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Tag Archives: #community

Connection, Contact, and Collaboration

Touch Remedies Posted on July 14, 2020 by Dawn BDecember 24, 2020
Kayaking with my nephew.

Connection.  It has so many nuances and meanings.  I’ve been interviewing people about how they want to approach physical contact (touch) with others as we start connecting in person again.  How they want to communicate around touch and where their wants, needs, and desires are.  I feel called to connect and collaborate with three non-profits who I have personal connection with right now. 

Collaborations

So am donating 30% of my EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques a.k.a. tapping) gross sales to these charities July and August (see the end of this blog for links and more details.)  EFT not only empowers you to work with yourself on stressors and emotional challenges, but can make permanent and positive changes in your life.  Click here to access a short video on the science and power of EFT.  I am offering inexpensive classes online through eventbrite for those who want a sneak peek.  You can also book a complimentary session online so we can chat and see if it’s a good fit for you. 

Join Me on Lois’ Podcast!

Grantsburg, WI Sunset

I’m really excited to join Lois Koffi on a special edition of her weekly Friday Podcast. We will speak about The Healing Touch Through Difficult Times. Please join us on the 10th of July at 12.30 PM (PST) / 2:30 PM (CST) for this interview! www.loiskoffi.com/podcast (Here is the replay.)

I’ve been fortunate to be interviewed by a variety of people.

Connections

I’ve been cherishing the people I’ve been able to stay connected to from overseas, and enjoying reconnecting with my clients, friends, and family here.  But overall in these last two years, beyond playing, I’ve been learning to reconnect with myself, my deeper desires and passions that fuel me and my work. I also explored how I want to help others find connection to their own being, their own spirit and soul, and feel the deeper connections to others.  I’ve been getting support through my own practitioners and loved ones.  My book, The Touch Crisis, will be out in early August, and I have classes and experiences to help people find their way through their own muddy pasts and out of their ruts so they can have the experience of connecting authentically—even if they feel they are already connected. 

How Lonely Are We?

A recent Cigna study (September of 2019) of over 10,000 Americans showed that 61% of Americans surveyed feel lonely. The top causes cited?  Not enough social support, too few MEANINGFUL social interactions, poor mental and physical health, and not enough life balance.  Heavy social media users are more likely to feel this way.  That’s before the quarantine prevented connection.  I want to help shift this for each of you.  It’s my passion, my desire, and what I feel I am called to do at this point in my life.  

Beyond joining others on their podcasts to teach this great concept, I am offering online one-hour classes on creating connection via communication around physical contact into your life.  Not only do you get to learn what you want, but what you don’t.  How can you gently tell someone to stay six feet away and remain connected?  Do you know how you can ask for a hug that you desperately need– even when you are not sure how the other person is reacting to touch?  How do you navigate the tricky terrain of handshakes, elbow bumps, or physical distancing for yourself and others you are meeting?    Check out some of the Touch Conversations on the Touch Remedies YouTube Channel, and if you are so inspired-please subscribe!

One Recent Fun Touch Conversation

As always, please let me know how I can support you.  I’m willing to work around barriers-including financial, time, and location.  Now that I’ve gone through the wringer and come out the other side embodying all the love and joy I thought I had lost, I’m fully present and here for you all.  

With love,

Dawn

Nature of Relationships
Dawn with Hands on heart
Dawn

Our Three Connected Non-Profits

Pause for Paws

OUR PAST

Pause 4 Paws was established in 2011 with a mission of working to ensure that dogs and cats are treated with dignity and respect.  Through 2019, Pause 4 Paws directly supported numerous animal rescues and sanctuaries in Minnesota as well as the rescue community in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Most animal rescues are small, volunteer-based community organizations that do not have staff available to spend time fundraising. P4P worked on behalf of these organizations and has distributed over $500,000 to these beneficiaries since our inception. In doing so, the rescues we supported have saved over 46,000 dogs and cats and spayed or neutered nearly 31,500 animals since 2011. 100% OF THE FUNDS WE DISTRIBUTE THROUGH PAUSE 4 PAWS GO DIRECTLY TO THE SUPPORT AND CARE OF THE ANIMALS. 

Untitled-4

the spread sunshine gang

The Spread Sunshine Gang is a non-profit with the mission to share goodness, kindness and generosity to the Twin Cities metro area and beyond. We do this by providing outlets for people to creatively give. Everyone needs more sunshine!

Inspire and Flourish

What We’re Doing

Inspire and Flourish…..It is something we can all do.  It is something we can help others do.  It is something we should do.  There are so many ways we can make a difference in each other’s lives.  We can lend a helping hand, donate something ~ whether it be goods/supplies or our time.  Watching someone else’s life change just because you decided to help ~ is a wonderful thing.

