{"id":6278,"date":"2015-01-05T06:42:00","date_gmt":"2015-01-05T12:42:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.handsfreemama.com\/?p=6278"},"modified":"2016-01-03T11:21:40","modified_gmt":"2016-01-03T17:21:40","slug":"finding-hope-in-the-before-after-its-not-beyond-repair","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.handsfreemama.com\/2015\/01\/05\/finding-hope-in-the-before-after-its-not-beyond-repair\/","title":{"rendered":"Finding Hope in the Before & After \u2026 It\u2019s Not Beyond Repair"},"content":{"rendered":"
\""Who

“Who I am becoming matters more than who I once was.
Today matters more than yesterday.”
-Rachel Macy Stafford (signs by Avery, age 8)<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

Six weeks ago my eight-year-old daughter was fitted with a palatal expander to address several dental issues. In the four visits we\u2019ve had to the orthodontist, one thing never fails to happen. My daughter pauses at the BEFORE and AFTER bulletin board and studies every bright smile, every straightened tooth, every hope-filled gap. As we enter and before we leave, my child stops to study the transformations as I stand beside her quietly. Along this Hands Free journey I\u2019ve learned there are times when I must not rush my child. Standing in front of the BEFORE and AFTER display is one of those times. I let my Noticer<\/a> look until she is ready to move on.<\/p>\n

At home I am required to take a tiny pin key (pictured above) and stick it into minuscule hole inside the expander. My daughter dutifully opens her mouth as wide as it will go, allowing me to see inside the dark cavern of her mouth. From there, I slowly turn the wheel downward until the next hole appears.<\/p>\n

As I turn the wheel her upper dental arch expands by a hair. A single hair. You would not think a hair of expansion would hurt, but it does. My child presses her hands against her nose in an effort to relieve the pain. Although there are often tears, she is always brave. I can\u2019t be sure, but I think my daughter imagines the AFTER picture during this process. She knows there is a reason for this pain. And although the transformation cannot be seen as it is happening, someday it will be seen. And perhaps those beginning their own transformations will find inspiration from her BEFORE and AFTER photos.<\/p>\n

\"appliance\"<\/a>Around the time my daughter got her expander, I received a heartbreaking e-mail message from a blog reader with an especially challenging question. \u201cEverything is broken in life\u2014my marriage, my relationships with my children, my feelings about myself. Where do I start when there is so much to repair?\u201d <\/em>the reader asked desperately.<\/p>\n

I was not able to form an answer to this dear reader for many weeks. It wasn\u2019t until my child and I stood at the BEFORE and AFTER display most recently that I knew what I would tell this woman yearning to bring joy and connection back to her life.<\/p>\n

I would say this:<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Where do you start when there is so much to repair? My friend, you have already begun. Those painful words you typed while your hands shook\u2014that was your first step. You have taken that painful look inward to acknowledge action is needed. You opened wide even though you knew it might hurt to see the true state of the situation.<\/em> But this is where the transformation, the repair, and the healing begin. Those little tiny turns, those fraction-of-a-hair movements you will make to become more present and more connected will someday make up the AFTER version of yourself. My friend, you have already begun. Let us take the next small steps.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"park<\/a>It was my own painful look inward, my own difficult truths that served as the starting point<\/a> of my Hands Free journey. And if I had to suggest six small adjustments or steps for this woman to incorporate in her daily routine, I would choose these:<\/p>\n

1) Go public<\/strong> – Announce your intentions to family members or a trusted friend to increase accountability. A public declaration might sound like this:<\/p>\n

I am making an effort to refrain from using the phone while I am driving<\/a>. I may need your gentle reminders. Would you help me?<\/em><\/p>\n

I am making an effort to put away my devices from six o\u2019clock to nine o\u2019clock each night. Would you like to do this together?<\/em><\/p>\n

I am making an effort to use a peaceful response in times of stress and overwhelm. Can you put your hand on your heart when I am hurting you with my words or tone<\/a> as a reminder of my promise?<\/em><\/p>\n

