LIFE | LOVE | LOSS“Infuse your life with action. Don't wait for it to happen. Make your own future. Make your own hope. Make your own love.” – Bradley Whitford Thank you for making time to read our THMF Newsletter. The intention of all the hands, minds and hearts that touch the Taylor Hagen Memorial Foundation is for the words, thoughts and resources shared here to bring you insight, perspective, peace and joy in all that you face. DWELL IN POSSIBILITIES“Never lose hope, my dear heart, miracles dwell in the invisible.” – Rumi While we know change is a constant in this life. The world is not the same place it was a month ago. Things have changed in a rapid and drastic manner in a short amount of time. We are amid a global pandemic with an aggressive and deadly virus. The very foundations of economic stability are being tested and tried. There are quantity limits and supply shortages through out the United States. Schools have closed, sports have ceased, people who can work remotely are now doing so. Many are without work facing financial uncertainties and struggles to provide for basic survival needs. While a lot of these items have happened on an ongoing basis, they have not happened in the sheer volume they are now. If you are in Utah we also had a significant earthquake during all of these other events. The literally shaking of the earth also shook our mental and emotional stability as we faced yet another crisis filled with uncertainty. “Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness.” – Desmond Tutu We have been asked, directed and even ordered to limit all contact with others. Many communities have shelter in place orders only allowing the very minimal activities outside the home. These are changing and trying times. Self-isolation can push the limits of emotional and mental stability. So, what do we ‘DO’ with these new and often unwanted changes? How do we handle the ever-moving landscape with all the unknowns? What is the possibility of emerging on the other side of this more than we were when we entered it? What is the possibility of loving more, over thinking less, feeling deeper? My answer and application will be different from yours. There is no ONE way to DO any of this. Like most challenges in life there are healthy and unhealthy ways to manage. There are coping mechanisms that are better for us than others. My invitation will always come from a place of choice. We always get to choose the field of possibilities in how we will respond and handle every situation we are faced with. As we learn we can adjust how and what we do or don’t do. It’s a beautiful thing to know it is possible to stand in peace in the middle of the storm because that is what we choose. You didn’t choose COVID-19. You didn’t choose an earthquake. You didn’t choose children out of school now at home. You can choose who you will be. Who do you want to be on the other side of this? Do you want to take things you are learning and have them make you more? Do you want to simply survive this pandemic? Do you want to help others, ease another’s pain or need? Only you can answer these questions. I am learning things every day. Some of the things I am grateful for. Others not so much. I have learned I need to update my on-hand food supply to be things I like on a day to day basis not just the ‘survival’ foods that could sustain life. I am learning to plan and use what I have better, to waste less and find new uses for things I might have easily discarded previously. I have learned I like dehydrating things and making fruit leathers! I am learning new ways to embrace stillness. I like guided meditations and am enjoying ones from Zach Rehder & Deepak and Oprah. I am enjoying using commuting time for me to relax, breath deep and set intentions for my day. I LOVE being bare foot, working at home in natural light listening to good music. I LOVE time for reflection without outside events crowding the calendar. I am grateful for love and to have someone to be in quarantine with who I enjoy. These things are gifts to me. I encourage you to find the things that help you feel peace. Create time and activities that bring you balance. We don’t know what will be. The only real power and opportunities we have are to live present in this moment. Create new mindfulness practices. Remember anything from yesterday is a memory. Anything projected into tomorrow lives in the realm of imagination as it is yet to be. Think about and read things that leave you uplifted. Watch things that make you laugh. Limit your exposure to the hard things outside you own walls. They will still be there. Stay informed without becoming overwhelmed. If you find yourself feeling upset at something you are watching, turn it off. Process the emotions as they arise and then work to move to a less frustrated mental and emotional state. You are the only one who can take care of your mind and heart. No matter what comes we are all capable of managing and getting through it. We can do hard things together. Be good to you! HOPE“Love recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination full of hope.” – Maya Angelou Hope as defined in the Webster Dictionary is; “to cherish a desire with anticipation: to want something to happen or be true”. We have all heard saying like Hope Springs Eternal or they Hoped against Hope. It seems hope it a common thread inside our human existence. We hear people say they hope things will happen or even hope they won’t. How many times have you hoped for the best