Connie is creating space for self-care and teaching others to do the same

Prior to the pandemic, Connie had just ended a 21-year second marriage. She moved into a small apartment on the other side of Chicago - on her own. It was her first time living alone.

“I wasn’t accustomed to living alone. I went from living with my parents to being married. Someone was always there even if it was my children. I’d never lived alone until now.”

The shift wasn’t easy. However, before long Connie was using this time to pursue her passions like art and writing. As a natural storyteller, she was excited to have the time to work on her memoir. She had put these passions to the side when she was raising her children.

“To be happy you have to learn to live with yourself with no one else around and I had accomplished that. Everything was great.”

Then the pandemic hit. Suddenly, the apartment felt smaller. Connie found herself walking in circles. She couldn’t connect with family. There was lots of fear all around.

Connie reached out to a therapist for support and started doing therapy online. Through therapy, she learned methods and processes to help her adapt.

“The first thing I had to overcome was that I had no control over the pandemic or what was outside my apartment. However, I could control here [her apartment].”

So slowly she started to create a schedule and self-care spaces.

She established spaces for journaling.

She invested in bath salts and candles.

She carved out pieces of paradise within the space she had by making tiny adjustments.

To help her sleep she found a 6-hour meditation from Norway on Insight Timer a free sleep meditation app. Sleep was a pleasure again.

“Creating safe spaces is all about controlling what is in my control. I recaptured all those wonderful things I used to do - not just before the pandemic - but also before I had children or got married. I listened to the music I used to listen to like ‘Moonlight Sonata’ by Beethoven. That piece always grounded me when I was an undergraduate student and stressed out.”‍

Learn More about Connie's Sacred Spaces

Rediscovering authenticity beyond labels

Connie has had a lot of labels throughout her lifetime: daughter, mother, employee, wife, manager, and so many more. She’s been using this time to rediscover her own authentic core without wearing all those hats in the self-care spaces she has created.

“I’m 63 and I believe being a woman in a world run by men that it is my obligation to share the knowledge I’ve been gathering for years.”

Connie has been sharing knowledge throughout her life. As a site manager for a health care corporate office, she was responsible for over 200 employees. She assured their success in the workplace and assisted with special needs. As the liaison between the corporate company and her office staff she never had a dull moment. She was always sharing insights and address problems. She started working as a healthcare advocate after her husband became ill. Prior to that, she had worked in higher ed helping others pursue their education. Until she felt obligated to leave because she refused to continue pushing loans on students and their families after need-based grant funding was transferred from financial aid to recruitment efforts.

Now she’s seeking to share her knowledge by helping others learn how to create their own spaces for self-care.

“I think it is important to offer authentic and accessible resources. Creating these sacred spaces is about creating respect for yourself - be that with plants or colors - or what you need.”

Want to learn more about how creating sacred spaces for self-care can help you?

At this session you can discover your authentic self through decluttering your mind and creating new physical and mental spaces. This interest group will help you learn how to interrupt negativity in your life in a new way. You’ll learn how feng shui can help you shape your space and calm your mind. Plus understand why daily rituals can be an important part of positive spaces.

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn how to repurpose your space with tips from fellow learners on simple ways to create impactful changes!

Learn to Creating Sacred Spaces to Promote Self-Care