Sending Love

I haven't been able to write because there are times when words don't seem to make sense...

...times like right now in the mountain communities of western North Carolina who continue to live with the aftermath of hurricane Helene.

So instead of words, let's just take a moment together.

I invite you to close your eyes, place your hand on your heart and to fill your heart with your breath and with love. Then imagine sending this love to everyone there, your love is so big and so wide it covers the entire region yet also fills each and every human heart.

Thank you so much for taking that moment with me, I know it is deeply felt.

As the weather turns and the winter season begins to set in there are still many displaced people and families needing support. If you would like to help by donating, BeLoved Asheville is a wonderful local agency. Mountain Strong is in the hard hit mountain communities of Burnsville.  Renew NC is another local agency that connects you to individual families. The United Way and Red Cross are also in these areas and accepting donations.

And, I just want to take a moment to honor the people who have jumped to the call for help. We've seen a lot of pictures of big burly men, but one of the burliest humans I know is this woman, my friend Anna Jones, who not only filled her car with chain saws, gasoline, and essential supplies and drove it up right away, but then turned around and came back again and used her expertise as an equipment operator to help out for days on end. Oh yeah, and she's a belly dancer too!

If you get a chance today, give your loved ones an extra long hug, remember to fill your cup and make sure your essential needs are met so you can be there for your kiddos and anyone else who needs your support. Safety begins with the presence of human connection; it will be an essential element of rebuilding. We can start by sharing this connection, a presence of kindness, curiosity, calmness and caring with our loved ones.

with so much love,

Vanessa