A Hug In Letter Form π
Hi β‘β‘,
Instructions for reading this newsletter today:
(not to be bossy, but...)
Click here, skip the ads, and then let this song play in the background while you read.
β‘π€ β‘ π€β‘π€β‘
Why is a hug often so appealing?
Why do we text a hurting friend: "I wish I could give you a hug right now"?
I think one reason is because a healthy hug embraces without questions.
It holds without an interrogation.
A hug saves questions for another time, and prioritizes connection.Β
God, isn't that rare?
I've been thinking, about a lot of things, but I just wanted to give out a hug today...
I see how tired you are, and that on any given day, you have met the needs of so many different people, only to find one more asking something of you.
I know you are lonely. So lonely that it hurts, and brings tears to your eyes, to name out loud.
I see how frustrating that relationship is for you, and how you're feeling stuck.
I wish I could carry the worry that has clouded your sky and weighs down your heart.
I feel how concernedΒ you are for your child, and how powerless you sometimes feel.
I am sorry none of it is turning out how you hoped.
I honor the exhaustion and the effort, and the truth that many won't see it or get it.
AND,Β
I see how hard you are working.
I understand what it is taking you to get to today, and through today. And I understand I never will fully get it.
Everything you are doing matters. And so do you.
You're doing such a good job with what has been handed to you.
I am proud of you, and I hope you are too.
Look at what you have made it through.Β
I stand in awe of your courage.Β
Don't minimize what you are doing, whatever it is. There is no small.
Hugging you from here,
Monica
Now, turn off the link when you are finished listening, because annoying ads will come up.
Β
Next week! (And free!) See you there? 11 am EST (I will be leading a short meditation at the end too) Still Becoming: A Reflection on Identity
Thursday, March 17, 2022
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM PST
"Ready to shed those old narratives to make more space for who you are becoming today? Join us and Monica DiCristina as we explore our identities outside of our roles and relationships at any age or stage.
Monica DiCristinaΒ is a Licensed Professional Counselor and host of the podcast Still Becoming. She inspires and helps individuals of all ages process difficult experiences and bring healing into their relationships with self and others, as well as establish boundaries both externally and internally. Through her podcast, writing, speaking, and counseling work, Monica carries out her heartfelt mission to collaborate with others in their process of healing, hope, and becoming.
Monica joins us on March 17 to help us dig deep and heal β you donβt want to miss this."
Recent Episodes:
Episode 99 - New Episode: Mental Health Check-In: "Practicing Calm"
Β
Welcome to a new genre of Still Becoming episodes. Therapeutic Moments are a combination of some of the teaching of the Mental Health Check Ins, the calming of the Meditative Stories and the Guided Mediations.
In this short calming episode put to music we are addressing the false narratives that can accompany painful experiences - when we are not only hurt, but are believing it is somehow our fault, or that we deserved it. This is something that I spend a lot of time on in therapy. We untangle the topics of shame and guilt in this episode, as well as unpack how we may have taken on the false narratives that came with the pain. Finally, we take a moment to think about, and practice putting that down.
No episode is one size fits all. I always want any work I put out into the world to be filtered by the knowledge that you are the expert on what works for you or does not. And if this idea or episode could be triggering in any way, let's meet up at the next episode.
Finally,Β
"I have learned that there is more power in a good strong hug than in a thousand meaningful words."
Β - Ann Hood
PS - An important next step for publishers to consider my big book I am writing is to have a substantial email subscription list. This, thank goodness, has become my favorite way to connect and serve with the work I do creatively. But, I need your help - if this newsletter is meaningful to you can you point people you know to subscribing to it also? Here is the link: Subscribe. You can just copy and paste it to them. Thank you so much.Β