Falling into Renewal
I found myself staring at a bouquet of dead roses on my desk today. In a matter of minutes, so many thoughts crossed my mind about that bouquet. “I should have watered them more,” “Maybe if I gave them a little bit more sunshine,” “I’ve never been good with flowers.” As these thoughts continued to distract me, a petal from one of the flowers fell. I leaned a little closer and seen a newly-sprouted green leaf coming from what used to be thorns. It struck me that this is the perfect metaphor for life and the purpose of Gilda’s Club Minnesota: continuing to live ‘despite’. During my time here at Gilda’s Club Minnesota, I have had so many people tell me that they are here because they want to learn how to live ‘despite.” Despite the diagnosis. Despite the grief. Despite the prognosis.
I tell people all the time that I have the best job in the world. Where else on earth do people get to come to a workplace where they’re encouraged to laugh uncontrollably, process experiences and talk about gratitude, and my personal favorite – eat! But it’s not always sunshine and roses. I grieve with members when their loved one passes, with those who are grappling with the physical and emotional changes after a cancer diagnosis, and for those who are trying to accept what life is like now versus what they planned it to be. Yet, the green still sprouts and we grow on.
Admittedly, fall is my favorite time of year. I won’t bore you with the details about why, but a single rose petal reminded me to fall into a space of renewal in this season and I am here to remind you all to do the same. While there are some things that are outside of our control, we know that two things can be true at once: as one thing falls away, another thing can grow.
I’ll leave you with a picture and a poem:
The Garden of Time
In life’s vast garden, roses grow,
Some flourish fast, some bloom slow.
Their fragrance sweet, their thorns concealed,
A dance of light and dark revealed.
Each rose, a symbol of the days
We spend in joy, in loss, in praise.
The petals fall, but seeds remain,
And from that loss, new life we gain.
For life is not a perfect bloom,
But soil, and sun, and shadowed room.
And like the rose, through pain and strife,
We find the beauty in this life.
Below I’ve listed some programs that can help your renewal in this fall season. As always, you have my love and gratitude.
- Yoga Nidra: A Profoundly Deep Rest – In-person with Zoe Johnson
- Mondays from 12:30 – 2:00 pm
- Yoga Nidra is a guided meditation practice designed to induce deep relaxation with conscious awareness. Attendees are guided through a systematic deep relaxation process, encouraging a state of “yogic sleep,” where the body remains at rest while the mind stays aware. This state helps release physical, emotional, and mental tension, promoting a sense of inner calm and clarity.
- Transformational Sound Healing – In-person with Kate Jackson
- Various Thursdays from 12:00 – 1:00 pm
- Experience soothing self-healing through the gentle vibrations of different instruments designed to relax and balance your nervous system while releasing pain, inflammation and fatigue to boost your body’s natural capacity to heal.
- Evening of Remembrance – In-person with Gilda’s Club Staff
- Wednesday, October 23 from 6:00 – 8:00 pm
- Join the Gilda’s Club community, along with friends and family, for a heartfelt Evening of Remembrance as we come together to honor the lives of those we have lost to cancer. This evening offers a chance to celebrate their memory, connect with others, and find comfort in the strength of community.
- Chili Cook-off – In-person with Gilda’s Club Staff
- Thursday, November 14 from 12:00 – 2:00 pm
- Spice things up at this fiery social bringing together chili enthusiasts, home cooks, and food lovers for a mouthwatering showdown. Participants will showcase their best chili recipes, each packed with bold flavors, hearty ingredients, and a unique personal twist in pursuit of the coveted People’s Choice Award.
- How to Manage Stress: Research and Practical Skills – Online with Susan Everson-Rose and Kristi Whiten
- Wednesday, December 4 from 6:00 – 7:30 pm
- Join us for an engaging panel discussion where experts in stress management research and practical application come together to share their knowledge. This event will explore the latest findings in stress management, discuss how stress affects the body and mind, and review evidence-based strategies for managing stress effectively.
Sign up for these upcoming program offerings on our virtual program offerings page and in-person program offerings page, in your class registration account, or call us at 612-227-2147.
With love and gratitude,
Shaunequa James, MSW, LICSW
Program Director
612-227-2147 office | 952-767-7627 direct
10560 Wayzata Blvd., Minnetonka, MN 55305
