I started this newsletter in response to my own feelings of sadness, lack of motivation and slight disinterest in life. Waking up feeling disconnected was disheartening and I knew I had to get up, move and fight this ghetto feeling infiltrating my spirit.
So naturally, I decided to go to IKEA and Target one day. Lets talk about the healing powers of mindlessly shopping in these two stores OK?! It gets me going as much as therapy.
The day was January 26, 2020. As I’m en-route to IKEA, my friend text the group chat and said that Kobe Bryant passed away. If you know my driving, you know I was swerving down Freedom Parkway frantically checking my news alerts and Twitter to see if this was true. Slowly but surely, the news was confirmed. It was the first (of many) surreal moments I’ve felt this year.
I went into the store, enthralled in my phone and walking aimlessly, until I stumbled across the plant section. I can’t tell you what to do with a plant other than water it but that day I decided to buy my first one, a majestic palm named Zora. I was in such an odd feeling of grief that I decided to spend all my money on plants that day - my palm, a faux lemon tree, a eucalyptus wreath, a floral bed-set! I reorganized my room that night and made it a sanctuary of sorts. Something as simple as redecorating jumpstarted the spiritual journey I’m on now. January 26 was the day I decided I had to work hard to unearth the happiness I knew was eager to bloom inside of me.
Plants, nature, greenery - there is an element of each that breathes new life into healing. I think it’s no coincidence that I bought my first plant on the day Kobe died. My plants brought me a sense of peace amongst the chaos. What I learned this day and have carried with me since is peace beyond understanding. We can’t always see the bigger picture and we don’t always understand why certain occurrences happen but if we can find peace in the situation, we reach a new level of spiritual enlightenment.
Does anyone feel enlightened during the pandemic? I feel more aware than I ever have. What the world is going through is not easy - we are grieving, we are confused, we’re unsure about the future but I have full faith knowing that our worlds are going to change drastically and beautifully when this is all over. It feels like we’re being re-potted, watered and nurtured - a second chance at life if you will.
To tie this all together, in the midst of trying times remember there’s peace in knowing that our lives have meaning that surpass our current situation. When I think about Kobe Bryant, I find joy in knowing that he used every gift God gave him in his lifetime. And guess what - I find joy in knowing that you will too. I can’t wait to see what ideas, businesses, relationships and personal wins blossom in the coming months.
I powerfully accept this renaissance of growth as I go into 26 years of life tomorrow. The work I’ve been doing spiritually, mentally and physically feels perfectly aligned with having my birthday during a quarantine. I’m just happy to be here ya’ll and I pray you are too.
You know the vibes -
WAKE UP AND GIVE ME 5!
I am grateful for MY BIRTHDAY! April 18th, a national holiday!
I am grateful for my plants - Zora, Barack and Frieda.
I am grateful for my friends who are motivating me in my weight loss journey.
I am grateful for being covered by prayers I’ve never heard before.
I am grateful for my senses - being able to touch, see, taste, smell and hear.
Pull out your journals, speak out loud, tweet it out and let the Universe know why you’re giving thanks today!
Until next time, I pray that you find wonder in all that you do and give thanks for the little things that add to the bigger picture.
your weekly dose of happiness,
Lauriel
I just randomly stopped on your newsletter and it was just a delight! To hear this journey of yours of 3 months I guess, has instilled a certain type of calmness in me. Calmness in the sense that everything will turn out be perfect in the end. I'm from India so the date today is the 17th of April, so I guess tomorrow is your birthday? Wishing you a very happy birthday from the other side of the world and hope you have a great year ahead! May the Almighty bless you and help you succeed in all of your life endeavours.