Journey to Joy
The beckoning of fall can evoke a myriad of emotions. It brings our senses into an awareness of the beauty that lives around us. The brisk and slight chills of the wind, the bright colored leaves falling from the trees. The smell of pumpkin spice is in the air from literally everywhere. This time of year conjures joy from the depths of us.
What has always struck me about this season is the undertone of melancholy for many of us. While the smell of pumpkin spice in the air is nice, a reminder of what has passed lingers in the background. That lingering can include the loved ones who are not in this physical realm to share in the joy of fall, or it could be a reminder of the inevitable passage of time for those who are in the throws of their cancer treatment. There is grief that lives below the surface of our everyday lives and in our bodies.
Grief is a shapeshifter and can take many forms. It can be projected as anticipation of what is to come, feelings of sorrow for what we have lost, or it can be a combination of both and live in our bodies as that tightness we feel in our chests. I believe the most important shape of grief is that of a companion to joy. In my journey to joy, I have learned that grief is not an excuse to eradicate our birthright to experience happiness. It is possible to experience both grief and joy simultaneously. It is our acceptance of the existence of both that allows us to move freely within the space between them and experience beautiful things.
As always, I want to leave you with a quote:
Grief, I’ve learned, is really just love. It’s all the love you want to give but cannot. All that unspent love gathers up in the corners of your eyes, the lump in your throat, and in that hollow part of your chest. Grief is just love with no place to go.
Jamie Anderson
I encourage you to gather all that love in you and experience beautiful things this fall season. Below I’ve listed some of the ways that you can start your journey from grief to joy.
- Moving Through Grief (11-Part) Series- Hybrid with Brittany Squillace
- Wednesdays, October 12 – December 21 from 11:00am – 12:30pm
- Losing a loved one to cancer can be one of the hardest and most heart-breaking experiences for a person. You do not have to navigate the complexity of grief alone. Join Brittany Squillace, a grief counselor and guru, for an 11-week series about moving through grief. This series will go through topics that aid healing and understanding of grief.
- Tai Chi & Breathing Techniques – In Person with Steven Yang
- Tuesdays, October 18 – December 20 from 6:00pm – 8:00pm
- Join us and experience the benefits of Tai Chi! This is a relaxing and comfortable class for all. This class will cover Tai Chi and breathing techniques and how we can apply these skills to our daily lives. The Tai Chi form that will be taught is Yang Style 24 Form, a gentle form that can drastically improve balance, flexibility, mobility, and mood. At the end of each class, there will also be a guided meditation session to help participants center and self-reflect.
- Stress Management (5-Part) Series – Hybrid with Barb Clare, MS, LMFT
- Tuesdays, November 1 – 29 from 10:30am – 11:30am
- Everyone experiences stress no matter what their age, gender, or situation. This 5-session class will cover various ideas to help everyone find some helpful ways to combat stress.
- Circling Hands Qigong – Online with Joel Ronningen
- Thursdays, October 6 – December 22 from 5:30pm – 6:30pm (No occurrence November 24)
- Circling Hands Qigong is an easy to learn beginner practice. In this practice, you will move through circles in the three planes, vertical, horizontal, and coronal – to build strength, circulate blood and fluids, and relax and clear your mind with the rhythmic movements
- Personal Growth & Relaxation Through Guided Meditation & Expressive Writing – Virtual with Paula Sandberg
- Every 1st and 3rd Friday of the month (October 7 & 21, November 4 & 18, December 2 & 16) from 10:15am – 11:00am
- In the comfort of your own space, join us to relax your body, calm your mind and gain personal insight. In each session, you will be led through a different Guided Meditation followed by the opportunity to reflect and write about your experience.
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, LGSW
Program Director
612-227-2147 office | 952-767-7627 direct
10560 Wayzata Blvd., Minnetonka MN 55305
