An RBBP miracle + the power of the counter vortex 🌀💖

Hi Reader,

I know the world is intense right now! I hope that you're finding your way through these turbulent times and I hope this email brightens your day 🌞.

A couple months ago I received an inspiring message from long time RBBPer, writer and website designer Mari Pfieffer. I asked her if I could share a bit of her story because I thought the rest of our community here might feel uplifted by it, and gosh, do we sure need some of that right now.

In January, Mari and her family, along with thousands other people, sadly lost their home to the destructive Eaton Fire in Southern California. Thankfully 🙏, Mari and her family are okay and are slowly rebuilding their lives.

AND, amazingly her tiny office at the back of her property was unscathed! On a site visit one day to sift through things she came across a wonderful surprise.

Mari shared, "I looked inside a filing cabinet and look what I found! My Right Brain Business Plans from 2013 to 2022. The very first one is at the left, and I made a traditional Japanese envelope (a tatoushi たとうし) for the cover. Inside are loose-leaf pages. All others were made from leftover new year’s card envelopes. I used mostly wrapping paper, origami and coloring pages to decorate them."

Mari went on to share how discovering these spared RBBPs touched her:

I'm so glad she and her family are safe and that she's able to remind herself of the good things. Mari spent multiple rounds in my mentorship program back in the day so it's really cool to see that she's kept in touch with folks. Mari has also been so sweet to send me pics of her RBBPs every now and then throughout the years so it's such a blessing to see they are still intact. And, of course, I'm grateful for her message to remember the positive parts of life - so important, especially when times are tough.

Here's an invitation to take a moment to think of one positive thing right now. What's something that brought a smile to your face, warmed your heart of lifted your spirits recently? Maybe, like Mari, you're connected to wonderful creative cohorts, maybe you saw a beautiful sunset the other day or enjoyed a cozy cup of tea.

In my Somatic Experiencing® training (a body-based trauma healing modality), we talk about how we need a "counter vortex"🌀💖
​ to the trauma vortex🌪️😱, otherwise we get stuck in the despair, hopelessness and cycle of trauma. Remembering things that bring you joy, uplift or resource you are part of the counter vortex. And the counter vortex is essential to healing, especially when you can feel the sensations of the positive experiences in your body. Thanks, Mari for highlighting the positive and providing a counter vortex!

For those of you on this Creative Biz/Life newsletter who haven't subscribed yet to my new somatic coaching newsletter, I wanted to share that I sent out my first issue last month 🎉. I received some lovely feedback about how the surprising lessons of hummingbirds inspired folks to enjoy more rest. It also is kinda an inside peek into a somatic coaching session! If you'd like to read it, click here and also subscribe below.