Searching for Home

 Searching for Home

She took pride in wandering...

I think I've always been a wanderer whether my neighborhood as a child, or different cities, sometimes alone...

Lately Ive put up my wandering shoes and traded them for comfy lounging clothes.  

Ive been wandering more inside myself, looking for new places to explore...

Looking for shine in dark places, and sparkle in whats been dulled...

There is a whole universe inside me to discover...

Feelings to reopen, memories to remember...

A self that I've buried under the pain...

I think for years I've floated above myself because sinking in let me feel the hurt, and made me hold my breath to ready myself for the next punch... even if none was coming...

And how I make myself breathe and feel...

The more I sink in to discover... the more I'm coming home to myself.

12-8-21

Getting Back Out of the Goo....

 A couple months ago I was sitting at the table eating Pad Won Sen... talking to my Witchy Women about our lives, loves and some losses.  I was reminded by one of the gifts I used a few years ago to help her clear some heavy stuff... and another told me of an energy exercise I taught her to help her daughter.  It hit me like it has about once or twice a year... others reminding me of my gifts.  I feel like I just start to climb out of the goo and into my wings... and as quickly as it sparks...  just as quickly, I cozy back into the warm sticky goo.

I reached out to my best friend again to see if he would make space for me at his wellness center, TurningLeaf... of course he says yes, of course he is supportive.  So I started putting myself out there...posting on social media a little.... offering my services.  I listened to my own design... I waited for the invitation... I had some false starts and some times of feeling unable to rise to the occasion.  But then just like when her words reached out to me at the Thai table, she reached out, wanting some clearing.  I jumped at the chance, I pushed myself to believe, and just go instead of making excuses.  As I sat in her warm inviting home, I relaxed and listened... to her words, her heart, my knowing. 

I walked away feeling renewed... open... using my gifts in the perfect way for me.  While life can seem like a rough ride at times, unable to know who belongs in my life, who will walk out and who will stay.  The knowing I have is that I'm here for more than just the grind (even though I've lived my life bruising my spirit grinding) Sometimes I make  the wrong steps... sometimes I push against the grain instead of flowing with it... sometimes I say the wrong things... and look for my value in the wrong ways... And today I sit at my friends desk after he has gone, and I write my truest thing. I am opening space by coming to the office on Tuesday nights... by telling the universe that I am here to do my work, live my purpose, share my gifts, shine my light and help others give birth to their best selves. If I have clients I will clear and connect... if some days I don't, I will write to get more clear or I will read and hone my craft.  Either way I am here, holding space, ready, open and willing to be an instrument of love and light.  

I am here to honor your process and timing.  I am here to guide your breathing through the pain, to wipe the sweat of life from your brow, to encourage you, and remind you of the strength you have from deep inside to push through to the other side.  I am here with you to help you give birth to your highest self, and remember your own divinity.  

We will move through the mess and the bliss together, and find beauty in the journey.  

Teri                                                                                                    Soul Doula

Body Be Who You Need To Be....

Body be who you need to be... be free and full of my soul...
I don't feel at home in my body, I don't feel so welcome here... I don't recognize myself in this human home... Who I feel I am inside doesn't match the rolls of chubby that stifle me... I 'm trying to love her and appreciate what she gives me.  As I feel this for myself, my mind drifts to the conversation I was honored to be invited to this week... an admired friend and coworker shut the door to our office,  took a deep breath and said she wanted to share with me... as she nervously told me she was going to transition to the body she had always felt she belonged in... I knew bits and pieces before, but was honored that she felt enough love from me that it was safe to share... A new name, some physical changers... I felt proud of her courage and proud to be trusted... I felt her release from letting it out and felt excitement for her journey ahead... Later as I thought of the name he had chosen, it didn't seem foreign or odd, it just rest there on my lips... Ivan, a strong name for one who is brave and solid.. it fit.  As I thought of the name she was given by her parents, never fit for me, but I hadn't given it much thought... it made sense now why.  Because of my friend Nan, who had shared the story of her daughters transition from a male to herself, I was able to hold space for my friend... Body be who you need to be, if I can support him to be true to his body and gentle with transitions, how can I not give that to myself... to embrace the body that feels too big to be me... until I'm ready to transition to the healthy body that is truly me... 
6-16-17 

From Pumpkin Bagels to Beauty Pageants (and maybe a Mammogram in between)

Some days when I get to the end of the day, it seems like the morning was weeks away… I started the day trying not to beat myself up and I ended the day with tears of pride in my eyes at the courage and charisma of one amazing young lady….Rewind to one year ago when this spunky little firecracker walked into my office…she wanted to be a Big Sister and she was running for Miss Dixie (Homecoming Queen at DSU)…and she wanted Big Brothers Big Sisters to be her platform….We talked about her apprehension and her anxiety…. But she faced her fears and she worked her heart out, and she was crowned Miss Dixie 2013-14

The past year I’ve watched her dance her way through many obstacles…she has stepped into the role of recruiting and sharing the BBBS message, she has been an outstanding Big Sister…her Little has become like a real little sister.  I have seen Shaelie shine when they are together… and I’ve seen her Little become more confident and sure of her own value… I’ve been involved in many events over the last 12 months, and every time I ask her to come and support…she has never hesitated.  I love when she wears her crown, she shines like the jewels on her head…she has done the crown proud.  I love to watch the children want to be near her, and have their pictures taken with the “princess”, the way she makes each child feel important and special…and come to think of it, that’s how she makes everyone around her feel.  She has that special spark inside her that outshines even the jewels in her crown. 

