Nourishment – June Focus
Nourishment: Savoring What Is Blooming
June arrives with longer days, gardens blooming, and nature quietly reminding us that growth does not happen all at once. Spring’s tender beginnings have given way to the possibilities of summer abundance. Blossoms open, vegetables begin to emerge from the soil, birds feed their young, and the world seems to exhale into a season of nourishment.
Yet nourishment is about more than food.
For those navigating grief, loss, caregiving, or life transitions, nourishment often becomes something deeper; a gentle invitation to replenish what has been depleted. Feeling the sadness or pain of loss has a way of consuming our energy, disrupting our routines, and disconnecting us from the things that once sustained us. Amid the sorrow, we may forget to eat well, rest deeply, or tend to our own needs. We may find ourselves surviving rather than thriving.
Nature teaches us another way.
A garden does not bloom continuously without pause. Between periods of growth are moments of rest, integration, and renewal. The roots beneath the soil quietly absorb nutrients. Rain nourishes what the sun has awakened. Growth and restoration work together, each depending on the other, the same is true for us.
We Learn What We Live
Social Learning Theory, developed by Albert Bandura, teaches us that much of human behavior is learned through observation and modeling. As children, and throughout life, we absorb lessons not only from what we are told but from what we witness in others. We learn how to express emotions, navigate relationships, cope with stress, and respond to grief by watching those around us. This idea is reflected in Dorothy Law Nolte’s well-known phrase, “Children learn what they live.” In many ways, behavior is caught more often than it is taught. The patterns we experience and observe often shape how we move through the world, influencing how we care, cope, connect, and heal across generations.
As some of you may know, Hope Grows was born out of my grief and I tell the family story through a 4-part YouTube Video Series. As I reflect on my childhood, I observed and absorbed lessons of nourishment in the sense of ‘taking a break’. I watched my parents, especially my mom, never “Take a Break.” She was a real trend setter back in the day, a work from home mom, juggling six children and running the office for my dad’s roofing business. I learned about great work ethic but also learned that “taking a break” had to be earned. Ugh!
I digress a bit here, but the point being that as we move through June, let us consider nourishment as more than just food to sustain us. Nourishment begins by giving ourselves permission to rest. Not because we have earned it, but because we need it. Rest is not laziness. It is an act of care. It allows our minds, bodies, and spirits to integrate what we have experienced and creates space to reflect on where we have been and where we are going.
One Last Thought: Nourishment in Grief is Storytelling
One of the most overlooked forms of nourishment in grief is storytelling. When we tell our stories, we begin to gather the scattered pieces of our experience. We make meaning from what has happened. We remember not only the loss, but also the love. Sharing our stories allows us to carry memories forward rather than carry them alone. It helps us discover that our grief is part of our story, but it is not the entirety of who we are.
Just as a honeysuckle vine grows by intertwining itself with the world around it, our stories connect us to others. They remind us that healing often happens in relationships. Through conversation, reflection, journaling, support groups, or simply sitting with a trusted friend, we nourish ourselves when we allow our stories to be heard.
Consider lavender, the essential oil for the month. It is beloved for its calming and restorative qualities. Lavender encourages us to slow down, breathe deeply, and create moments of peace amidst life’s demands. It reminds us that nourishment is not always found in doing more. Sometimes it is found by being present, allowing our nervous systems to settle, and receiving the comfort that the oil offers.
Reflection: May you find nourishment for your mind, body, and spirit. May you rest when needed, savor what is blooming, and remember that your story matters.
Written by Lisa Story, MSCP, LPC, CT
Hope Grows Founder & Director
Focus of the Month: Nourishment
Essential Oil: Lavender
Flower: Honeysuckle
At Hope Grows, we believe healing happens when we create space for both grief and growth. Through counseling, support groups, respite opportunities, and programs such as The Gathering Table & Legacy Initiative – Grief Soup, we invite caregivers and those grieving a loss to share their stories, find connection, and discover moments of restoration along the way. Call us at 412.369.4673 or email [email protected].
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