Empty Nest

09-05-23

No one could have prepared me for the Carlisle ‘Empty Nest’ of 2023!

These words empty nest had bothered me greatly over the last year. Jake and I have been consciously preparing for this event for no less than 20 Years!

Everyone kept asking me over and over this year, “if I was getting excited for empty nesting?” (like it was a joyful vacation with my husband;) 

To that I would answer, “It’s not here yet.” I am a VERY in the moment person and the actual act of the nest being empty did not happen until last night. I cried the whole day yesterday off and on as we continued shopping and helping Jalena and Jamie nest (ie: Costco and Target runs) I believe the act of ‘doing’ and shopping is what keeps the actual emotions at bay, and for me not being very able to ‘do’ much, I’m just left with all the feels!  I got out of the chaos of Costco and it hit hard!!! I was in and out of huge emotion the whole way home and Jake was the innocent receiver of blame to alleviate the discomfort. He couldn’t say anything “right” to help. Sorry Boo.

The thing about grief for me, is that it is a cluster F*#@ of emotions and nothing will soothe me other than someone witnessing me or holding me.

No relating. No looking at the bright side and NO comparing.

Definitely don’t start a sentence with “at least…”

Grieving is an umbrella of an overwhelm of emotion. That’s why it’s not safe to reflect back to me what you think I’m feeling. If you say I am sad because I was crying, I might also be feeling joy, elation or heartbreak. That’s why it’s best to say what you see…”I see you’re having big emotion.” Period. Sometimes when one of my fam members hugs me in one of those big releases, I feel seen, heard and supported (no words necessary).

All I’m saying is nothing could have prepared me personally for the shock of an era ending. I knew every aspect of it was coming, but that wasn’t enough to alleviate the shock. Who knows how each human experiences anything. We are all so different and complex. I know that the feelings don’t stay for long and I am no stranger to grief. I know this is rich soil for growth and I welcome it. I will forever be the mother to three exceptional beings but my job as a caregiver to kids is now over and I get to be in the village with 3 badass adults! I get to continue diving into  the depth of mine and Jake’s love that made this ultimate creation of a family. I think it will be our greatest co-creation, but I’m open to more awesomeness!

Pictures above: 

1. Jake and I being the continued focus in our room. 

2. The most magical gift of a moment we had in August as we celebrated our 25TH in an intimate gathering. Looking back, the timing could not have been better to celebrate our love as we moved into this next chapter of independence.

Update 09-24-23

A couple weeks out and I have new insight now that I further out of the initial heartbreak…My heart got broken wide open, and it has begun to heal and close up a bit, but the thing about me is that my heart is always open. Life has not brought me anything that has taught me to close it completely (I realize this is a rare privilege). 

My dear friend sent me something recently  that someone once said that changed every bit of this empty nest language for me…They said something to the effect, ”I’m not an empty nester, I’m a bird launcher…” YES!!!! Jake and I launched the heck out of our birds and our nest isn’t empty. We are still here, very much in an active nest:) When nests are empty and no longer in use they fall out of trees and are useless. Even the actual empty nests in my house are full of gems and goodies;) Here’s to a nest with no kids in it, but still very much full of life.

Control Panel; a little taste

Please enjoy a sneak peek of Kathy’s self-care control panel visual. She uses this analogy to turn into her own awareness and invites you to as well! Want to hear more? Become A Member to see the inspirational video from Kathy and how she uses the control panel, as well as a worksheet to create your own!

Kathy’s Corner Preview!

Here is a sneak peek into our newly designed Kathy’s Corner! Take a look at snippets from Tea with Kathy, Interview Me, Inspiring Conversations, and Note to Self. All available in full format through Membership, join here!

Curious About LEM Events?

This video says it all! It is a lovely sampling of the incredible guests that we have bringing curiosity and inspiration to Live Everything Mindful events!!! Most events are for members. If you have been wondering if you want to become a member, this is the video for you! If you have watched this and WANT to become a member, click here.

Sneak Peek At The Playground

Curious about LEM membership but don’t want to purchase without a preview? Our LEM membership offers a whole lot of inspiration to connect with yourself through NINE areas of mindful engagement we call playgrounds! Preview a little taste of what you will find as a member and then shimmy over to the Become a Member page to register! First month FREE!

Fluid Art With Michelle!

Michelle takes us on a beautiful journey through fluid art! She teaches us about fluid art, how she started, and how it can benefit YOU! Download or print this colorful guide to fluid art and get creative!

Meditation Success!

Taking time for mindfulness and meditation takes some commitment. It can feel like another item on your to-do list. Sometimes the thought of carving out time for yourself to meditate is overwhelming and leads to discarding the idea entirely! What if there was a no pressure way you could track your success. There is no right answer here. There is no version of meditation or mindfulness practice that is a failure! We invite you to use this tracker in whatever way works for you and your practice. Make your own rules about what success means and be open to that evolving over time.

Questions To Consider

Stuck in your head? Want to connect with yourself or your loved ones in a new way? Here are a few questions to provoke enriching conversations and self-reflection! One way to use this handout is as a journal for yourself and come back to it after a period of time and see what’s changed or evolved. You can also use this as a conversation tool for families, partnership, or couples questions!

Test 2

Direct link to audio file does not work: This is a test audio link.

Embedded audio player does work:

New Year, New You!

It might be a cliche, but most folks love to reset at the New Year. If this includes you, here is an invitation of where to put your energy. Skip the drastic changes that you may struggle to maintain, leaving you feeling bad about yourself. Instead, try small changes that are sustainable throughout the entire year, so at this time next year, you will look back and realize so much has changed with the small steps along the way! With a Live Everything Mindful Membership, you will have access to content and pro tips in all these areas!

LEM Membership!

Wonder what exactly is in store if you become a member of LEM? Wonder what all the excitement is about with the membership content? In this video Kathy Carlisle, founder of LEM, shows you how she uses the site and the content every day!

Square Breathing

Breathing techniques are helpful in the midst of anxiety, feelings of overwhelm, or a desire to ground yourself. Amy guides us through Square Breathing, a great technique to flip us back into our rest and repair parasympathetic nervous system anytime, anywhere. You can use the downloadable PDF along with the audio guide!

Skip to content