Some days I do not just read those words, I hold them close like a prayer. I place my hand over my heart, take a slow breath, and let them steady me. That is my self care in real time, a small ritual that reminds me I am still here, still standing, still capable of climbing the next step, even when grief is sitting heavy on my shoulders.

You Cannot Ride the Elevator

I am reminded of a line I wrote in one of my Sunday Stories: “Darling, you cannot ride the elevator to find your purpose; you have to climb the stairs.” Well, I practice what I preach, huffing and puffing up those stairs one step at a time. It is extremely difficult. My heart aches, and still I move. I force myself to remain purposeful, and oddly enough, I feel my heart rejoice at my tenacity.

Now, here is something that makes me laugh. I am not a Type A personality. I enjoy swaying like tree branches that adapt to the wind. But when I am on a mission, when my heart calls my name, I become the trunk. I guess my personality a combination of type A and a B. And darling, maybe that is the point. Self care is not one personality type. It is listening to what you need, and then doing your best to honor it.

My Heart Has Seen Fairy Dust

I have been dealt significant negative blows and I have also had moments where fairy dust landed right on my shoulder. I never asked for anything grand. I asked for heartfelt protection for my family. And somehow, in my darkest seasons, help showed up.

In my young married life, my late husband made a poor choice, and we lost our money. Then, one year later, I received a check in the mail from a great-uncle I had little contact with. It sustained us until my late husband recouped. Was it luck? Or was it my heart telling me to stay steady, to keep going, to not abandon the ship?

I was widowed in my 40s, and a year later, by choice, I met my ultimate concierge. Was that luck, or did I listen to my heart when I chose him before dating any other man?

I had cancer that was detected early because I did not miss yearly physicals. That was eighteen years ago, and I am still standing strong. My little heart messenger warned me, never miss a CT scan. I listened. When it reared its ugly head again, I was saved because I listened to you know who.

The Whisper That Saved Me

My daughters estranged me because of my second marriage, and it almost killed me, literally. I carried my ultimate concierge’s dementia and estrangement for three of those years. Then a miracle occurred. My daughters came back with no warning. One showed up with her darling hubby at our condo in the sky about six months ago. My other daughter called and texted me a month ago. And all my grandchildren followed immediately. They have told me, including my daughters, that they suffered too.

My heart whispered, “Welcome them back with open arms. No questions about past actions. Move forward.” So I did. I am listening to my heart and I absolutely know this: I will never face estrangement again.

When My Heart Shouted

My latest miracle came in the form of a revelation, and it did not arrive politely. My heart shouted: Take your positive energy during your ultimate concierge’s illness and put it to use.Not long after, I was scrolling through my hundreds of daily emails, most never opened, when I saw ZOA and the word Zionist. I am a proud Zionist. I opened the email, read the mission statement, and cold turkey, I called the ZOA.

Darling, I am thrilled, proud, and purposeful to share that I am now on the ZOA National Board and the Founder of ZOA Women. Today, I have my family, HoneyGood.com, and the ZOA. Purpose has a way of finding us when we finally stop resisting its knock.

Do We Make Our Own Luck?

I suppose nothing happens by luck alone. Listening to your heart and following your intuition brings luck to your doorstep. So in actuality, we make our luck, darling. Intuition, in my humble opinion, is our brain’s quick, unconscious processing of information. It draws on past experiences, patterns we notice, and emotional signals, all happening beneath our awareness. Because it often arrives with a strong feeling, I call it listening to your heart.

I know when I do not listen to my heart, I make wrong choices. Remember, your heart is your thermometer. It signals your joy, hope, fear, romance, grief, honor, and pride. When you stray away from communicating with your heart, I believe your luck begins to vanish, because you lose your inner guidance.

Listen to Your Heart

When your feelings are calm, steady, and clear, it may be your positive intuition beckoning you. When your heart beats urgently, anxiously, or reactively, listen to it and pause. To me, this is the balanced inner guidance system. It feels less like emotional urgency and more like calm inner clarity, a steady pull, not a push.

And if you are in a season of loss, like I am, consider this a form of self care: put your hand on your chest, take a breath, and ask your heart what it knows. Then, darling, listen. Amen.