Tonight as I watched her on the stage, I couldn't help but smile….she was in her element…she was pure joy… knowing her, I knew she felt vulnerable, but she stepped into the arena… She danced with grace, she spoke with confidence and humor, she sang with rich melody…. I thought tonight of that sweet spunky girl I met a year ago and although I could see her peek out in certain moments, the young woman I watched tonight had grown into a polished beautiful queen.  And as I know giving up the crown brings much apprehension and is bitter sweet, I know the real crown she wears is never gone… she has much light to bring this world and many lives to touch… and though it might not be visible to the ordinary eye, the crown she wears still sparkles brightly beyond even her own comprehension.  

I need kick boxing this week, so I can stop beatin myself up

Day two of sleeping through my gym time... I lost my momentum and beating myself up... so instead of staying on that path...I decided to let the morning disappointment go and take a deep breath and think about what's right in my life....
1. Sometimes when you hold in your tears, your eyes have a different idea and they release those water droplets anyway...
2. When you talk to God in the shower...sometimes your ipod shuffle on the way to work, tells you that He loves you through beats, and words...
3. When you just need something to lift you up... Pure Bliss from Perks! helps in just the right way (and the Barista's smile just adds the whipped cream on top when you have to say "hold the whip") 
4. When its Fall and you just need one extra nudge... a pumpkin bagel with pumpkin cream cheese can start the day off right...
5. Singing all the way to work, and laughing when my notes don't match the artist...
6. Breathing in the cooling Fall air
7. Choosing to feel happy and love my self even when I mess up, but at the same time, holding myself accountable for the choices and making a shift.
8. Knowing that no matter what... I have people in my life who love and support me just as I am no matter my size, my different views, my crazy ways, and even hold me up and remind me when I forget to love myself.
9. There is a new moment...now...and now...and now... just hold on and love me!

Courage to be Imperfect

This week has been so hard for me physically... I took a few days off work for my birthday then I'm working 45+ hours the next four days after that... I'm trying not to beat myself up for the lack of workouts... My normal reaction is to quit it all together... to give up... but I'm choosing to give myself a little break... to know I can start over on Monday... that because I feel worn out doesn't mean that is for always...So I didn't want to blog because I felt like I was a disappointment, so I made myself write... 

So I decided to write about my imperfection this week... to have the courage to be imperfect that I still love myself for what I have done this week and for what I haven't done...that I love me for being me...for shutting down the voices sooner... for not listening to the people trying to guilt me... for knowing I'm doing the best I can in this moment...My friend gave me a challenge that "I'm a shadow on the wall"  and then he asked me what the wall was.... as I looked inside me for the answers, I realized that my wall is fear... that when the light shines on me, my shadow shows on the wall... I move to the fear...that instead of shining in the light and turning my face to feel the warmth of the light... I have turned to the fear and let my shadow become bigger....but today I'm shifting just a little toward the sun... I'm forgiving myself for my lack, and focusing on what i can do different...I'm closing my eyes, lifting my face to the light, taking a deep breath, and enjoying the warm...

Its My Party...I can Dance if I want to....

Wow today I am 48... as I opened my eyes and looked around my semi dark room, I smiled... I have a new year... a whole new start, what will 48 look like for me?  Before I completely moved from sleep to wake, I talked to my mama...those moments are when I can easiest connect to her... I thanked her for this life she gave me, even though I wasn't conceived at an opportune time for her... and I didn't make her life an easy ride... God knew that I needed this mama to be in my corner...that she would love me beyond all doubt even when at times she wasn't sure if she liked me.... I miss her everyday...but especially today when we had our journey together of bringing me into this life... As we both pushed and pained to bring me here, it was the start of a ride of crazy and beautiful waves....
So I decided to start this birthday with a smile, and I watched a recorded Super Soul Sunday episode to start it right, then I got dressed in my workout clothes and I headed to the gym (I wanted to skip because its my birthday...I can skip right?, but I decided in this new year I am given, I will make better choices for my health) So I pulled up to "Group Power" class, whatever that was gonna be... I walked in and got all the gear (well some of the gear cuz I didn't know the drill)... I felt happy to see my old friend "the step" thinking 'oh this is familiar' ... and I grabbed a bar and some weights... 
As the class started I had those familiar feelings of feeling like the new kid who didn't know the routine... and everyone seemed so confident... but I kept my mind chatter to a minimum... And I focused on lifting... I felt weak but at the same time, I felt strong... I felt my muscles burn and I knew that they were under there...they were aching to move and burn and gain strength again... I knew how they felt, because I too ached to gain strength and be strong ...
About 3/4 of the way through class, as I lifted weights I noticed that where I stood, the sun shone through into my eyes... at first I moved and was bugged "why does the sun have to be in MY eyes...then I smiled and I changed my thought ... I closed my eyes and thought "God is reminding me that he still shines on me, that he's wishing me Happy Birthday too!" That I'm blessed to feel the Sun!  
I as lay on the step for ab work, I closed my eyes, and I reminised again to my other gym days, where I wasn't the new girl, where I had "my pack" my village of people who held me up... and I felt sad and alone...but I'm really trying to realize that I'm a good lone wolf for now, that I will find my niche, my group, my pack...and even if I don't I am strong and I can do this anyway...

And today my sister posted the following picture... at first I felt embarrassed...then I decided to embrace it... I danced in the corner window at my nieces wedding, and the people below stared and my family giggled...and I felt free, cuz this is me...my crazy, goofy, self... no matter my size... I am me...I am wild and free.... (plus my sister kept paying me to dance ... so I can say now that I'm a professional right?)  Sometimes your family and friends, and especially your children need to see you dance with wild abandon...like no one is watching, or everyone is watching...that its okay to let go and be you.... regardless of others reaction... so this year... I am dancing, and I am singing and I am me! Happy 48th year to me!