Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health Meets the Gnesh Girls!

This summer I spent my 60th birthday in Stockbridge, MA, at one of my favorite places: Kripalu.

It might seem a bit excessive for a California girl to travel 3,000 miles for a week of self-exploration when she could probably discover just as much about herself by looking in a mirror. But, what the heck, I’ve decided to invest in myself–no matter what the cost!

Besides, Qigong with Ken Cohen,

Journey Dance with Toni Bergins,

Watercolor lessons with Jeanne Carbonetti,

Kundalini Yoga (that was a stretch!) with Hari Kirin Kaur Khalso, and

Energy Medicine with Ann Marie Chiasson have been five of the highlights of my life. Why stop now?

I knew I would miss my husband, but we had celebrated together a few days earlier. Besides, I was soon to discover that he would send me his heart–in a box!

One of the most exciting presents ever, I opened it the moment it arrived–it couldn’t be helped.

Inside I discovered that my man’s heart knew mine. I laughed and loved both at the same time. (Have you ever tried to separate loving from laughing? Can’t be done!)

That’s the moment I realized it didn’t matter what was in that box. It could have been dirt for all I cared. (That may be a bit of a stretch, too.) Or turkey feathers. Or blueberries. But whatever else it was, it would be precious and full of love.

Little did I know that I was soon to discover 13 other gifts I was about to receive, each one precious and full of love. 11 of them were fellow cancer sufferers. Exceptional women who are survivors. The other 2 were our facilitators. At first the teachers said we would be spending the week learning how to be radiant after cancer. By the end of the week, they said we didn’t need to learn how; we already were.  We could have told them it takes more than cancer to stop our inner glow!

During that amazing week…

We danced with Dan!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We laughed with Liz!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We touched each other!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We christened ourselves The Gnesh Girls: Removers of Obstacles!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We smelled the flowers!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We Chicken Danced with Nancy and Betsy!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We walked the labyrinth…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

But most of all, we liked each other! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We bonded on the other side of suffering in an inexplicable way that brings us together like hummingbirds seeking nectar. Where life is hopeful and love is sweet. Where we support each other with sharing and caring, and prayer. And where a celebration of a birthday, cancer-free check-up, or removal of an obstacle for one is a celebration for all. Also, where new tumors, heartbreaks, and fears for one are made lighter as all of us shoulder the load.

But that’s what friends do for each other, isn’t it? When you feel good, I feel good. When you hurt, I help you feel better. When I hurt, you help me feel better. We are all in this together! What in life is any more precious?

As cancer survivors, all of us”Gnesh Girls” know that life is a gift and today is the day to love as if there is no tomorrow.

How about you? What gifts does life give to you? What do you love as if there is no tomorrow?

Who knows… Maybe there’s a Heart-in-a-Box waiting for your discovery today. When you find it, open it immediately. As you do, prepare to laugh and love at the same time. It can’t be helped.

Even if it’s dirt!

 

How nice to have you join me today. I will be out of the country most of Sept. so will not be able to email or announce new posts on fb. If you would like to receive notification, however, I invite you to subscribe at the top of this page.  My house-sitter is already overworked, so will not ask her to do it for me! Comments may not be answered until I return home, but are still welcome and encouraged.

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