Blessed lands as something that happens to us, and perhaps my disquiet stems from the lack of choice implied. This is where Gratitude triumphs.

"When you don't know what to do, just do the work in front of you. At the end of the day at least your chores are done."

In the absence of mitigation, trauma will discharge disguised as behaviors that further amplify harm and drive disconnection:  Anger. Aggression. Apathy. Avoidance. Disdain. Disengagement. Self-injury. 

As Winter Solstice and the longest night approaches, here is a bit hopeful prose to serve as reminder that the light does come.

Lodestar's ICF accredited Trauma-Mitigation Master Class for coaches are now open for registration.

But the fun and screams and laughter and joy that surround deliberately created scary moments during the Month Of Halloween are different from the swamp of Fear and uncertainty we've collectively endured.

Our bandwidth is both a precious and limited resource, deserving of recognition, honor, and guarding against wasteful expenditure.

Our processing may look a little … weird … for a while.

And humor helps.

Wilderness makes you work – planning, packing, paddling, portaging – for the rewards. Wild places aren’t easy comfort, and that is exactly what makes the experience so powerful.

Save the other half of yourselves and your lives for pleasure and adventure. It is not enough to fight for the land; it is even more important to enjoy it.

Too often, though, we give our feelings free rein. And too often (especially right now), the traumas we've experienced are showing up as anger, avoidance, or apathy.

What do we need to ReLearn, and how can we support one another in the relearning?

Our job, then, is to find and create and nurture relationships with other adults who will share the joy and a piece – no matter how big or small – of the responsibility.

In life, as in fiction, we can always ReWrite our story.

Rest and Restoration are important. So is ReConnection.