Recently in an attempt to "sort through" sections of my life, I found a purple folder in a desk I have not used in a few years. This find was a personal goldmine. I have saved many folders and journals over the years. But this purple folder was dated circa 2017—the same year Cooper's Crossroad was founded—so I was particularly interested in its contents.
I am wildly passionate about raising awareness of trauma and adverse childhood experiences and at that time, I felt like I burned internally with it. It consumed me.
Starting a nonprofit is no easy task and, to be honest, I had no real idea what it entailed. All I knew is that I had an intense desire to found a nonprofit to raise awareness of the profound effects of trauma and adverse childhood experiences.
So, when I tripped over this folder I smiled with delight.
I have taken to carrying the purple folder around with me, opening it in spare minutes between lessons and meetings. Enclosed are articles that I found interesting in 2017, personal notes to "egg on" my imagination, ideas for blogs, random thoughts (obviously written in haste), and some favorite quotes.
Each page I flipped through brought knowledge and ideas back to me. A personal favorite is the outline and rough draft of a manual on how to maximize the benefits of therapy. I even titled it. "Unraveling Fear - how to get the most out of therapy."
"Keep your values positive because your values become your destiny." Mahatma Gandhi
It sits in the purple folder. Waiting on my time.
Let me share a few more finds.
A quote I am pretty sure I got from my therapist. Simple but great. "Mentionable is manageable." I sometimes successfully carry it out.
Many of you have read or heard this quote from Mahatma Gandhi: "Keep your thoughts positive because your thoughts become your words. Keep your words positive because your words become your behavior. Keep your behaviors positive because your behaviors become your habits. Keep your habits positive because your habits become your values. Keep your values positive because your values become your destiny." A favorite of mine and well worth sharing.
The original Adverse Childhood Experiences questionnaire. I feel it important to revisit what Cooper's Crossroad is raising awareness of from time to time....in a written, black-and-white way.
Written in red, personal notes on nurturing safety, nurturing joyful moments, and nurturing empowering moments and how important this is.
So to all who are sorting through the old and welcoming the new, may you find your own purple folder of treasures.
Here's to winter and the coming of longer days.
All the best,
