What’s your word for 2022?

Happy New Year Beautiful People!!!

I must admit, I didn’t remember my word for 2021 until creating a post to share in my notes on January 1st, 2022 while creating my best of 2021 reel. 

It dawned on me that I went through an entire year and didn’t give this word that came to me and in a flash, 365 days later didn’t focus on that word but lived in the essence of expanding. I went from not knowing what I was doing after having one of the craziest years in 2020, to piece it all together. Went from saying YES in January to call of adding to my Women's Wellness umbrella and becoming a Full Spectrum Doula to getting not one BUT THREE scholarships. Birth, Postpartum & Lactation Counselor courses, training, exams are all paid in full.  This is the part of the story when you forget about the how’s and just stay the course. Doors begin to open. This of course still required me to work and stretch my thinking and unlearn what I thought I already knew, and adopt new ideas of what is. And know at any point these ideas can change as you begin to grow more. I was releasing any ideas of control and embracing change. In the birth world and my journey. This then led me to more deep-seated healing. 

I began to remember things, dreams, discussions from when I was young. Then people close to me began telling me things elders, and ancestors have said about me. All part of my story that continues to unfold. Things that were affirming to who I was becoming. Names I've never heard of before in my own family. 

I sought out healers, guides and dreams became visions and became reality. 

One thing that no one ever tells you is how lonely this journey can be when you are trying to be obedient to the calling over your life. No one tells you how your tribe can’t come with you when you’re healing, surrendering, being stretched, and can no longer associate to things that seemed so at home and familiar before.  

2021 we chipped at so many layers. We peeled back scabs and the tears flowed down like rivers and it hurt yet we were baptized by it. Allowing us to accept that this was all part of the beautiful process of truly being free and blooming. 

In 2021, my word was EXPANSION. I can’t tell you how many times I wanted to quit, to stop, to fade to black but something within me kept me going, kept me aligned, and kept me grounded. 

On the 1st of January 2022, I was sitting in my momma's kitchen and I thought what’s my word for this year. I closed my eyes and I thought okay this may take some time. I’m going to need a moment to meditate and pray on this. Or so I thought because instantly the word ascension came to mind. 

I was like ascension? Why that word? I thought. 

I thought isn’t that blasphemy. You’ll have to understand, I grew up Catholic in a Haitian household. Went to Catholic school from Kindergarten to 8th grade, we went to church twice a week. Once with the school as a class and on Sundays. Summers, I was sent to my cousin's French-speaking Baptist summer camp. I thought about this powerful word and it’s a strong association to Christ ascending into Heaven after His Resurrection. 

as·cen·sion

The root of the word ascension derives from the Latin word ascendere, meaning "to mound, ascend, go up."

Definition of ascending

1a: rising or increasing to higher levels, values, or degrees

b: mounting or sloping upward

2: rising upward usually from a more or less flat base or point of attachment

Now I can go on and on breaking down this word. In no way shape or form does it simply it. But I get it. It makes total sense with the direction I am going and I said okay God, I receive that. I’ve been down, stayed quiet, been modest, and played small for far too long. I’ve waited my turn and admittedly remained a bit dormant. 

With that, Village we are continuing to expand, to take up space in a real way and we are now unapologetically ASCENDING and taking things to new levels. 

Asé…ahhh and so it is. 

So I ask you what’s your word? If you haven’t thought about it yet. Thats okay. Its not too late. Think on it. Meditate, pray and ask for guidance on your word. It may come to you right away or it may not. Don’t force, just listen closely.

May this year be great!! I’m wishing you all blessings on blessings on blessings

XO

Parents do you think your need for adventure gets lost in the realm of parenthood?

Fear can really be a buzz kill, a thief of joy. Theres really no nicer or simpler way to put it.

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Recently, I went skydiving and I want to know. Do you lose your thrill or joy in seeking adventure when you have your kids? I have had MULTIPLE parents specifically moms say to me they have always wanted to do something but since having children they are terrified of doing certain things.

Have you lost your sense of adventure since having children?

Has your fear heightened since having children.

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Choosing the L - LOVE that is
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This chapter is all about diving deeper. Its led me to deciding love is all I want to offer. I’ve fought. I’ve defended. Ive offended. I’ve accumulated things and titles. I’ve denied myself and others of the highest level of love because love was a struggle. Love has been complicated. It has been a lot of red. It took me so many years, and hurts to realize love is not red hot but a cool shade of blue. Thank you Jada Pinkett Smith for this #gentlereminder 

For those who don’t know cause I never want to assume. I have been on this self love, wellness spiritual journey for some time now. I didn’t realize it’s been all my life. I thought this started about 12yrs ago before I had my son Axis. But recently I’ve been reminded that when you’ve felt unloved and have had to fight for nearly everything you have you begin to have this woe is me mentality and think fighting is part of love. Being confrontational and comparing pain is love. 

You begin thinking love through trauma is love and normalize it. But when get a taste of LOVE and it’s warmth or cooling off when that’s what you need you’re like oh shit I’ve had it all wrong. 

Like too many conditions. Too many restrictions. Can’t make mistakes. 

Referring back to my previous post about seeing oneself with the way God sees me/us. When you start looking at everything like that it’s totally blue and not red hot. 

Source has blessed me immensely. 

Self awareness can only be found from source energy. No matter how much you try to find it in relationships, friendships, in our children, our careers or things. 

Love is a journey. 

Love is letting someone just be who they are. Letting them find their way like you’re finding yours. Self love is saying what is me choosing this type of love say about me.

We’re all still learning and healing through a hurt, maybe a childhood trauma, learning and for those who choose to go deeper (daily) have choosing to recognize the depth and layers of our ego. 

You/WE are not the exception. We’re not special. Laying the sword down is crucial. Especially for my fighters. Or the wait let me explain type of person. Not defending. Not commanding or forcing. 

When you are seeking certain levels in understanding, in life conflict with present itself. It’s here to teach. Life is about learning. I’m learning it’s about accepting, it’s about being intentional and mindfully making choices. 

So much to learn. So much to let go off and unpack. And only one source to surrender to. And the right answer is always LOVE. 

Some questions that keep coming up for me and I’d love your feedback on is how has your definition of love impacted how you love and who you show up to be? 

What is it now teaching you? 

I am as strong as the women who stand next to me
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I stand as strong as the women next to me.

Every body. Every woman. Deserves community. And I am grateful for them (so many are not even pictured here) 

Cheers to women who:

💎hold you accountable

💎allow you to make mistakes

💎lift you up in real life

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💎call you out when needed

💎challenge you to grow

💎recognize you for who you are BECOMING 

💎respects you, all stages and seasons of you. 

Let’s normalize that. Let’s allow that. 

Cathleen BenjaminComment