A time for nurturing and leaning into one another ❤️

It’s been a while since you have heard from us. As I’m sure most of you can understand, life gets busy, and we have to pause on things to reorient and stabilize. One of our favorite values here at SGS is to be slow and intentional. We have been working to embody the practice of listening to our own needs and letting that guide our actions in order to show up in authenticity for each other and our communities.

This blog post will be speaking to those of you who are struggling with the 2024 presidential election.

If that is not you, I’m hoping you can still be of value to you.

While we at SGS tend to our own well-being, as an organization rooted in trauma healing, we cannot ignore the very valid feelings of grief, panic, and anger that might have been coming up for some of you over the last week. It’s important that we label this traumatic experience for what it is, traumatic, and which may be stirring up some trauma responses. If that’s you, we see you and are navigating our range in reactions as well.

We all experience and process our traumas in our own unique ways, animals included. I’m a sucker for a “tell me how to fix it!” blog post, because running from my feelings is my main go-to response. Our Mandy has some fight energy in her. Try to contain her or force her into doing something, and you get a big and loud NO (rightfully so!).

Some of you might have heard this as a “flight or fight” response, and it makes a lot of sense. When there is perceived danger, our body tells us to activate, and that can be this running, fighting back, shutting down, or people-pleasing. Our body wants us to feel better.

This won’t be a fix it newsletter. Our feelings don’t need to be fixed. And, I think there is value in reflecting on the ways that trauma takes over our ability to think rationally and respond from an emotionally regulated place.

Wednesday morning I listened to a 10% happier podcast episode, where meditation teacher Vinny Ferraro talked about the rejection of reality when our nervous system is activated. It’s a F*CK NO I will not accept this reality, I am going to reject this with my entire being. This in turn tells my body, YES you are in danger - respond NOW, cue the fight/flight/freeze/fawn response. When you are in this activated state, your thinking of your brain shuts off, and you’re survival parts of your brain kick in. At its core, this is our body loving us and trying to protect us from harm.

That activation will likely be useful in the future when we need to rally to protect the rights of people and the environment, but is it useful right now - right this very second? Is this me accepting reality, or is it as Vinny said, me being loyal to my suffering?

I recently had a conversation about this topic with someone who shares a deep love of the community and nature, and we talked about how community is the only answer here. Trauma healing is rooted in community - it’s the only way we make it out on the other side. We cannot heal alone, and our community includes our planet, and all the species that inhabit it.

I can’t tell you how you need to tend to yourself; your body already knows that once you take a listen.

For me, hugging this one tree in my yard that is perfectly huggable, or watching Mandy munch on some grass, or saying no to plans and wrapping myself in a blanket cocoon on the couch are some of my strategies that I use when I need some TLC. 

How do you nurture yourself? If you don’t know yet, what would you be open to trying? We all have a biological need for nature & community, so finding a way to tune into either of those spaces in a way that feels right to you would be the place to start.

Rebecca has been recommending doing what is at arm's length- invite a friend over for a meal, start that hobby you have been thinking about, learn to make a new recipe, do some googling about mutual aid and community building in your neighborhood or town. Starting by reinforcing that which is just at your fingertips is enough for now. And remind yourself that that is enough.

You are enough.

If the need to act is still strong for you, and content like this is inspiring you to want to do some similar work, we are seeking board members who are interested in joining us and would want to contribute to our mission in a way that brings them joy and fulfillment. If that sounds like something you might be interested in, reach out to us!

If also just being in community and talking with others that understand this very real emotional turmoil is helpful, we are here for that too. Rebecca’s therapy practice, Stable Grounds Therapy, is available to share for anyone who might be needing some extra support.

With our of our love,

Nicole and the SGS team