Courage in Action
At the end of September EmpoweredParenting.online (aka Lauren and myself!) set up a week of speaking events for our friend Scarlett Lewis of the Jesse Lewis Choose Love Movement. Kelley Oshiro who is the Choose Love Ambassador for the West Coast joined Scarlett. My house was full that week and very busy! By the time Scarlett and Kelley left we were all delighted with how much we got accomplished.
Scarlett talked about how it is the ripple effect of choosing love in our everyday lives that creates the change we all desire to see in our communities. Scarlett shared her formula of Courage + Forgiveness + Compassion in Action = Choosing Love.
She gave talks to schools and groups of parents in our local area. St. Charles Borromeo Church hosted "How Kids & Parents Can Choose Love Everyday", and Valley Montessori School hosted a Choose Love Open House in addition to a documentary screening of, "Resilience: The Biology of Stress & The Science of Hope." At her talk at Valley Montessori school we showed two of videos on Healthy Compassionate Touch for the first time. These videos will be part of the extension program linked with Scarlett's free SEL program.
I was excited to see that an article I co-wrote with my friend Robyn Scherr was published by Massage and Bodywork and it made the front cover of the magazine! The topic we wrote about was, of course, about touch. We explored how we can broaden our touch repertoire through using the skills we have learnt in our CranioSacral Therapy training and our work together. In January we will co teach this topic at a weekend workshop at Esalen. I feel very privileged to have this opportunity to teach at this amazing retreat center that has done so much to promote and develop excellent bodywork.
I have just returned from a weeklong retreat at Esalen where I attended a workshop exploring our awareness of and relationship to intimacy, connection and sexuality. It takes a lot of courage and vulnerability to look at our intimate relationships. Everybody in my class put lots of courage into action whilst being beautifully supported by our workshop leaders Mike Lousada and Louise Manzanti. One concept we explored was that when we are in our heads and using our minds that we cannot be in our bodies. You can't do both at same time. Give it a try and see if you agree! When we are in our heads we loose our connection to the present moment and we lose our connection with the person we are with. By being aware of what is happening in our bodies actually has a calming effect on us. It was interesting to see how a concept that we are taught as CranioSacral therapists translates into our significant relationships at home too!
I hope that you are all enjoying the fall or the spring for those of you in the southern hemisphere.
From My Hands and Heart, Kate xx
