Teri, what a fantastic story! I loved every word of your roadtrip description right down to the ghetto motel six. Felt like I was watching a movie of two people on the run! And then the mood shift.
Thank you for sharing this, and thanks for having me as a guest, admitting things i never thought I would ❤️
This line really struck me: 'The only difference between anxiety and excitement is... your thoughts.' It makes me wonder, how often do we rob ourselves of joy by choosing anxiety? And how can we consciously shift our perspective to embrace the unknown with excitement instead of fear? This is something I'll be pondering for a long time.
So so so often I have robbed myself of excitement and joy by misunderstanding it as anxiety and fear. That’s why I love Halloween season. It’s a great time to play that line between fear and fun. Anxiety and excitement and blur the lines.
Thanks for this reflection Alexander. Your words have me thinking further, beyond naming a certain energy we are experiencing as “anxiety/fear/excitement.”There is the raw, natural expression of the energy itself. Simply getting curious about how one feels into this type of aliveness is a fascinating inner adventure. The shaking that Teri speaks to, I have found, is an excellent way to disperse the anxiety/excitement energy so it can be of service to the moment. The combination of the cognitive approach you point out and the somatic approach (shaking) I have found to be helpful in my own life.
Waking up my molecules to be more alive! Great seeing Kristi smiling. You can feel her grieving 💜 I'll show this to my toddler and baby and I bet they gonna love to SHAKE their bodies.
Ladies. 😭❤️ what a beautiful conversation. Thank you thank you for sharing your truths and vulnerability.
This was just what I needed to hear.
Yesterday my bestie went to a funeral that happened to be where my Mom, Dad, Brother and Grandma are buried and she so very kindly FaceTimed me and sat next to the headstone and put her hand on each name. It was soul-filling and heart-saddening. She’s an incredible friend.
When I was in college and going through a very hard depression time, I would take long walks in cemeteries to calm myself down. Sometimes late at night. I always enjoyed the quiet of the cemetery, yet it didn’t feel like I was alone at all. I felt like I could talk to the ancestors there and give them all my secrets and sadnesses to hold for me. I have never found cemeteries to be creepy. I find them comforting.
It really does take courage. There’s a reason I haven’t cross-posted this one to my Substack yet. It’s still intimidating to go public with a thing that is so UN-naturally me now.
You’re not the only one. Everyone I have interviewed for my publication has not cross-posted for the same reason. I’m just grateful you were willing to go public on my platform! Thank you.
I am just writing about fear so it’s been on my mind. When we turn and look at it, when we name it as you have done, it begins to lose its hold on us. That doesn’t mean it happens right away though! Take your time. Don’t do something your heart is telling you you’re not ready for.
I faced my biggest Fears when I went through divorce, and somehow in that process of turning to look at Him, I made friends with Him. Fear and I hug now.
Thanks for reading. getting comments like yours makes the vulnerability all worth it.
You’re Belgian! My favorite place in Europe that I’ve ever been. Even though it holds memories of grandpas death, I love the Grand Place and that adorable mannekin Pis
Teri, what a fantastic story! I loved every word of your roadtrip description right down to the ghetto motel six. Felt like I was watching a movie of two people on the run! And then the mood shift.
Thank you for sharing this, and thanks for having me as a guest, admitting things i never thought I would ❤️
I've been wanting to tell the "escaping hurricane Irma" with the shower-screaming parrot story for awhile now. This seemed like the perfect time.
This line really struck me: 'The only difference between anxiety and excitement is... your thoughts.' It makes me wonder, how often do we rob ourselves of joy by choosing anxiety? And how can we consciously shift our perspective to embrace the unknown with excitement instead of fear? This is something I'll be pondering for a long time.
So so so often I have robbed myself of excitement and joy by misunderstanding it as anxiety and fear. That’s why I love Halloween season. It’s a great time to play that line between fear and fun. Anxiety and excitement and blur the lines.
Thanks for this reflection Alexander. Your words have me thinking further, beyond naming a certain energy we are experiencing as “anxiety/fear/excitement.”There is the raw, natural expression of the energy itself. Simply getting curious about how one feels into this type of aliveness is a fascinating inner adventure. The shaking that Teri speaks to, I have found, is an excellent way to disperse the anxiety/excitement energy so it can be of service to the moment. The combination of the cognitive approach you point out and the somatic approach (shaking) I have found to be helpful in my own life.
I just did a good amount of that shaking exercise for myself this morning. it never fails me. and I love you Alexander for your raw expressions!
Yes! @Teri Leigh 💜 always has the right somatic trick, and the shaking approach really helps me too.
funny, I didn’t even know the word somatic until a few years ago…but I’ve been teaching these kinds of tricks for decades!
I have a similar story with the term “somatic” Teri. Yay, for sharing the tricks/techniques and supporting humanity with your wisdom. ✨
Waking up my molecules to be more alive! Great seeing Kristi smiling. You can feel her grieving 💜 I'll show this to my toddler and baby and I bet they gonna love to SHAKE their bodies.
Shaking is so good for the soul in so many levels. Shaking with anyone under the age of 5 is downright magickal!
Keep shaking, Teri :)
Ladies. 😭❤️ what a beautiful conversation. Thank you thank you for sharing your truths and vulnerability.
This was just what I needed to hear.
Yesterday my bestie went to a funeral that happened to be where my Mom, Dad, Brother and Grandma are buried and she so very kindly FaceTimed me and sat next to the headstone and put her hand on each name. It was soul-filling and heart-saddening. She’s an incredible friend.
Incredible friend indeed, Karen. I hope she helped you feel closer to them for a moment 💜💚
Absolutely yes. 🙏
When I was in college and going through a very hard depression time, I would take long walks in cemeteries to calm myself down. Sometimes late at night. I always enjoyed the quiet of the cemetery, yet it didn’t feel like I was alone at all. I felt like I could talk to the ancestors there and give them all my secrets and sadnesses to hold for me. I have never found cemeteries to be creepy. I find them comforting.
Thank you Teri and Kristi for this brave and vulnerable interview. It takes great courage to share our hardest story in a public setting.
It really does take courage. There’s a reason I haven’t cross-posted this one to my Substack yet. It’s still intimidating to go public with a thing that is so UN-naturally me now.
You’re not the only one. Everyone I have interviewed for my publication has not cross-posted for the same reason. I’m just grateful you were willing to go public on my platform! Thank you.
Don’t worry, I will do it. I feel like it’s an important piece of my “wildhood” to share!
I don’t expect you too. And if/when you do, it’s on your perfect timing, not mine. I love you no matter what.
I am just writing about fear so it’s been on my mind. When we turn and look at it, when we name it as you have done, it begins to lose its hold on us. That doesn’t mean it happens right away though! Take your time. Don’t do something your heart is telling you you’re not ready for.
I faced my biggest Fears when I went through divorce, and somehow in that process of turning to look at Him, I made friends with Him. Fear and I hug now.
Thanks for reading. getting comments like yours makes the vulnerability all worth it.
Really cool seeing you both work through that. As a Belgian I also appreciated the appearance of our Manneken Pis 😁
You’re Belgian! My favorite place in Europe that I’ve ever been. Even though it holds memories of grandpas death, I love the Grand Place and that adorable mannekin Pis
We have some really beautiful cities in Belgium. I have moved to New Zealand years ago, but Belgium is definitely a cool place to be 😊
Bruges was a one of my all time favorite experiences.
Thanks for linking my essay in your post, Teri! I remember your road trip story well; it's a great story! 🙏💚
Your writing is always so insightful and clear. I’m happy to promote you.
💞