I wish I could say that I am holier than thou and have felt nothing but surrender and gratitude this last week.
Since my best friend and soulmate, our Great Dane Opal, suddenly passed away last week with next to no warning, I have gone through the 5 stages of grief seemingly over and over and over.
When on top of that all sorts of bizarre business challenges popped up insistingly every single day of this grief fogged week, I did a lot of being angry and feeling sorry for myself and raging at god (I thought I might try that but didn't do much good). Lots of denial, anger, bargaining, depression and brief moments of acceptance.
Then my other dog got very ill. Diagnosis: total immune system failure from grief. She is struggling right now to make it back. Please send lots of healing energy.
Emotions are a powerful thing.
They can empower or destroy us.
The biggest lesson I got this week is that I can choose my emotions and that this choice is the most powerful weapon in my artillery, and that time, patience and the love of friends and family are my most valuable assets.
I am so grateful for every minute that Opal shared our lives--I used to tell her that every single day.
I am so grateful for all of you and the immense outpouring of love and sympathy that keeps arriving.
I am so grateful for the challenges and the light they shed on areas of improvement which forces me to become even more supported--a great long term business plan.
I am immensely grateful for the moments when I could be present to the gift of life I just received.
The only time I have felt I could make it through this is when I have surrendered and asked for the learning.
I am still listening--when I have those good moments.
Challenges, no matter how insurmountable they seem at the time are precious gifts. As humans and as entrepreneurs, those challenges are the biggest blessings when we can surrender and ask "what is this telling me?"
As you spend your day of giving thanks and this next weekend, take some time looking at where there are some hiccups and areas of discomfort in your life and give it some time to breathe. Don't run. Attempt a smile, take a deep breath, feel it in your body and ask for a new perspective that comes with letting go of resistance.
Big Love,
-Simone