Throwback Post: The Dance of Craziness

**THROWBACK POST**

July 24 2016:

Finally getting to work on the blog post(s) about the trip. I’ve already been posting on our Team TLC website, yet this one will be on my own website and completely different. Here’s a snippet …

” …. Thoughts of us being stranded due to car problems kept entering my thoughts like a dark storm cloud encroaching on the brightest of days. Thoughts of the lack of finances for this trip took their turn in the dance also.

Not to be left out of the dance, thoughts of my insanity at attempting this cut into the dance too. All of this dance to be completed with the veil of anxiety and worry weaving in and out like a breeze blowing through the trees.

Thankfully, I am a student of mindfulness and emotional connection. And, since there was nothing else to do but sit and drive, I took this opportunity to put these practices to work. It was a rapturous dance between being mindful, connecting with emotions, and embracing the fear wanting to dance with me … ” Must take a break now for lunch and getting this place cleaned up! xoxoxo

Here’s the link to the full post …

A Rapturous Dance With Life

Throwback Post: The Feedback Confirms It


(Camilla at Lake Tahoe Summer 2013)

**THROWBACK POST**

February 5, 2013

I had myself a little ole meltdown tonight. Went to my room and closed the door. Heard Thomas and Lillian talking with each other. They came into my room and Lillian had typed in her Proloquo2Go app 3 things. 1) Take some deep breaths 2) Self-talk 3) Don’t worry, Be Happy ….

These are some of the ideas I give them for when they are feeling angry or sad. These two really are listening to me! Using my own stuff on ME! One “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” Song, one “Every little things gonna be all right” song, one “Home” song, lots of Thomas hugs, and a Lillian in my lap later …. ahhhhhhhh!

It was a good release! Not just for me, for Thomas too. Mr. T was so moved by my meltdown he shared some things with me that were bothering him. He told me a fib earlier today and it was really bothering him. ONWARD!!!! Hugs and deep breaths for anyone needing them!!

What I am teaching my children is that they have a choice in how they relate to people, situations, events … reality. People, situations, and events just ARE. It is the space between the stimulus and response where we get to choose whether we will take a negative view and/or respond in an unkind manner. I am attempting to teach them to recognize that space and to know they have a choice. Ultimately what they choose will be up to them. They are each their own person.

My hope is that as they mature and encounter difficult people or situations they will have the wisdom that they get to choose their response because that’s what they saw me do when I encountered difficult situations and/or people.

For whatever reasons I am moved to share my life and my family with others. I stopped questioning why a few years ago. I often receive feedback that confirms why I am to share my life.

Someone said to me the other day that I came into her life at just the right time. She was feeling so overwhelmed and had decided to leave her marriage. After connecting with me, she released many of the things she was letting overwhelm her and changed her mind about leaving her marriage.

So I will continue to share my life. No matter those that disagree. If it helps one person, if it turns one persons life around, if it inspires one person to conquer fears, if it enriches the lives of others …. My reason for being here is fulfilled.


(Camilla at Lake Tahoe Summer 2013 – PS … Lake Tahoe water is freezing cold!)

**March 2021 Update – This was before I learned the concept of emotional connection, making sure to allow oneself to physically feel and experience emotions. So my views on it, and what I modeled to Thomas and Lillian shifted once I learned how important it is in furthering one’s growth, and mental/emotional health. The person I mention in the next to last paragraph … She continued to move forward and is happily married to that same person.

Breathe In and Breathe Out and Feel It by Camilla Downs

May 25 2019:

Written in response to a call for an essay about gratitude … Sent on wings of appreciation and love … With a photo of Nature’s Beauty …

I had a decision to make. I could continue to be stuck in a place of self pity, of feeling like I’m not one of the chosen who gets to have a peaceful, abundant, and joyful life. By no means was this an easy decision to make. I struggled on and off for more than 20 years with a core belief that people like me do not get to have an easy,…

Breathe In and Breathe Out and Feel It

How Do You Connect and Release With Emotions

November 22 2017:

I was feeling deeply down in the dump yesterday morning. Part of me wanted to sit and sulk and feel sorry myself. Yet, another part of me new that the time is now to start doing it different.

So I made a conscious decision to let myself feel this down moment, yet to also just do something …. anything. I’m purging the filing cabinet so as to pass it on, so I grabbed a folder and began going through it.

