When Life Happens
Life happens. This is one thing we know for certain.
Last week, life happened for me. I had plans, commitments, and a big to-do list ready to conquer. My weekly planner was set up, color-coded, scheduled, and satisfying to look at. I was prepared to cross off every task.
Then, I got a call from my mom.
She’s 88 years young and lives in North Carolina. Her beloved cat, Arabella, wasn’t doing well. I had been helping her from afar, working with her local vet as Arabella’s health declined. My mom, ever the nurse, knew it was time to let Arabella transition peacefully over the rainbow bridge.
Arabella wasn’t just a cat. She was family. She became my mom’s constant companion after my dad entered full-time care for dementia and later passed away. Arabella moved with my mom from New York to North Carolina, was featured on her Christmas cards, and greeted everyone who visited. Losing Arabella meant losing a piece of unconditional love, and I knew this loss would leave a deep void for my mom.
Choosing Calm Over Chaos
When I got that phone call, I had two choices: let the situation spiral me into stress, or create space to show up with intention.
I chose space.
I looked at my to-do list and realized that not one item had to be done immediately. I rescheduled meetings, canceled Pilates, and allowed my calendar to breathe. I made room to be present with my mom, even from afar.
Then, I went into my toolbox, the same one I use with my coaching clients.
- I joined a HeartMath® Heart Lock-In session to send love and compassion where it was most needed.
- I gave myself and my mom Reiki energy healing, a gentle reminder that “just for today, do not worry.”
- I booked a flight to visit my mom and daughter, following the whisper of my intuition that said, “go now.”
- I journaled, letting emotions flow freely instead of bottling them up.
These simple but intentional actions helped me stay grounded and present, even in the middle of uncertainty.
Sometimes, calm isn’t something we find, it’s something we create by pausing, breathing, and reconnecting to what matters most.
Next week, I’ll share what I learned after Arabella’s passing, and how gratitude transformed my perspective. Stay tuned for Part Two: “Grace, Gratitude, and Letting Go.”