2) Give unrushed goodbyes<\/strong> \u2013 Before you separate, hold your loved ones for at least ten seconds. Hug them tightly. Inhale their scents. Tell them you love them no matter what happened before that goodbye. You will never regret giving a ten second goodbye, and the impact of this daily action on your relationships will be profound.<\/p>\n

3) Make eye contact<\/strong> \u2013 Whenever loved ones walk into the room, put down whatever you are doing and show them you are happy to see them. This might mean stopping in the middle of reading a text message to smile and say hi. It might mean pausing while you are making dinner, watching a television show, or sending an e-mail to look into their eyes and greet them. Keep in mind, that unfinished task will be still be there in two minutes. Making it a habit to briefly pause and delight in your loved one\u2019s presence is very beneficial to your relationship. As an added bonus, your children will learn an important social skill and common courtesy that is growing increasingly rare in our culture.<\/p>\n

4) Act like the person you want to become<\/strong> \u2013 When I wanted to become a more patient person who slowed down to listen, I emulated my second grade teacher<\/a> Ms. Paluska during critical moments with my loved ones. At bedtime, at mealtime, while out for a walk, and when they hopped in the car afterschool, I tried to consistently do what Ms. Paluska did: I smiled. I nodded. I asked thoughtful questions and listened. Over time, those critical moments of togetherness became \u201cour time\u201d and my loved ones looked forward to these undistracted daily rituals as much as I did.<\/p>\n

5) Be kind to yourself<\/strong> \u2013 Start loving yourself \u201cas is\u201d<\/a> by avoiding the mirror, posting positive notes from loved ones or inspiring quotes on the walls of your home, throwing on a hat before you go out instead of criticizing your appearance, or wearing a physical reminder like this bracelet<\/a> that says, \u201cOnly Love Today<\/em><\/a>\u201d. By making it a habit to extend patience and kindness to yourself, you are better able to extend patience and kindness to others on a regular basis.<\/p>\n

6) Recite a daily mantra or prayer when guilt<\/strong> and regret<\/strong> overwhelm you<\/strong> \u2013 When I began taking small steps to be more present in my life, I quickly realized how many precious moments I\u2019d missed in my distracted state. Wallowing in regret was my natural tendency, but that only sabotaged the current moment as well. I wrote this mantra to help focus on what I could control:<\/p>\n

Who I am becoming matters more than who I once was.<\/em>
\nToday matters more than yesterday.<\/em><\/p>\n

Incorporating these six small actions into my daily routine increased the opportunity to bond with family members and silence the inner critic<\/a> that often sabotaged my moments that mattered. Through these actions, I began to know my loved ones by their book<\/a>. I found what words healed, what words lifted, and what words strengthened the bond between us. This renewed connection became my anchor that helped me stay the course on my Hands Free journey even in times of doubt and challenge. Those six steps were integral to my initial transformation and are still in practice today, nearly five years later.<\/p>\n

\"park<\/a>But just in case I needed one final confirmation that small, daily actions hold the power to transform, my child\u2019s orthodontist provided it.<\/p>\n

On our most recent office visit, the doctor peered into my daughter\u2019s mouth and immediately noticed an improvement. \u201cWow! Look at this!\u201d the doctor exclaimed excitedly.<\/p>\n

I jumped up from my seat and looked in curiously. I hadn\u2019t noticed any change as I turned the expander wheel religiously over the past several weeks. It was not until the doctor flashed the BEFORE picture on the screen that I could see the progress. Those fraction-of-a-hair movements were indeed making a difference! Looking back at where my child started made it possible to see the progress that had already occurred.<\/p>\n

As my daughter and I made our way to the exit door, she made her usual stop at the BEFORE and AFTER display. \u201cI wonder where they will put my picture,\u201d she said surveying the board filled with satisfied patients.<\/p>\n

She\u2019d never said that before. Perhaps it was the first time she believed she would have a spot on this board. Maybe she couldn\u2019t see it before, but after seeing her progress today, the future held real possibilities.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s a Whole Foods<\/em> around the corner,\u201d I said as we buckled ourselves into the car. \u201cWant to go for a treat?\u201d<\/p>\n

