaos. Maria is a beloved psychologist, author, and speaker whose words have a way of steadying the heart. To give you a sense of her voice, we wanted to share a few reflections from her writing.
In a blog post from this spring, Maria invites us to find what she calls a "stable lane" — that place of secure and solid knowing that holds us firmly in our better selves, even as the headlines shout the disasters of the day. She writes: "Wouldn't it be wonderful to wake in the morning with a steadfast heart and a mind at ease?"
Drawing on wisdom from writers like Louisa May Alcott and John Muir, Maria reminds us that storms are part of the natural cycle of living, and that within each of us is the possibility of a steady compass heading.
She offers three simple practices for finding that grounded knowing:
When agitated, pause long enough to become wise. Quieting the mind and heart gives us the best chance of choosing a better next step.
When tired, rest. Now, more than ever, recovery matters. We need respite to fight the fights that are meaningful.
Track the good. Hang with those who lift you. Savor the best moments of the day. Seek beauty in all its forms. As Maria puts it, "The good is everywhere — within us and around us."
Her closing words in her April blog post say it best:
"I don't know anyone who isn't fighting a powerful fight in some way at this time... As we find our way to steady, or steadier, we do come to know our strengths, but also our ability to be facing these oceanic waves and craft our living anyway. Steady, ho my friends. Steady ho."
We hope you'll join us for her talk on Wednesday, August 5th. Whether you come for the wisdom, the community, or simply an hour of calm, there's a place for you in the room -- in person or online. See the registration link below. Or sign up for a Peer Wellness Coaching appointment to help you think thru how to put these ideas into practice in your own life.
With warmth,
Gwynne and the Helping Our Women Team
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