Being Grounded

Being grounded through hard times

As my mom’s disease progressed (Lou Gehrig’s Disease) a cycle of emotions began.  Every three months she would have testing done at the ALS clinic to see if her physical functions had deteriorated.  After each appointment we were either relieved as if we had “dodged a bullet” or scared to a new heightened sense of urgency, “maybe this will be her last .....”  Because of the varying rate of progression, ALS has an ambiguous prognosis; how quickly a person will progress ranges from 6 months to 10 years. The last two years I was grabbing at straws; no matter how I tried, I just could not get a used to the cycle of emotions.  It was during this time of uncertainty and grief that I leaned on things that brought me a sense of peace and security and provided relief from the emotional cycle’s strain. 

All my years of training and athletic endeavors were no longer just for fun but became essential for grounding myself.  In this safe and familiar place, I could work though things and see from God’s eyes.  This is a place where I experienced who God made me and I could just “be” as I wrestled my emotions.  There was more than one run that turned into a tearful walk and swim that was one lap at a time as I dried my eyes beneath my goggles. I processed. I prayed. I grieved.  I was refreshed and able to press on.  The space arrive at when moving my body is a therapeutic place; this is how God has wired me.  For some it is gardening, painting, sewing, cooking, cleaning, writing; the list is endless and has no rules.

Whatever makes you feel grounded and gets you in a space outside your life’s situations to clear your head, go there.  Make time for it.  Let it be therapeutic for you.  When hard times come, have that reference point where you are grounded.  The familiarity, security and serenity will give you energy to press on. 

Action Step:
What is your sacred space where you can are able to just "be?"