Rather than make a neat little pile of recycle items, I decided to do it different. I just threw them over my shoulder. Thomas and Lillian had a ball watching me as I was making faces and wild sounds while doing it.

I felt more like myself by the time I was finished, too. Feeling and release are so incredibly wonderful. Then Thomas and I went to Washoe Lake for our date day. Nature stepped in and helped to clear the remnants. As we drove home, I felt lighter, considerably different, and much better! xoxo

Releasing the Dumps Camilla 11.22.17

This was great! Of course, I didn’t think so at the time but it felt good to be bringing laughter to Thomas and Lillian at the same time as connecting with the heaviness I felt. xoxo

Emotional Connection and Free and at Peace

**THROWBACK POST**

October 11 2015:

Thank you Barbara Richmond Chastain for asking me to be a part of the Connexions Workshop today. I thoroughly enjoyed facilitating the Emotional Connexion segment. I’m grateful I got to experience the emotional connection that happened for the participants.

After I left we went to Big Washoe Lake and Little Washoe Lake where I took this picture of Thomas. This is how I hope everyone felt afterwards … Free and at peace. xoxo

Thomas Little Washoe Lake 10.11.15

Oh my gosh! He had such a great time. First he asked if he could take off his shoes and walk in it. “Sure”, I said.

Then, he asked if we could come here on our next date so he could wear his swimsuit and get all the way in. I told him that wouldn’t be til November so take your shirt off and get in now! YES! xoxo

How to Connect With Emotions

**THROWBACK POST**

February 20 2016:

“The precursor to defining emotional connection is to reach acceptance that negative emotions and discomfort are a part of us. Then, begin the practice of not running from the uncomfortable emotions, or squashing them with positivity, or feeling a failure for having them. Emotional connection is …. ”

“Let the power of your emotions open you up … Take your seat in the middle of your home ground and rouse your confidence – your innate capacity to open to your experience.” – Pema Chodron’s “Living Beautifully“

What is Emotional Connection

 

How to Mindfully Dance with Life

January 9 2017:

Top 10 Countdown Continues! The Number SEVEN 2016 CamillaDowns.com blog post with the most views: “A Rapturous Dance With Life” ……. xoxoxoxoxo …….

A Rapturous Dance With Life

…. “Thoughts of us being stranded due to car problems kept entering my mind like a dark storm cloud encroaching on the brightest of days. Not to be left out of the dance, thoughts of my insanity at attempting this cut into the dance too. All of this dance to be completed with the veil of anxiety and worry weaving in and out like a breeze blowing through the trees …..

…. I had stepped way out of my comfort zone with this trip. I had never driven this far, much less driven this far being the only one in charge of packing, driving, and navigating. Plus, we had never … ”

 

An Open Letter to My Daughter’s Meltdowns

January 3 2017:

bench-at-vintage-lake-february-2016

Top 10 Countdown! The 2016 blog post on CamillaDowns.com with the most views: Dear Meltdown – The article which was quickly accepted and published by elephant journal.

May this land in front of the one who would benefit from reading it …

Dear Meltdown: Meet My Friend Mindfulness

 

Completion and New Beginnings

December 14 2016

Here’s to completion and new beginnings!!

Today we graduated from psychotherapy sessions with Alexa at Midtown Mindfulness.

After a trip back home to Germany beginning tomorrow, Alexa will begin her new journey helping young girls affected by sex trafficking. A beautiful heart centered new beginning for her.

We are extremely grateful for the year and a half we’ve experienced sessions with Alexa. She has seen Lillian come a long way from that first visit in 2014.

Alexa always shared wonderful comments about my style of parenting and ability to stay calm and relaxed. Of course I’m not always able to sustain this, yet how would I know the joy and peace of remaining calm if I don’t experience the opposite.

Mindfulness is indeed miraculous and has been life changing for all 3 of us. Another wonderful path in our journey together!!! Cheers!!!!!

toasting-with-alexa-12-14-16

The Language You Speak

November 4 2016:

“Your reflection draws the attention,
even from afar.
My heart and soul know
the language you speak.
Your message forever more comforting.
I love you.” ~Camilla Downs

reflection-of-trees-at-lake-2016-2