Before I share a few words, I wanted to give you all the quick links to my online offerings:

Monday Night Meditation, 7:15-8pm - by donation ($5-$25 via Venmo @EllieBurkeLife)

Tuesday Mindful Flow Yoga, 12-1pm - sliding scale ($10-$20 via Venmo @EllieBurkeLife)

Here we are, in this global experience together and yet very much in our own experiences. I don't know about you, but I've been finding it difficult and, simultaneously, incredibly important to allow myself to stay in my experience - not to diminish it, not to deny it, and not to bypass it.

I was on a run this weekend (lately the ONLY thing that allows me to gain space and perspective) and it occurred to me that when we deny our own experience or, perhaps, layer it with shame, we are only increasing the potential to allow the pain of it to grow, to increase our suffering. This neither helps us nor does it help anything in the world.

Holding more than one experience requires that we first recognize we have the capacity to do so. Second, it requires the "ability" to be fully present and to follow the unfolding of experience - to be in relationship to one thing as it arises, then put it down as we move our attention to the next thing as it arises. This allows to stay more broadly open to things as they are versus funneling down into a singular experience. 

Over the past couple of weeks, I have felt myself funneling down into the heaviness and sheer magnitude of this pandemic and its impact on life, as a whole. I've grown weary and tired as I face trying to be and do all the things (with, likely, high expectations of myself). I realize that there is zero sustainability in this depletion. And, given the unknown nature of this pandemic, sustainability is the only way through this...

So, in comes the need to both recognize and allow myself to have my own personal experience, ground myself with what I know is true (right now), and to remember what I KNOW supports me, what nourishes me in some way. And then, I take the next action. 

In this incredibly difficult time, I offer you this:
--> please do not deny how this experience is for you - allow yourself to have your experience
--> ground yourself in reality (your immediate reality, right now)
--> remember what supports and nourishes you 
--> take some kind of action (whether that is at a personal, family, community, or global level)

If there is anything I can do to support you, please let me know.

Stay well. Stay conscious. AND stay home & safely distanced.

, Ellie