§ We came to this world to LIVE OUT LOUD!
My Heart Is Breaking (And What I Do About It).
My heart is breaking.
I’m Ukrainian. When I was eight, we immigrated from Kiev to the United States. This left me often torn between two cultures – the Ukrainian and the American – but the older I have gotten, the more I have connected to my Ukrainian roots. The more I’ve realized that our ancestral motherland shapes us, and lives within us.
I have been back to visit several times since The Wall came down.
So, when I found myself in a funk in January, I knew what I had to do. Check out my video below to find out what I did to bring myself out of that funk. My deepest wish is that it sparks something in you and helps you too.
Four years ago, I took my family to the Ukraine so my daughters could get to know where half of their ancestors are from. We spent some time in Kiev and took trains throughout the country into the Carpathian Mountains, and eventually to Lviv.
As I write this today, what is happening as Russia invades Ukraine is mind blowing. It is unbelievable.
I am in shock. I wake up every morning feeling the deep weight and pressure of grief on my chest. Like a giant hand is pushing down on my chest making it difficult to breathe.
I find it hard to sleep, waking up all night long, imagining Ukrainians suffering as I lay safe in my warm bed halfway around the world in Colombia.
I read the news obsessively. Hitting refresh on the website page. Hoping for more glimmers of hope.
I google “How to help Ukranian refugees.” I donate money. I briefly consider flying to Poland to help the refugees crossing the border. I’m not sure what I could do there as I know nobody in Poland, no way to connect refugees to resources.
I’m so proud of the courage Ukrainians have shown in defending their country and freedom. I’m incredulous at the human spirit. I’m amazed that a comedian turned president has shown more courage and grit than pretty much any president I can think of.
I’m proud to be Ukrainian.
Every morning, after spending a few hours reading the news, I remind myself that I’m not helping the energy of the world in my worried, anxious state.
I choose to do something more life giving. Something that lifts up my energy and I’d like to think that, in a tiny way, uplifts the energy of the planet too.
I made this video for you the day after Russia invaded Ukraine because suffering and grief are universal. We all feel grief at certain points in our lives.
Grief is a part of being human. It speaks to caring, to living and loving with an open heart.
Horrible things happen. We lose loved ones. We experience health issues. We go through bankruptcies or businesses fail. Relationships that mean the world to us break apart.
My deepest hope is that what I share in the video helps you now, or someday, when you too are feeling grief or just going through a hard time.
Feel free to leave a comment below. I love hearing from you!
Happy Tuesday!
xoxo,
Natalie
Thank you for this beautiful offering. It made me cry several times and gave me the perspective that I needed. I’ve shared with you that my mother’s mom and dad were Ukrainian, born in Odessa, so that connection (and my Ukrainian blood) makes what’s happening all the more heartbreaking. Hearing your words, and your journey over the last week (and being first generation), were so soothing and your “cosmic” vision of “there has to be some good in it” snapped me out of my morning despair! Thank you. Love you.
Apreciada y muy querida Natalie,
Desde Colombia. Orando y acompañando al pueblo de Ukrania, con la esperanza de que todo esté absurdo pare. A ti especialmente que nos haz enseñado tanto, paz en tu corazón, tu familia y tú pueblo.
Dear Natalie,
I am so sorry to hear that you and your family are being so effected by this assault on humanity. My prayers are for you, your family and all the people of Ukraine and Russia.
May you feel the love that we collectively are sending you and that God will find a way to bring us peace and wisdom to clear the malice of these days. It is with all my heart and soul that I send you my love and energy to get through these days.
Blessings Always,
Arleen
My heart is with you and your family dear Natalie. What frustrates me the most is how come we cannot stop this carnage right this minute!! Pay attention to how things are. Is it because he is a “president” that he can kill and cause destruction however he pleases??? If it was somebody shooting at a mall or any other place, it would have been stopped already!! But we cannot stop a “president”!!! What right does he has over anyone else’s lives!!!
Dear Natalia,
My heart goes out to you. Thank you for choosing the light and for choosing to share it.
I love you.
Holding you close,
Olivia
I loved your message – we need to try to find what we can learn from this horrible war. So unnecessary. So cruel. Only an monster like Putin could do something as wicked as this! How does one do a # tag movement ? something like #Putin’s YES men! Wake up!!
We are suffering with you and the Ukranian people. Our hearts go out to you all. I too have trouble not thinking about it – feeling such grief. Wondering how this can be solved – how to wake up the Russian military and all the people to the insanity of the war. Their country will never be respected after this AND hasn’t really had the respect of the free world after other horrible and destructive wars RUssian regimes have carried out.
Much love and compassion to you and your peoples!! It is wonderful to see their courage, resilience and to see how the rest of the free world is pouring out help of all kind. Now we need to get that military support in place and destroy this Putin led aggression.
My heart goes out to you, Natalie, and all the Ukrainian people. I too wish there was something I could do other than donating money. Meditation is a good idea and I will certainly join those who meditate the world over to try to bring positivity, love and peace at this frightening time in our history.
Thank you for your thoughts and suggestion that the power of love and positivity will surely prevail and yes, this too shall pass.
Bless you,
xxx
Natalie,
Thank you so much for this loving, open, encouraging and inspiring video.
I feel very touched in my heart and honored to share with you.
I was thinking all week, what to share with a little circle of women I am meeting with and you helped me to get clearance through your words.
Much love and light to you
and all Ukraines.
Bless you Natalie and bless the Ukranian people.
Hello Natalie
While I have never taken one of your “extensive” seminars, I have listened to some of your “days challenges”….. and have so appreciated your insights as well as your values!
Having some familial ties with Colombia, I, of course, have understood some of the references you have from time to time shared about the country you live in now….. your e- mail today has SO resonated with me as like you my thoughts and prayers are going to the citizens of Ukraine and I am imagining how so many of them fleeing to security …. Must feel .,… one day you are happily going about your everyday life you built and the next day you have to leave everything behind, no fault of yours…. Like you, these thoughts break my heart! and I simply wanted to share….
Thanks for sharing this. I am Irish in Ireland and I can relate to everything you said even if I am not Ukrainian. It is horrific what is happening and yes your video helps to remind us all to try and raise our vibration and pray for peace to return despite the grief we may be feeling for the people suffering there.