and planned for the worst? It seems like we are in a place where we are likely hoping for a lot right now. I hope we don’t get sick. I hope people stop dying from Coronavirus. I hope those out of work get back to work soon. I hope all those on the front lines stay well physically, mentally and emotionally. I hope couples and families grow stronger inside this quarantine time. I hope kids and parents survive home schooling. I hope people don’t get divorced. I hope small business will all recover and come back stronger. I hope there will be Clorox wipes in the store again soon. I could go on and on. The definition of hope in several online dictionaries lists it as a noun and verb. I find that interesting. What is it for you? Are the things you are hoping for making you more of the person you are committed to being? Are the things you hope don’t happen keeping you stuck in a place of fear and anxiety? This is a great time for some extra reflection on how you will use hope in your life. I know as a mother I always hoped my children would grow to adulthood and have happy fulfilling lives. I never thought I would lose a child. I never thought I would hope to understand suicide in a deep and powerful way. More than hope I longed for peace of mind and heart after my sweet pup Joey took his life. That tragedy shaped me. I am still learning and growing inside of who I am now without him. I am always looking for new and meaningful ways to honor that love I still hold for him in my heart. These new global tragedies present us with opportunities to use hope as a springboard to create new and lasting changes for good. I am currently participating the Deepak & Oprah Free 21-Day Meditation experience on Hope. Each day there is a centering thought. I am sharing some of them below. Hope makes me strong and secure. The power of hope is here every day. I have every hope in the world. In hope, I am fearless. I trust in my core self at every moment. I find a reason to hope in every situation. “Hope… is the companion of power, and the mother of success; for who so hopes has within him the gift of miracles.” – Samuel Smiles Perhaps we could follow the directive from Brene Brown to be our best bravest selves during this trying and uncertain time “Hearts open. Hands Washed. Love on.”I wish you everything good. All my best, Genna EVENTS COVID-19 hotline at 844-442-5224 https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html https://www.usa.gov/coronavirus https://health.utah.gov/ Contact your insurance carrier or local health department for more resources available to you as a member or in your area. Bereaved Mother’s Retreat’sBereaved Mother’s Retreat’s sponsored by Cristie North of Taylor Hagen Memorial Foundation and Leigh Anne Garcia of Andrew Garcia Memorial Foundation. 2020 Dates May 1-3 – New dates and Zoom events to come! Fall 2020 TBD Visit www.thmemorialfoundation.org or email [email protected] UTAH VISION DAYRAISING AWARENESS FOR MENTAL HEALTH & SUICIDE PREVENTION This is the main fundraiser for the Taylor Hagen Memorial Foundation to fund programs and retreats all year. Saturday August 1st 2020 Ride Starts at the Sandy Harley Davidson Location. 4th Annual Andrew Garcia Memorial MatchFriday, June 26 6-9 pm at Skyline High School. UTAH COUNTY RESIDENTSAnyone in the Utah County area that would be interested in partnering/facilitate with Dawn Christensen. It is with Compassionate Friends. They meet last Thursday of the month at 7PM. She is looking for help. Santaquin TCF of Utah County 364 N state Road 198 Santaquin, UT Dawn – 801-471-7011 [email protected] LOTUSYou are invited to join LOTUS for our Psychic Fair first Saturday of every Month Multiple Reader/Healers at Lotus doing mini sessions at $15 LOTUS 12896 S Pony Express Rd Ste 200 Draper, UT 84020 SUPPORTCaring Connections
SLC, Midvale & Orem www.nursing.utah.edu/caring-connections 801-585-9522 What’s Your Grief? A website about grief & loss & ways to cope. www.whatsyourgrief.com The Sharing Place Support for families and children 3 ½ and up. www.thesharingplace.org 801-466-6730 Canary Garden Helping children in their grief process. www.canarygarden.org 801-960-2684 American Foundation for Suicide Prevention www.afsp.org 1-800-273-TALK (8255) Crisis Text Line Text TALK to 741741 SafeUT Crisis & Chat App The SafeUT Crisis Chat and Tip Line is a statewide service that provides real-time crisis intervention to youth through live chat and a confidential tip program – right from your smartphone. Licensed clinicians in our 24/7 CrisisLine call center respond to all incoming chats and calls by providing: supportive or crisis counseling, suicide prevention, and referral
3 Comments
7/6/2023 12:42:04 am
I stumbled upon this blog post during a time when I needed to hear these words the most. The author beautifully captures the essence of hope and resilience in the face of overwhelming challenges. Reading about their personal experiences and how they are finding peace amidst chaos inspires me to look within myself and choose hope as my guiding light.
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3/4/2024 04:54:58 pm
Reading about this unique career board brought back memories of my own high school days and the odd jobs I took up. It's heartening to see such an interactive approach to showcasing staff members' past experiences. Kudos to the author for thinking outside the box and fostering a sense of camaraderie within the school community.
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