Why Isn’t ___ More of A Priority?!

Good Morning and Welcome!

            Today's inspiration came from the awesome and amazing Hannah Cremona, who posted this prompt: (find her group here)

My Response:

            "Honestly, I've been afraid of putting in the effort... my doctor recently told me that its clear that I'm trying... and also that I'm not giving it my best. It came from a place of love and encouragement, she genuinely want to know why nutrition wasn't a priority, when clearly, its very effective in managing my disease. It didn't take me long to reply... "I'm lazy". Changing my eating habits is HARD, or at least so I tell myself... and I believe with my whole heart that it would work... and also understand that my brain is LYING when it tells me that I can't. My heart wants to whine "its not faaaair" and as I reach for the processed convenience snack that I know my bowel will soon protest... I think to myself. You CAN resist. Life's not fair. Don't do it. After that... its a roll of the die whether I will succeed or fail, and give myself grace to try try again."

Yes, I did stage this to hide
the cluttered countertop and table 😁

 

            Oh my gosh the look on Dr. V's face when I mentioned resorting to Pop-Tarts! It was as if I'd said poison! And plain cheerios, that was my crazy health-nut-mom easy option... I had no idea that cereal was a no-no too! Her response... cheerios don't come off the tree like that. 😬 touche Dr. V.  (Find her info here)

            That's a truth that can't be denied. But it's not all about food. Those words of why isn't this more of a priority for you... they hit me in the feels. That applies to every. single. area. where we doubt ourselves. Don't believe me? Here's a non-food example.

Don't judge the crumbs, 
They're fresh 😇

            When my daughter struggles to clip her own carseat buckle, even though I've seen her do it before, I remember all the times that she's given up and begged for help, just 2 seconds before success. My momming strategy is to help her have the confidence and faith in herself to use that extra oomph (sound effects help y'all, seriously). So when she whines for help, I ask her to "Grab the whines. Take em out of your throat! Smash em into a ball, and throw em far away!" When I ask her where are we throwing them this time, her answers are so precious. Often its been a gleeful, ALABAMA! And a few times its been a confident, "into space!" Either way, we make a big show of sending away the whining so that we are ready to believe in ourselves. I talk her through problem solving the "I can't". Maybe move your hands? Maybe make sure its aligned in the right spot? Maybe keep going, try your very best and right when you want to give up, try just a tiny bit more..... and often, success! She is capable. She is strong. She can do so much, with a little bit of scaffolding (shout out to Vygotsky's theory of Child Development woot woot). Our kids don't need us to swoop in and take over... sometimes they just need a little support... and lightbulb moment... sometimes, so do we. 

            #Adulting isn't easy. And that's okay. We are capable. We are strong. We are NOT alone. And we've got this. For me, prayer is comforting, so if it's alright with y'all/you guys, I'm going to close with a prayer/praise. 

Abba Father, thank you for putting these words in my heart and head, and for giving me the platform and the time to share. Baruch ata adonai... blessed are you Lord, who has given us the gifts of technology and transportation, of family and faith, of strength and support. If it be thy will, we ask you to be our scaffold as we build up from your foundation. We ask you to comfort us when we look down in fear. We ask you to show us the way up, not the whole way, but enough to have the courage to take the next step. Inspired action comes from you, or strength comes from you, our souls come from you, and we are so so grateful for your abundant love, even as we turn from you in grief or frustration. Thank you for this new day, and this new opportunity to be our best. In your holy name, amen. 

            If you've made it this far, dear reader, your heart is open to receiving a blessing, and I claim it for you now. You've got this. You are capable. And if you want a little support, let me know. Truly, no judgment, I mean it when I say, I'd love to hear from you in the comments, or in a private message. Find me on Instagram.com/galigaligumdrop, in the pages of the books "Sadness and Us" and "Fear and Us", or on Facebook in "Gali's Great Group". 

You are not alone. You are loved. You are capable. I will say it over and over until you believe it for yourself, and I believe it deep down in the place of doubt.

Xoxo

Mama Gali

We're All Given Gifts - What's Yours?

        Today, I had a lovely back and forth in the comments section of a social media post. Yep, the internet isn't all bad, there is lots of love overshadowed by keyboard-warrior negativity. But I digress, as I often do, and that's okay. Want to hear the gem that inspired this post? No? Too bad, here it comes anyway. 😉

        So often we hesitate, we question, we envy the gifts of others, and consider ourselves unworthy. God gives us what we need to succeed, from the people in our paths, to the air that we breathe. When we trust in Him, hear and obey His call, THAT'S when things change, more than we imagined at all.

