A reminder from Mr. Rogers

“It’s like hell has frozen over,” commented a dear family member this past week.

Are you nodding your head reading this?

I don’t need to add up the pieces for you. 

I am confident between all the calamities in the world and perhaps some highly personal stuff that might be occurring in your own life, January may seem to be moving in the antithetical direction of what I or you’d personally wish for. 

Just like in biking, ignoring a flat tire or pot hole in the trail isn’t going to take away those obstacles.  

So I want to offer three tools this week if it feels like you are entering this week in some state of fear, deflation, stress or anxiety. 

It perhaps won’t patch the tire or fill the hole, but it might give you some strength to turn toward your heart and the world with a little more love and hope. 

1- When my heart and body is feeling pushed around turn to self-compassion 

Last week I shared about self-compassion. This week, I’ve been putting my hand on my heart, saying to myself, “this is hard, ” and allowing the feels to unfold. 

Sometimes while I’ve been literally sitting in my bike saddle, sometimes as I journal at the end of the day, sometimes when I have come across the news. 

Last week’s newsletter has some suggestions if turning to self-compassion seems like unfamiliar territory to pedal through. 

2- Grounding in my power

I’m here to share a great tool kit not from some athlete or guru, but an exceptional non-profit that supports people in their jobs and supervising folk – The Management Center. In their newsletter last week, they encouraged folks to ground in their power by: writing down a thing that gives you strength and posting it in a spot you’ll see it daily.  

I don’t know the psychology of it, but this little reminder of what gives me strength, has made me pivot into recognizing my strength and remember some things that aren’t doom and gloom. 

3- Remember the helpers  

Mr. Rogers’ steady kindness and voice is reassuring, even though he has since died. I’ve been trying to attune myself to the helpers. Sometimes, it’s in small ways, sometimes in very big ways. 

• The person this past week who shared their bread with me. 

• The brave bishop who acknowledged in her sermon in front of the president that people are scared and made a plea for mercy.

• The outpouring of wedding vendors who for free have offered their services to LGBTQ+ couples, who hurriedly got married before Biden left office. 

Take a moment to see and recognize how kind heartedness is actively happening and alive in our world.

Sending you some steadiness, kindness and lots of love this week. 

Wheels up, 

Ellen

PS- For those of you celebrating the Lunar New Year, Happy New Year!