This week has been tough, emotionally. I’ve struggled to keep a smile on my face and continue my daily happenings while deeply mourning on the inside. My community suffered a great loss last Thursday- A member of the Yarmouth Police Department was tragically killed in the line of duty and his K-9 suffered life threatening injuries. Officer Gannon’s K-9 is miraculously pulling through after being revived by the SWAT team and enduring emergency surgery. I’m so sad for Nero (the K-9), Officer Gannon’s family, the Yarmouth Police Department, and the community as a whole.

I’ve experienced death in my life- both near and far. I’ve lived through some unthinkable tragedies the world has experienced.  I’ve never felt so devastated about a death (especially to someone I’ve never met). Although, I didn’t know Officer Gannon personally, I feel such a strong connection to him and his family. I know what I am going through and I can’t even begin to imagine what his family and his law enforcement brothers and sisters are going through.

However; through the pain, there is light.

The community has never been so tight and I’ve never seen this outpouring of support- ever. It is truly amazing and makes me so proud to have been raised on Cape Cod. In his short 32 years of life, Officer Gannon has made a tremendous impact. Maybe that’s why it is so upsetting. Officer Gannon and his wife are deeply embedded on the Cape; his passing left a major dent in the fabric of this community. He was young, newly married, a contributing member to society, and doing his job (a job that he loved).Why did this happen to him? Why did this happen here? There is no explanation or justification for this situation and that is what’s so hard to wrap my mind around.

I attended the procession welcoming Officer Gannon back home and seeing him head toward the Church. The streets were packed with people from all over and as the police officers rode, drove, and marched by- the crowded streets were silent. There was an unspoken feeling of respect and courage coming out to share support and grieve with one another. After the Marathon bombing tragedy (almost 5 years to the day) I’ve avoided immersing myself in large crowds, not knowing who was among us and what could possibly occur. I didn’t feel that yesterday. I felt safe, wrapped in the embrace of the community and I felt fearless, like we could take on whatever comes our way after dealing with something so cruel.

I hate that it takes something so heartbreaking and shattering to reinforce why we are so grateful to be alive and live where we do. I never want this feeling of gratitude towards my family, friends, acquaintances, and passerby’s to wear off. I will never take this life for granted as mundane and as it may seem some days. Take a lesson from your dog and love unconditionally and live in the moment. May Officer Gannon’s Family and our community find peace in knowing we are all grieving this loss as one and we will never forget the tremendous influence he has had on all of us.
 
Donations to Officer Gannon’s family can be made here: http://yarmouthpolice.com/
 
The Wicked Flee
When No Man Pursueth
But the Righteous
Are Bold As a Lion
Proverbs 28:1
 
Meg

In my group health coaching session this week, everyone was instructed to write a letter of gratitude either to a friend, family member, or themselves. I told them I would be participating in this exercise as well.  Why? Because...

“There’s a growing body of research that establishes gratitude as a practice with a whole host of physical and psychological benefits. Grateful people enjoy stronger relationships and are more likely to be optimistic, inspired, and empathetic. Cultivating a mind-set of gratitude has also been linked to increased levels of immunity, higher sleep quality, and improved heart health”

I decided to write a letter of gratitude to myself- so here goes...


“Walk as if you are kissing the Earth with your feet.”
-Thich Nhat Hanh
 
Dear Meg,
 
This year, you will have circled the sun 30 times; that’s almost 11,000 days of living, breathing, and thriving on this place we call Earth. 11,000 days is more than enough hours/minutes/seconds to make a difference in the lives around you, and you have. With each personal struggle and triumph, you’ve plucked out a lesson and a reason to keep pushing your passion forward; each stumbling block transformed into a stepping stone. I’m grateful for your drive and love for what you do.

A more recent passion of yours has melded and enhanced your focus on health and wellness and that is Motherhood- your greatest adventure, joy, and teacher thus far. However, I would be remiss to mention gratitude toward your physical self- your body. Without your body, it would be impossible to carry out your message and to be a Mother to sweet Savannah.

My body has been my vehicle and, for lack of a better term, my sales pitch when I go around preaching about eating more greens, incorporating yoga, and emphasizing self-care. My body gave me the sheer gift of being an athlete and a Mother and pushing myself to the limits both mentally and physically. My body endured broken bones, bruises, sprains, cuts, illness, inadequate eating habits, birth, exhaustion, heartache, and much more, but still never gave up on me and continues to support me on this journey. Whatever is going on with me either externally or internally, you never miss a beat. Like a puppy greeting you at the door that has been left home alone all day- you continue to treat me with unconditional love and for that, I am forever grateful.

Thank you for continuing to keep me going and allowing me to spread my message of health, wellness, and happiness and for even more days ahead.
 
Cheers to another trip around the sun,
 
Meg