Today is my Dad’s birthday. Last year was his first birthday in over 50 years without my Mum. Our loss was still raw then, just 6 months into life without her. It was a sunny day just like today. We met him in Pittville Park and chatted while the boys played. It was crammed with families that day; it’ll be empty today (I hope – stay home people).
It’s been hard not seeing Dad today – he’s home alone, we’re here together. You can’t really celebrate a birthday on your own can you? And yet, it did feel ok once we spoke on the phone and later saw him on his first video call on Whatsapp. In a time when physically enforced distance is brutally tugging the heart strings, connecting socially in online ways is so needed. When you can’t hug and hold your loved ones you learn to be more free with your words. And when words aren’t possible? Well I truly believe we’re more deeply connected than we realise. Everyone has an energetic vibration and when we send loving intentions out into the world I think they are echoed back to us. Like when you think of someone and they call you – some people call it coincidence, I like to think of it as the Universe whispering ”pay attention”.
When I got up today it was on my mind to make a call to Dad before too much of his birthday had passed (we hadn’t arranged a time for me to call). 9 o’clock and 10 o’clock came and went (exercising in pyjamas, creating new games and finally getting dressed). I resolved to call by 11 o’clock and settled onto the sofa, with a boy either side of me, ready to sing ”Happy Birthday”. I scrolled to find Dad’s number and you can guess what happened? He rang me on the landline. Love bonds maybe stretched think but they’re not broken by absence – we all remain connected. I want to see many more birthdays with my Dad so we are following the guidelines recommended for social distancing during this Covid-19 outbreak.
‘We live as ripples of energy in the vast ocean of energy.”
”Even when you think you have your life all mapped out, things happen that shape your destiny in ways you might never have imagined”.
Grounding notes to self:
Stay calm, stay in, be fearless, be kind. Listen to Deepak’s talks and meditations, fall asleep to John’s Yoga Nidra for sleep meditation, start the day with this loving kindness meditation and send ripples out into the world, drink lots of warm drinks (Sainsburys beetroot, apple and ginger tea is my current fave), have a soak with any of Weleda’s glorious bath milks .
You might like to introduce your family to something my friend and I have been doing since early 90’s we didn’t have screen time so call it “phone hugging” but it works on social media too. If using phone (important both phone users do this at the same time)
tuck phone between ear and shoulder.
Wrap left arm diagonally across your body, right arm diagonally across left -squeeze
you just phone hugged.
If done on face to face screen time you could group hug without touching each other.
Take care all, stay safe
how utterly gorgeous, I’ve not heard of that, definitely going to train everyone in that now. Thanks for taking the time to comment, it’s been a long long time since our last exchange. Hope you and your loved ones are all well, with love x