Soul Survivor

Point of information, really interesting point, especially for this readership …. all souls are female. I didn’t make it up and I probably wouldn’t dare to anyway unless I was a man. All souls are female from the biggest brawniest males to the sweetest young things. It is glorious news. If you’ve never given much thought to your soul and how to nurture her in times of trouble or sadness this singular piece of information should help.

There are times, especially at this time of the year - the holiday time, that we are inundated with pressures. Issues of family, friends, work pressures, the stress of aging family and sickness and the stress of upcoming celebrations to name a few. The tiredness that we feel is deeper than the physical ache. We are soulful and sometimes we can’t even identify the hollow. I present to you that our girlfriend, our personal closest friend, our soul mate needs nurturing. Excuse this pun in advance … our sister needs soul food. How do we administer this treat.

To each of us there is a different favorite food for our souls. For some it is found in religion, for some it is a good book. Let’s be definitive about said good book. My soul loves a good mystery or sometimes she likes the ‘good book’ or sometimes she enjoys a suduko puzzle. My soul when stressed likes to be diverted for a while. Some souls need physical hugs in the form of a massage or a manicure or a magnificent glass of wine (and didn’t I find one in San Diego last week) and some souls like to talk deeply into the night with another person’s soul. Soul talk is different than any other kind. It is focused and because it is often hard to find it is probably a good exercise to figure out how to talk to your own soul. To give it a pep talk. To climb out of your self and not be alone.

How to do that? It’s not as hard as you might think. The most difficult part is getting comfortable psychically to do it. Remember you are not talking to yourself like a crazy woman or like a ventriloquist, you are conducting life saving therapy on your inner most best friend. Another most important fact. We are each given a soul (definition in footnote below) at the beginning of our lives and our soul cannot leave us until we die. Our soul is not fickle nor does she take a vacation. Our soul is loyal and present. You can tell her anything and she will listen and not judge. In the edited words of a reputed family systems therapist# “like someone who truly loves you they will always forgive you.” So now delineate the issues and proceed with caution.

Women over 55 are assaulted with responsibilities on a daily basis. We are blessed that way. People love us and lean on us and we handle it and many don’t ask for help or can’t find it. We are not alone, we have a friend, even sitting comfortably in seat 7F or driving somewhere alone (and we like that) you have someone who’ll always hang with you. Treat them well. Give them nourishment, soul food, and their health will increase yours. I am sure of it. It works for me! marilyn