All of our auxillary events are put on and run by volunteers.  Monies raised from the “Mobile Memories Photo Booths” helps to support these fundraising projects.  

Posted in Cultures and Communities, Relationships, The Touch Crisis, Touch Remedies | Tagged #community, #connection, #healing, #health, #healthytouch, #thetouchcrisis, #touchfoundations, #touchmemory, #touchremedies | Leave a reply

The Next Cookout

Touch Remedies Posted on May 19, 2020 by Dawn BNovember 30, 2020

Every culture we are engaged in, whether personal, professional, or geographical, has different touch rules.  Many are unwritten. So how can we approach connecting through touch in a genuine and open way?

Excerpt from The Touch Crisis: 

The Touch Crisis Cover
The Touch Crisis Cover

The restaurant had the feel of a small, simple café, complete with a tall Norwegian blonde woman behind a coffee counter and a glass case full of baked goods. Wanting to feel part of the culture, I walked up and grabbed the Norwegian menu. Maybe I can figure this out. I was a little nervous, as I really wanted to connect, but wasn’t sure what was appropriate as far as initiating conversation. Will I talk to people in English? Swedish/Norwegian hybrid? Well, I don’t understand much of this menu, so it’s already looking bad. I traded it for English and skimmed the page. No wonder. Whale steak, some kind of fish I’ve never heard of, and accoutrements I barely understand in English. After ordering, I re-gathered my courage and sauntered upstairs into the near-empty open dining room that included a small stage to my left and a bar to my right. The windows overlooked the ferry, fjord, and small patio, which was packed. Most of the inside chairs had been pulled outside and added to tables crowded with people and drinks. That’s okay. I’ve been outside all day. It won’t hurt me to sit inside near the windows. After claiming a chair by loading it with my stuff, I wandered up to the bar for a glass of wine just as the bartender ran to the back. I waited patiently, and a tall, stocky, obviously-Norwegian gentleman and eventually a shorter brunette woman joined me in the wait.

“Var är han?” the man asked, followed by something I didn’t understand, as he gestured towards the back and then down the stairs I had ascended earlier. 

“Du talar för fort. Jag föstar inte. Kan du säga det igen?” I said, telling him in Swedish that he spoke too fast and I needed him to repeat what he’d said. I focused intently on the general words as he asked if the bartender was in back or getting food from the kitchen. 

“Is English easier?” he asked. 

I nodded. “Yes, but I should have a conversation to learn.”

The woman chimed in and my brain immediately tried to pinpoint her accent, “It’s really a friendly space here. You can just pull up at any table and join the conversation. Are you waiting for the ferry as well?” 

When the bartender returned and took their order, I paused. Just pull up and join the conversation? I felt my stomach flip. From what I know, that might not be appropriate. Plus with those full tables, it seems like a lot to manage with a plate full of food. 

Dawn, my other voice chided, you would have jumped on that in three seconds at home, plus that’s what you resolved to do. Remember being in Ireland in 2009? You had no compunction about joining conversations, touching people, engaging, and being yourself. Yes, you are more culturally sensitive now, as well as more aware of the impact of unwanted touch on people, but don’t hide out at the perfect moment. 

Gryllefjord, Norway

I shook my head at myself. I’m back to being sensitive to people and a bit fearful of overstepping cultural boundaries. Perhaps I can bridge that with more ease this time—after I eat at a proper table. 

“Miss, what can I get you?” the bartender asked. 

When we all had our drinks, we started introductions. The woman was German and was traveling Norway in an RV with her husband and three large dogs. The man was from Oslo, Norway, and was on a two-week holiday visiting friends. Both returned to their respective groups on the patio. My food arrived and I was grateful for the space while people-watching through the glass. People are sitting very close to each other, and most are laughing and engaging and talking with enthusiasm, but they are not touching casually at all. Even the couples don’t seem to be touching much. 

“Come, join us outside.” The German lady peeked her head in the door, her shoulder-length curly hair standing out from under her beanie. “Don’t be in here all by yourself.” 

“I was just going to eat first and then come out,” I said, startled and hesitant to leave my quiet nest, “but okay.” 

“How can I help? Shall I grab your water and wine?” she asked, as she reached forward to grab them.

“Thank you.” I followed her with my food out to the corner table, where her husband sat. 

The couple they were sitting with must have left. I didn’t even notice. 

She set my drinks down and introduced her husband. Quickly, we started with casual talk about our trips, and eventually worked our way into other conversations as we ordered another round of wine. 

This is what I’ve wanted for so many days. A connection with people, real conversation, and a chance to learn. 

