Grief

Grief.

I think all of us are feeling some form of this these days.

& I am sure most of us here have experienced a significant loss in our life, more than once. 

It can be strange how life just keeps going after loss, tragedy, heartache, etc.

But it does, and so must we. 

I am no stranger to any of the things mentioned above. 

I have endured an absurd amount of pain in my short life,

& I have worked very hard to allow each ounce of it to help me create a life that I love and am proud of. 

Over the years of hard work, I have built a strong foundation of Sustained Vitality that helps to hold me steady when life gets tough again. I want to share with you some of the things that help me to process and work through pain & sorrow and come out of it transformed and better than before. 

First & foremost - FOOD. Real food. 

Oftentimes, the last thing we want to think about when we are suffering is cooking food - especially food that requires time and preparation, however it is one of the best things that we can do for ourselves. 

Our heart is broken, our mind is scattered - if we can do one thing, let’s care for the body. 

I have cooked vegetables while crying at the same time on a few occasions. 

I have forced myself off of the floor and to the fridge to cook vegetables or make a smoothie when everything else inside of me wanted to give up. 

It’s not easy - but is anything worth doing easy?

Once you have spent the time and energy cultivating the habit of eating well it is a little bit easier, especially if you make the time once or twice a week to prepare your food (cut/wash your fruits and vegetables.)

I am not perfect, no one is.  There is no shame in ordering take out here and there when things are super tough - you just want to be aware of it and not allow it to get out of hand or become a habit. 

Your food helps to create your thoughts, and if you need supportive, loving energy - get it from your food. 

When we eat nutritious food that strengthens our body, we are simultaneously supporting the mind and emotion. 

Here is a step-by-step recipe on how I prepare my roasted vegetables. 

It’s easy, not very time consuming, and super duper nourishing. 

Second - Take your medicine.

Herbal medicine offers SO MUCH SUPPORT - and processing grief is on the list! 

With the multiple deaths I have experienced lately, my Stabilize tincture blend has been a lifesaver. 

Herbs like Holy Basil, Linden, Lemon Balm, Chamomile, Damiana, and Rose Petals will rarely ever let anyone down. They work to decompress the nervous system, calm the heart, relax the blood vessels and promote blood & energy flow, and take even just a bit of weight off of your shoulders. 

I have worked with Liquid Zen for a couple of years now and it is a go-to when the anxiety feels like it is going to crush my soul. That sounds intense - but if you know, you know. 

I also like to work with remedies like Bio-Minerals and Golden Poo to support my body if I am not eating as well as I should for a couple of days. 

These are just a few of the countless plants and remedies that support us through tough times.

If you’d like to discuss which herbs would best suit your unique body & circumstances - let’s talk about it!  

Third - Movement. 

I have had a dog for over half of my life. (My sweet baby Brooklyn, who just passed at 16 years old,) & one of the many blessings that she brought into my life was the fact that I had no choice but to walk at least 3x a day. 

Getting outside, breathing fresh air, moving your body, and absorbing light is medicine for the mind, body, and spirit.

If you want to exercise or do some cardio, do it! If not, just take a stroll around the neighborhood and focus on your breath.

Get yourself outside and move because you NEED it. 

Fourth - Community. 

Listen, not everyone feels like they have a community or people that care about them. 

Surrounding yourself with loving, supportive people takes effort and dedication - with the knowing that love and connection carry the probability of pain.

We are tribal by nature and humans need other humans.

Here’s a story: 

I moved to St. Augustine by myself 10 years ago.

I did not have a car, a job, and I didn’t know anyone here. 

I had a house phone with no cell phone for the first 3 months hahaha. 

Anyways - I had a lot of hard times where I felt very alone. 

There was a point in time where I could have been dead for days before anyone would have realized. That had to change. 

I got so far outside of my comfort zone - and it transformed everything. 

I went places, spoke to people, offered to be of service & rolled up my sleeves every chance I could to help and be a part of the community. 

Eventually I started organizing gatherings to do the things that I love - spend time in the woods and in circles with friends. 

Fast forward to now - the amount of support I receive when times are tough brings tears of gratitude to my eyes when I think of it.

I have solid people around me now - because I wanted to surround myself with loving, supportive people and that’s what I did. 

Again, none of this was “easy.” Life isn’t easy. I try to remind people of that often because of the “instant culture” that we live in. 

If you don’t feel like you have people who love and care for you, please reach out to me. 

I am here to help you make a plan to change those circumstances. 

I am devoted to helping those who are ready and willing to do what they need to do to support and strengthen their mind, body, and spirit and achieve Sustained Vitality. 

If you would like to work with me, or schedule a 15 minute complimentary phone call, you can call or text (904)-295-7384 OR email realmedicine@communitynourishment.org

Regardless - if you’re going through tough times right now, I hope that some of this information offers you some support. 

You are loved. 

• Cameron Jewell