Dear Reader:

After reading Lisa’s story (which we will complete together today) I realized that one of my favorite quotes – the title quote- “Faith Sees Best in the Dark” has actually been Lisa’s guiding light. She has never let the darkness consume her. Instead she has stretched and reached out for the light that welcomes her in every stage of her wellness path.

I want to point out one important concept that Lisa has come to understand…”One Size Doesn’t Fit All.”  In all our journeys to find better health and wellness, whether it be emotional, mental, or physical… we must never settle for one person’s opinion or direction…instead we need to find as many “sages” as possible to guide us home. They are God’s guardian angels.

Lisa mentions counseling, self-help materials, recognizing “God Winks,” stories, posts, foundations, finding the right church for her and her family, and keeping the faith…no matter how dark the path might grow.

• I have decided to name this fern growing out of a broken pot “Lisa” because it survived and even found a way to keep growing by going underneath the dark soil and popping back up into the light...spreading its beauty.

Lisa’s Story – Part 2- In her own words…………………………………….

...After spending six (6) years working on getting mentally and emotionally “fit”, I still felt off…like I was still missing a piece, my spiritual piece. Becky’s Chapel of Hope stories were filled with spiritual references, which kept growing my mustard seed of faith and made me want to pursue a relationship with God. The stories of “God Winks” opened my mind to the holy spirit and how it works in our daily lives her on Earth. I was also reminded me how important our Faith Life is when we are facing a challenge in life.

I have learned that to stay emotionally, spiritually, physically healthy, and fit— it takes a daily, constant conscious awareness, daily effort of learning new skills and strategies, then applying them in my own life.

To reach others and share emotionally and spiritually helpful ideas, I decided to create a self-help Facebook page of resources for others called “GET CHAPIN STRONG” for mental health/wellness and spiritual tools (strategies/resources).

I started GET CHAPIN STRONG last year in February 2020 after 4 people died by suicide in the Chapin Area…I wanted to help people understand that emotional health/wellness is an individual responsibility and completely in their power— to control, change and get healthy…I use this Facebook page to post resources that I find valuable that I think it can help others.

I also volunteer for the Hayden Hurst Family Foundation … Their mission is to raise awareness of mental health issues in children and adolescents by funding mental health services and programs through donations and fundraising events. I have been a part of helping them implement a pilot program consisting of a SEL (social emotional learning) curriculum in multiple school districts this year.

Through the Foundation, this school year, we are helping over 13,000 students, teachers, and parents get social and emotional (SEL) training 4 days per week/for the entire school year. https://www.haydenhurstfoundation.com/

I believe, people can learn to be aware of their /feelings (their emotional state of mind) and when they recognize something is “off” or “missing” in themselves, they can begin putting effort into becoming healthy or “fit” in that area of life.

Social and emotional learning (learning to be aware of one’s emotional health) is a new concept for most people and will take a conscious daily effort for them to learn new ways to manage their feelings with healthy strategies and then to be able to continue to apply them. I have found in my experience, to be overall healthy, it takes a daily balance in all areas of the body—mind (emotional), body, and spirit.

Remember we are not meant to go through this life alone–we need people; we need support, we need connection--If you want to check out my GET CHAPIN STRONG PAGE….Click link below https://www.facebook.com/Get-Chapin-Strong-103447694553522/

Honey’s mom was right. HEALTH IS WEALTH!

“Today is my favorite day”  Winnie the Pooh

*I stopped to pick up lunch today at my treasured tea room and saw my most favorite angel of all there...the reading angel...she has been there since the tea room opened decades ago. She’s aging quite gracefully.

** Today was the 100th day of school, which considering all the barriers this year with the pandemic, is quite a benchmark and success story with Covid.

The kids dressed up to look like 100….I told Rutledge I expected to see an ark and rainbow behind him…he had a little ‘Moses” things going on! 🙂