These days, the question, "How are you?" feels a little trite.

More like......

How are you, given that we've been going through pandemic craziness and having our citizens at odds

fighting and everything coming to a head and what the heck is going on and what's going to

happen?

(Whew - thank goodness we don't hyperventilate and pass out from typing run-on sentences.)

What's been helping me is thinking of my mom's old gas stove.

Stick with me here because I think you'll find this helpful too

There has just been so much to absorb this year. And many people are doing things to make things

better in our world.

I think all that's great. Don't tell anyone, but I've gotten a little teary every day watching and reading

about people's acts of kindness, selflessness, and willingness to speak up for others.

Feeling Small and Powerless

AND I also feel tiny when I read those things.

Because there's a part of me, that feels very powerless right now.

A part of me doesn't know how all this will get better.

Part of me feels like there's nothing I can do.

Because everything feels so dang big.

And I wonder if there's anything one person can do to make a difference.

Is all that reserved for bigwigs with more money, influence, and a big platform?

Oy, just writing that out makes me feel even smaller.

Now, I have NO IDEA how to fix systemic problems, heal this divide, or what our world will look

like in a few months. And for the love of all that is holy, if one more person talks to me about murder

hornets...😉

•

What to Remember When You're Feeling Like Your Actions Don't Matter

But I remembered the other day that my mom had this old gas stove.

It does an excellent job.

She cooked me dinner, chocolate chip cookies, and Jiffy-Pop popcorn on that thing for YEARS. It was

the catalyst not just for nourishment but also for so many of our happy family time memories.

But then, one day, it stopped working.

The burner flames weren't lighting, and the oven stayed cold.

Turned out the little pilot light went out.

One little flame.

One little flame ignited the rest of the oven to create all the goodness of the system.

And I realized that that little flame is us in our big world.

It's you, and it's me.

You Make a Difference

One little flame determines whether you're going to have a yummy chicken dinner or just sit and make

do with a less satisfying plan B.

Lemme tell you, I'm not into making do right now.

It feels crappy, and it wears us down.

What We Deserve

We deserve better than that. And so does this next generation watching how we - as individuals.

- respond.

So today, if you're feeling a little small, powerless, or plain old exhausted from the chaos, I invite you

to think about the pilot light.

Even if it goes out, it just takes one little match - one small act of kindness...

One moment of patience...

One act of love in our homes and communities...

Get that oven warmed up and back to creating ripples of goodness for everyone.

If you're feeling a little small, powerless, or exhausted from the chaos, think about the oven pilot light. Even if it goes out, one little match - one small act of kindness, one moment of patience, one act of love gets everything warmed up and creates ripples of goodness for everyone.

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EFT / Tapping Resources for 2020 Stress Relief

And if you're looking for help in the process, here are videos I made to get out of the

funk.

Stress Relief Video Topics:

• Dealing with Uncertainty

• Work Stress During COVID-19

• Dealing with a Job Loss

• Feeling Lonely

• Kids Feeling Lonely

• Feeling Small and Insignificant

• Feeling Unmotivated

• Worried About my Kids

• Stressed about the News (also suitable for when you talk to folks with opposing political

views that set you off)

• Scared about Staying Healthy with COVID-19

• Going Stir Crazy in Quarantine

The videos will help reduce stress levels so you can be more calm and clear.

Please let me know if there are any topics that you'd like me to cover. I will be lots more of this

because that's what my pilot light can do.

Until next time!

Jewell "Jiffy-Poppin' Again" Siebert