“You are more than welcome to come stay with us in Germany,” she offered, her husband nodding as she pulled out her phone. “We are in a really small town, but it is beautiful. Here, I’ll show you.” 

Everywhere I travel, I meet good, generous people who want to share where they come from and who are proud and excited to share it with others. 

We exchanged Facebook messages so I had the ability to contact them in December, the next time I would be able to enter the Schengen zone again. 

“Okay, we have to get our dogs out for a while,” she said, standing up. “We will see you in Germany.” 

Okay, this is my opportunity to practice what I preach. 

I took a breath and stood, being careful to keep my body open and relaxed. “How do you say goodbye where you come from? Do you just say goodbye and wave? Give handshakes? Hugs? What’s appropriate?” I smiled, watching her reaction to my question. 

It feels like a way to imply I am open for all of those things, but without crossing a cultural barrier and asking for something specific. Even though we have been talking for two hours, we are technically strangers. I know Germans have a reputation for being practical and structured, but I have no idea how they touch. 

“Hugs are good,” she replied smiling and opened her arms. We exchanged a warm hug, and I stepped back from the table. 

Click here to purchase The Touch Crisis on Amazon. Or– request it from your local bookstore.

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Note: I am trying to get 100 YouTube subscribers so I can name my own channel! Will you please help by clicking HERE and subscribing? Thank you so much. 😀

With love, Dawn

Nature of Relationships
Dawn with Hands on heart
Dawn
Posted in Cultures and Communities, Europe, The Touch Crisis | Tagged #community, #culture, #healing, #healthytouch, #touch, #touchfoundations, #touchremedies | Leave a reply

Listening to the Echo

Touch Remedies Posted on May 5, 2020 by Dawn BNovember 30, 2020

Have you ever been curious about reactions you have to touch, whether you are overwhelmed by it or longing for it?

Excerpt from The Touch Crisis:

The Touch Crisis Cover
The Touch Crisis Cover

“There are only a few rules while dancing here,” Kari, the leader addressed the circle of dancers. “One, dance however you want without judgment and without judging others. You can run, skip, jump, make vocalizations, spin, lay down, roll around on the floor, rest on the edges, or whatever you feel called to do that honors your needs and takes care of you. Two, no words may be spoken during dance. All communication should be done using gestures and touch. Three, some people enjoy dancing for a while with others. You can communicate you want to dance with someone, and wait for them to nod or invite you into his or her space. If you do not want to dance with somebody and they attempt to dance with you, it is okay and encouraged to just bow out. Remember, bowing out is an individual taking care of themselves and their body in the moment, and not a reflection upon you in any way. Do not take it personally.”

Those are great rules. I wish it had been that easy in my twenties at the dance clubs! I gazed around the circle at the variety of people sitting in the open wooden-floored meeting space inside the small Texan church. This is going to be a lot of fun.

Kari prompted everyone to declare an intention for the session, and the variety of answers surprised me. They ranged from an intention to be playful to an intention to heal oneself and let go of body stress through movement. The DJ stepped behind the table as the circle broke and people stood up, and then the music started with a steady rhythm that was easy to feel and move to. I stood with my eyes closed, getting a sense of the beat, the energy of the music, and how I wanted to start dancing. Slower at first, allowing myself to get grounded, to feel my breath, and to remind myself to just be playful and explore. 

You don’t know this music, but you know how to move and how to dance and how to feel free, I told myself. Just do what you would do in your kitchen or outside.

Spinning freely

The music progressed into faster yet more melodic songs, rhythms changing gradually with each one. There were no words—just a variety of tones and instruments—but the energy remained. This music inspired the body to dance. 

I remember spinning around the edges of the group, seeing the cacti in the garden outside through the windows, and feeling my hair and my long skirt fly around me as I giggled like a small child. It was pure freedom, and I was high on the knowledge that other people around me were feeling the same. I knew I wanted to connect with people; but as I tried to catch someone’s eye to get permission or make a connection, no one seemed to respond. They all seemed like they were engaging with each other, but leaving me isolated. 

Is it because I don’t know anyone? Are people only dancing with those they know? Or maybe I sent a message that I don’t want to dance with anyone else because of what I said?

Click here to purchase The Touch Crisis on Amazon. Or– request it from your local bookstore.

Note: I am trying to get 100 YouTube subscribers so I can name my own channel! Will you please help by clicking HERE and subscribing? Thank you so much. 😀

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With love,

Dawn

Nature of Relationships
Dawn with Hands on heart
Dawn
Posted in Europe, Healthy Lifestyles, The Touch Crisis, Women | Tagged #community, #healing, #healthytouch, #touchfoundations, #touchremedies | 1 Reply
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