In Times Like These
In the last week alone, Haley and I took actions that one month ago we could not have imagined. In February, we felt the momentum building with our first Stretch & Sip and Forest Walk events, and we had great enthusiasm and excitement going into the Women’s Wellness Retreat at the end of March. Haley was training for the Boston Marathon and preparing for a large work event. I was packing for a trip overseas and creating content for our venture. And then SARS-CoV-2 became inescapable. Life as we all knew it began to change rapidly. Shelter-in-place was ordered in California, and now 16 states. We postponed the events scheduled for March to an undetermined date in the future. We along with every other person and industry started thinking about what to do next. How can we be of service, what need can we meet? These questions have always been our focus with Kadra, and when you’re building something to positively impact community, this takes on a special meaning.
One of the reasons I have always loved working a massage therapist is helping people experience deep relaxation. It provides a space in which to take a moment to pause, take a few deep breaths, and find calm. Tuning into nature, appreciating the beauty, and being grateful can also positively affect our health in significant ways. When we are feeling overwhelmed, anxious or nervous, our brains do not function optimally. Taking time to pause before reacting and breathing in and out for a count of ten changes the activity in the brain and halts the flight or fight response. It slows and changes the activity of stress hormones (cortisol and adrenaline to name two) so that your brain can think versus react. To learn more, click here to read a piece in the Harvard Business Review. I encourage you to pause and count to ten while breathing if you find yourself feeling anxious.
I also encourage you to take this opportunity to find a moment (or longer) to remember your values and get back to basics. Identify what truly matters in this life. Self-reflect by examining if your actions and current way of living is aligned with preserving and maintaining these values. Is it off a bit? Now is the time to do something about this. Be kind to yourself and make a small change that can have a big impact. Don’t take anything for granted because it could change in an instant (thank you for the reminder, son).
While it is a small contribution, I was inspired to create the Mindful Minute in Nature videos and share with you on our blog and YouTube. I’m blessed to live less than a mile from the American River and most of the nature videos will be coming to you from this special area. The early morning hours on the trails are a perfect time to be alone and practice social distancing. I hope you enjoy this beautiful scenery and remind yourself that everything will be ok.
There will be more to come. We are thinking about what’s next, and we are very excited about the possibilities. This isn’t about wearing rose colored glasses or being like Pollyanna, but rather seizing this opportunity to respond with care and love to make a positive impact.
Want to chat with us? Reply to this email or send a DM on Instagram (@kadrainc). We’re here for you and we’re all in this together.
Take care, love each other and the earth
P.S. The first person to correctly guess where the picture was taken wins a special gift.
Leave your guess in the comment below.