Dear Red Hot Mamas- June 2020

By: Red Hot Mamas

Published: June 12, 2020

“Within you, there is a stillness and a sanctuary to which you can retreat at any time and be yourself”
-Hermann Hesse

Dear Red Hot Mamas,

It’s been a difficult 100 days for all of us.  It was the beginning of COVID-19 which has changed our lives completely.  My father always preached to me how uncertain the future could be.  And, how life can change on a dime.  Never did I feel the real scope of his words until now.  And, I truly wonder if it is mythical to think that a return to normal will ever happen again.

I’m not okay with the uncertainty in life.  There are so many things that I truly miss which makes it  difficult for me. I’ve had to learn how to adjust my life to these losses.  Yes, isolation has been terribly difficult for me at times.

I miss seeing smiles on people’s faces now which are covered in masks.  I miss not being able to socialize with family and friends in person.  I so miss my friends at my Barre classes, with the peppy music that was so invigorating.

I know that this pandemic has caused a lot of struggles in our lives, mentally, as well as financially.  It’s extremely important that we have compassion for one another.

Try to focus on staying connected and helping those who are in greater need.  And, don’t neglect staying in touch with your own spirituality.  Our spirituality often gets neglected.  But, our spirituality can be a real stress reliever.  It offers us a valuable inner peace during difficult times. And, it may help to keep us healthy.  Being spiritual means understanding the world around you and feeling content in your relationship with every other living thing.

Meditation is a great ways to get in touch with your spirituality.

Meditation is crucial to lowering your blood pressure, helping you maintain a sense of calm, and getting you to release negative thoughts. Meditating can help you become more spiritual as you find a sense of inner peace that you never knew was there.

Some ways to meditate:

  • First, find a quiet place to meditate.  Perhaps a comfortable chair or bench
  • Focus on your breathing, keep your eyes closed and visualize a burning candle.  Tune into the present as you breathe
  • Take note of your mental concerns and acknowledge them with kindness and release them
  • If your mind has wandered, bring it back to the breath
  • Acknowledge, let go and come back to the breath into the present moment
  • At the end of your meditation session, you should feel renewed and refreshed and grateful for life
  • Be consistent, and take a few minutes each day to meditate

In closing, try to set time each day to spend in spiritual reflection.  Take a long walk through nature, pray, meditate, and seek every opportunity you can to put more love into the world.  Today, more than ever our lives are not normal.  We must all listen and support one another with kindness and compassion.

Stay well and be safe,

Karen Giblin