My Dear Friends,

I started out a recent hike in the cool of the morning. As the day warmed, little lizards darted across the path and insects started to make their rounds. A huge raven swooped overhead. They don’t think about what to do, they just go with the flow. When it is cold, they rest. When it is warm, they are active.

We, too, can accept what is. External circumstances will change and we have no power to stop or alter what happens. Each emotion arises, and allowing it to surface, we can breathe and then progress to the next moment. We can fully appreciate the enjoyable times, and address the challenges as they happen.

With that being said, one of the great things about being human is our ability to alter our own course. When it is cool, I hike. When it is hot, I hike with a cooling towel. I tried that in Missouri and quickly found that the towels are ineffective in humid climates. I got up earlier and hiked when the day was cooler.

In the 1990’s with a new diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis, the Dr. offered a grim prognosis and a rigid treatment course, all of which I promptly ignored. This was partly because I had no health insurance, but also because my intuition told me otherwise. I couldn’t control the diagnosis, but I definitely could control becoming educated, monitoring my reactions to stress and my exposure to heat. A grant helped us install central air conditioning in our home, but I didn’t enjoy staying inside all the time. A move to the Oregon Coast gave me cool air year round. But with new information and continuing study of MS, I realized that heat didn’t cause new problems, just irritated old ones and I could avoid those by planning a quick cool down and adequate rest. There are so many ways to adapt. Each was useful in it’s time.

When you take time to breathe, it’s easier to recognize if it’s time to go with the flow, or break out the paddles, and there are lots of other tools that can help your journey. We have a choice to lament the rapids or just hide and pretend they’re not there, or we can learn to run the river.

Take a deep breath, my dear.

With Love,
Cristina