I am currently unwinding after what was a fulfilling, magical weekend at Caring Hearts Camp (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FoMrfFUeIv4). Each year, twice a year, I have the privilege of volunteering at a grief camp for children. Consistently, I am in awe of the brave, young souls that I come in contact with. I am overwhelmed with emotion and I leave hoping that I have impacted them in a way that they have impacted me.
We spend the weekend moving between activities focused on grief and activities that are simply, fun. We work hard to create a safe place for these children and to give them an opportunity to be ‘kids’ amongst their tragedies. We provide light in the darkness, comfort during a good cry and permission to follow the giggles up with genuine smiles. These children are the guiding force, we follow their lead-we follow their instincts.
Children. They are resilient. They are honest, they are courageous, they are driven by intuition. Their emotions are raw, authentic, and very close to the surface. As adults, we have a lot to learn from these powerful minds; we need to learn how to go back to what is simple. This group of children taught me many lessons in living over the course of the weekend. Below are three of the lessons I encourage you to get back to.
Let Go.
We hold on to so many things; so much weight, so much baggage. It is heavy and rarely do we ever ask for help. Some things we cannot change, we cannot fix, they will not go away. Stop dragging this weight around; let go of the ribbon and release it. If it needs to, if it is important enough, it will come back. Trust me.
Make a Wish.
The wishbone. The candles on a cake. A penny in a wishing well. Remember those moments when we used to make a wish {or maybe still do}? Go back to that. This practice is not about the belief in the wish coming true but rather, it is about paying attention to what that wish actually is. It is about that moment after you have closed your eyes and taken that deep breath, it is the moment right before you blow the candles out and a fleeting thought enters your mind. That thought is what you need to remember. Remember it, hold on to it, DO something about it.
Play.
Yes, play. It’s that simple. Drop your guard, your judgment, have fun and play. Use your imagination, find your inner child and take a break from external expectations. If there is one short cut to hitting the refresh button to your life, this is it.
Tag, you’re it!
Lise
xo.
life in the silver lining 
The perfect Mother’s Day read. Reflecting on the beauty of a child. The ones that we raised and the one within ourselves.
I started prenatal yoga on Friday, one of the things the instructor said about breathing stuck with me. When we are babies we breath from our bellies, everything we so is done from deep down within, from the gut, the instincts. It is when we are about 3 or so that we start to take on the anxieties of the world and our breathing becomes shallow and from the chest. We have to remember to breath from our bellies and re-learn how to love, laugh and live from deep down within, where we know what is right for us, from that place where nothing lingers that shouldn’t and all happiness is sincere. This is a beautiful post, from you, my beautiful friend.