        I've been hearing more and more the call to take action, to climb out of rut and routine, and change my work priorities. When I hear that call, it often comes in a quote, in a comment, in a thought, and over and over my response has been to hesitate. I can't quit my job, I have bills! I can't lead a workshop, I might make a mistake! I'm not ready, I'm not worthy, I need to know the how (and a more clearly defined what) before I take that leap. 

        Over and over the self-doubt is followed by thoughts of encouragement. No. I don't need to see the whole mountain before I take the first step. I don't need to see the other side, before I set sail for an unfamiliar shore. My inner monologue (overshared here with you) is telling me "Hey dumb dumb, that's why they call it a leap of FAITH." If we knew all the answers, we wouldn't need to trust a higher power. And yet, when we do, when I have, wow such amazing things happen. In my life, I've taken a chance, and shared a meme or encouraging graphic with friends and acquaintances old and new. (Like very old. Like haven't talked in 10 years old 😆.) The responses I've received are positive (or neutral) every. single. time. Never negative. Either I'll get no answer, or I'll get a "thanks, I really needed that", or my favorite, the weeks letter reply after I've already forgotten what I'd shared. 🤣

        So I'm still figuring out my gifts and my purpose, at least the how, and that's okay. I'm going to heed that call, and take this tiny action, TODAY. I'm going to commit right now, take one baby step, and another will follow, I believe that, yep. What about you? What gifts do you have? Don't say none, dig deep, everyone's been given something, even you. Especially you. Feel free to take this question with you today, and let it plant a seed in your heart and mind. Although, I'd really appreciate if you'd comment, if you could be so kind... 

Have a wonderful day friends, and here's a comic and rhyme to end the post on a silly note. 

The Comic

Photo Credit to imgflip.com 

Still funny, even if you have to fill in the blank yourself!

The Rhyme

When God passed out brains,

I thought he said trains, 

and I missed mine.

When God passed out looks,

I thought he said books

And didn't want any.

When God passed out ears,

I thought he said beers

And asked for two long ones.

When God passed out legs,

I thought he said kegs

And asked for two fat ones.

When God passed out noses,

I thought he said roses

And asked for a big red one.

When God passed out heads,

I thought He said beds

And asked for a big soft one.

When God passed out hips,

I thought he said lips

And asked for two large round ones.

God am I a mess. 

~ Credit to The 1997 Chicago Tribune, Ann Landers, and Virginia in Youngstown who sent it in. Click here for the full response.

Thanks for reading this far. If you're curious about the comment thread that inspired this post, click here to read it on Facebook.

May you be blessed with vision and volition, and the inspiration to take even a tiny little step, because in hindsight, the tiny steps are actually the biggest. And in all things, remember to #LoveLouder, because love is the most powerful force of all.

XoXo,

Mama Gali 

Guilt, Shame, and Stigma

 Its okay to not be okay, publicly.

 Part of the pain of social media is that people tend to post their highlights - book launches, posed smiles, commitment to goals, etc. Of course we come out negative and not-enough when we compare ourselves to this polished perspective!

Today I challenge you to post a behind-the-scenes. Share a photo of your bedhead crazy hair, a story of when you gorged on snacks to fill an emotional void, an incident of anxiety or aggression.

Here's a peek at my behind-the-scenes 

For me as a poet, its not all rainbows and rhymes, and some of my most powerful works are dark and raw and resonate with the deepest darkest parts of us. 

Sure, the hurt tends to fade with the light of each new day, and I'm not fishing for pity, but...

The guilt and shame

 are strong and relentless, 

and if we hide our pain,

we only have ourselves 

to blame.

Will you help me #StopTheStigma by telling a behind-the-scenes story #LoveLouder applies to being kind to ourselves, as much as to others.

I'm not quite brave enough to post a fat-face tired-eyes selfie, so here's a photo of my bedside table, with the mother's day succulent that I killed by watering literally once in 2 months, my favorite hairbrush that I lose and eventually find (within the freakin house) at least 6 days a week, and the cough drops that I was too stubborn to use, but also haven't yet found the motivation to put away.  Not pictured are 3 baskets of clean laundry waiting for attention, a sink full of dishes abandoned overnight, a floor that hasn't been swept in quite a few days, and shows it. The guilt and shame over all these tasks undone is often overwhelming, and yet I often spend nights scrolling for hours, "too tired" to tackle the tasks. 

I know WHAT to do, years of therapy and loving learning have taught me all sorts of tricks and tactics. Finding the energy and motivation to start the laundry, to maintain doctor-ordered food restrictions, to set aside emotional escapes and actually sleep... that's a different story.

Will you join me in sharing the mundane, bad, and ugly, instead of always only the polished and pretty? It would mean the world.

Thanks for reading this far,

Xoxo 

Mama Gali