Tag: blessings

To Ebb And To Flow

by almachristina1 Comment on To Ebb And To Flow
To Ebb And To Flow

ebb and flow

My friend, give yourself some grace. We are all hurting and healing and navigating happiness. It is entirely possible (and necessary, if you ask me) to feel all three of these. And it is OKAY. In the name of humanity. I’m giving you permission without you ever asking, just in case you have been feeling it and trying to figure it all out. We are capable. It is okay to hurt, it’s necessary to heal and it’s GOOD to be happy — about life and good health, surviving; happy for personal success, for friendship, happy that our kids are happy, or happy because we’re blessed with a capital B and thriving; happy about a fresh cup of coffee for goodness sake (me, everyday), whatever the reasons — happy. I think sometimes guilt seeps in for celebrating goodness when we should be mourning. But our lives allow for both. It’s entirely real to be healing from one thing and hurting for another, AND find joy every single day. AND, not OR. (Somebody’s church mother would say, “praise Him, anyhow” but that’s a different sermon for a different day.)

You might be starting to think about how this applies to your own circumstances. Although often hard to see, it is the beauty of life really, a blessing in disguise to face life’s ups and downs; to ebb and to flow. I read an article in the September issue of The Knot magazine on Elaine Welteroth and Jonathan Singletary. In the article, they eloquently describe their wedding day experience, and “experience” it was. Under the bold heading, “Black Life Matters” Elaine and Jonathan not only share the details of their wedding day but also beautifully relate to Black pain, joy and everything in between. Jonathan starts off by saying, “”It’s important to find peace in the storm, it’s important to find gratitude even when it’s difficult.”” Take that with you, friend, cause things will ebb and then they will flow.

I think we all have, at one time or another, heard someone say, “be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about.” And it’s always truer than true.

An extra two cents
On hurting: Sorrow, sadness, grief, pain. Hurting is human but it isn’t who we are, it doesn’t define us unless we let it define us. My prayer is that we don’t just go through it, we GROW through it.
On healing: Healing is my favorite human phenomenon. I think it could honestly probably be considered a necessary evil — honestly probably. Healing is HARD WORK. I consider it a courageous act to begin the process of healing; a miracle of sorts. Even if your wounds are physical, healing requires an inner work — an extraction of old habits and learned behaviors, a good-riddance to pride and the ego; a relinquished hold on the obstacle(s) blocking a new you for you; a cleansing of the soul and renewing of the mind. Healing is (transformational) change plus tax. Whew.

On happiness: If nothing else, with happiness comes relief. Choose happy if for no other reason than to push you forward. Look for the good in everything – it’s there.

If you’re interested in reading more on healing and putting in the work to do it, visit unapologeticallyauthentic.com. She has some fantastic worksheets included with each blog post that will get you on the path to living your truth.

Love,

almachristina

Pandemic

by almachristina7 Comments on Pandemic

We’re experiencing a pandemic and so you can forget it if you think I’m not going to write about it. How am I feeling? — this way this day, that way the next day…

For the last seven-ish years I’ve worked as a flight attendant (sky waitress, if you’re nasty *kidding*) — aside from seeing all sorts of beautiful travel destinations, slingin’ cokes and pretzels, and responding to the occasional medical emergency at 30,000 feet, what this means is I am usually working hours and days most people aren’t and I encounter hundreds of people in a day. And, I’m usually always on the go…usually always. You may have already started to try to imagine what this is like given the current state of affairs i.e. this global pandemic. Well, it’s a bit of a balancing act.

Right now, my beloved-sometimes glamorous-sometimes not-most enviable career — kinda sucks. Nicely put, it isn’t so great. Each time I have to report to work I experience increased anxiety about going because while the commercial aviation industry functions as “essential”, what we do technically still goes against all quarantine mandates and social distancing rules. But I want to go to work to feel the normalcy that is flight crews and jet fuel and airplane coffee (I know, I know). Only to get there and have to face the realization that even work isn’t the same. Meanwhile there’s Facebook updates, tweets and IG posts as people begin to adjust and readjust, creating new acronyms like “wfh” for their “new normal” — staying home and safe. Being in my feelings takes on new meaning; I self-quarantine on my days off to be like the rest of the world and then get stir crazy cause I don’t know what it is to not be on my way to work after a few days and because I need my cash to flow (feel me). I stay ready for work; my suitcase is always packed (bikini always in it) and I get this weird rush of excitement knowing I get to dress in my uniform and walk the length of an airport terminal. Ok, probably not admirable right now, but I’m painting the picture here. We’re experiencing a pandemic and it has changed my feelings. For now, I most often ONLY want to be in a cocoon (with provisions, of course), or at least with my fiancé, BUT my support system is miles away (some of you, I’m sure, can relate). The real cherry on top is that I’m also planning my wedding (blessings) and preparing to move across the country. Like I said, a balancing act!

Truth is, I know I’m not feeling anything too different from the next person just in a different context with different circumstances. And I know my sacrifice to be at work, do my duty and serve the public pales in comparison to that of medical professionals and first responders. It goes without saying that I am beyond grateful to be able to still work the gig I love in spite of everything, for my income and a company that cares about me as an employee(!!) but I’m also feeling some apprehension, some angst, some sadness, and all the feels that come with this AND allowing that. You should allow yourself too. There is always a light, and my light in this is that I am more introvert than extrovert, I enjoy solitude and this pandemic still opens more space and time for that than ever. I am unplugging more, crying more, reading more, praying more and quite frankly sitting and doing nothing which all bring relief. Find your light. We all have our woes in this and it’s fine. Thankful for YOU and this free space.

Washing my hands and counting my blessings.

Love,

Alma

tunes: artist/Childish Gambino ft. Ariana Grande . song/Time . album/3.15.20