A look of concern crossed my child\u2019s face. I knew she was thinking about getting back to school just like I\u2019d briefly thought about the work I had yet to do. But within a few seconds the worry was replaced with look of joyful understanding. \u201cOh yeah! We need to celebrate, don\u2019t we?\u201d<\/p>\n

A few minutes later we sat side by side as busy shoppers rolled past with their carts. My daughter appeared to be deep in thought as she picked off small bites of her pastry so it didn\u2019t get stuck in her appliance.<\/p>\n

\u201cI couldn\u2019t have done this by myself,\u201d she said unexpectedly.<\/p>\n

I almost asked for clarification, but I didn\u2019t. I knew she was talking about the appliance in her mouth and me\u2014me being there, all there<\/em>, throughout the entire process. We both know there was a time in my life when I might have been there, but not in the way that mattered.<\/p>\n

I immediately covered her hand with mine and recited a prayer of gratitude. Never had I been so thankful for fraction-of-a-hair movements that become anchors\u2014anchors that fix crooked teeth and restore connections that once seemed beyond repair.<\/p>\n

\"park<\/a><\/p>\n

****************************************<\/p>\n

If you found the six small actions provided in this post to be helpful as you begin new Hands Free habits in 2016, please note that Hands Free Mama<\/a> contains 50 \u201cHands Free Weekly Intentions\u201d (strategies) to help you let go of distraction, perfection, regret, and pressure to grasp what really matters. My book<\/a> also includes an in-depth description of all the steps I took to transform my distracted life into one of meaningful connection and inner peace. My second book, HANDS FREE LIFE<\/a>, is filled with truthful storytelling and inspiring Hands Free Life Daily Declarations that can bring more peace, presence, and patience to your home and heart in 2016.\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

In addition, please consider this incredible opportunity to bring more simplicity, connection, and meaning to your life:\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>A Simple Year: 12 Months of Guided Simplicity<\/a>.\u00a0I am one of nine\u00a0simplicity authors<\/a> who will be sharing wisdom designed to help you simplify your life throughout the 12 months of 2016. Along with inspiring and informative articles that will come right to your inbox, there will also be a live webinar each month where you can connect with the authors, ask questions and meet other people seeking to simplify their lives. Registration is open through January. All the information you need to know is here: Simple Year Course<\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Lastly, for anyone in need of individualized guidance on a challenging life issue, there is hope. I am blessed to have two highly skilled colleagues who help me respond to my readers. Sandy<\/a> and Theresa<\/a> have kindly offered\u00a0their\u00a0contact information so you can reach out directly to them about issues you are facing:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

If you feel like there should be something you can do to turn things around but you don't know what it is, feel lost, stuck or overwhelmed, contact:\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>Sandy Blackard, parenting\/life coaching:\u00a0http:\/\/www.languageoflistening.com<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

If you feel hopeless like nothing you do will ever work, or if you or your child(ren) are experiencing depression, anxiety, grief, trauma, attention problems, self-inflicted injury, suicidal thoughts, or are simply wishing for healing, contact: Dr.\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>Theresa Kellam, licensed psychologist:\u00a0http:\/\/www.theresakellam.com<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Thank you for being part of \u00a0The Hands Free Revolution<\/a>\u2014letting go of distraction & perfection to live more & love more! Please share your thoughts & stories in the comment section.\u00a0Each time we share our story, someone else feels a little less alone and a little more hopeful.\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  Six weeks ago my eight-year-old daughter was fitted with a palatal expander to address several dental issues. In the four visits we\u2019ve had to the orthodontist, one thing never fails to happen. My daughter pauses at the BEFORE and AFTER bulletin board and studies every bright smile, every straightened tooth, every hope-filled gap. As […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[229],"tags":[1362,49,1359,1364,1363,1361,1360,1270],"gutentor_comment":0,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p1fUJF-1Dg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.handsfreemama.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6278"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.handsfreemama.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.handsfreemama.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.handsfreemama.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.handsfreemama.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6278"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.handsfreemama.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6278\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.handsfreemama.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6278"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.handsfreemama.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6278"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.handsfreemama.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6278"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}