What recharges you?

How quickly things can change. The first three pictures and the second three pictures are 12 hours apart. Montana is often capable of all four seasons in a day. That’s some of the magic and mystique of it. 

Once the snow started in earnest, the two ladies in the last pictures came by the cabin. I think they knew how they could and would help calm my soul. The peace of the snow falling, the crackling of the fire in the stove, the rushing of the creek in the distance, and the majesty of the two elk walking through. 

What do you do for self care and recharging? Do you see the value in it? Earlier that day, I participated in a suicide awareness walk. As I stood in the gathering area, I was struck by how varied the people were that had been impacted. Some lost siblings, children, parents, friends, co-workers. As individual as fingerprints, so are the impacts and ripples from suicide. 

As an educator, I’ve been impacted by students choosing suicide. I’ve seen the brutal impact on their families, but also on their friends and peers. It’s heartbreaking.

For me, I had a brother “complete” (what is, apparently, the appropriate word choice now) suicide. I have seen the destructive impact on his family and how it’s weighed on my siblings. This was the brother who mercilessly abused me growing up. It’s been a different impact on me. I see the tragedy of it on the lives of others.

All of it makes me further value and take deliberate stance on my “me time” and self care. Top Knot is an oasis of serenity and calm for me. 

The world seems increasingly chaotic and stressful. Divisive. Angry. Losing empathy. First and foremost, make sure you are being empathetic and caring to yourself. You cannot pour from an empty cup. Top Knot refills my cup. What refills yours?

​