(This is the fifth and final columns in a series designed to offer encouragement and hope in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. Author Tara Simkins developed coping strategies during her son’s treatment for leukemia. Brennan was 7 when he was diagnosed in 2009. Columns contain opinion and all opinions expressed in it belong to the author. Read Day 1, Day 2, Day 3 and Day 4.)
I know that right now, in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, thinking about the future might feel impossible.
The struggles you’re facing are real and immediate.
So I want to share a tool I used during transplants No. 2, 3 and 4 with my son, Brennan, and how you can use the exact same tool during the aftermath of the storm.
But first, a story.
Recently, I came across something from Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine event that was held at the start of the month.
A video clip where the room was buzzing with energy as panelist Cassandra Thurswell shared her secret for manifesting dreams:
“I write journal entries as if they’d happened from the future. So, about 13 years ago, I wrote a journal entry, ‘We just got into Target! We’re doing so well.’”
I would have been there soaking up all this wisdom in person, if not for my father-in-law’s stroke and hospitalization last month, coupled with Hurricane Helene.
But even from afar, Cassandra’s words reminded me of this exercise that I had to share with you.
Because this exact technique helped me through some of the darkest days of my life.
When Brennan was battling leukemia at St. Jude’s, Turner and I started attending Bikram yoga classes.
Imagine 90 minutes in a 105-degree room!
The final exercise was a breathing exercise where you blow as hard as you can on each exhale for 60 seconds.
By that point, it felt almost impossible to keep going.
So to help myself make it through, instead of just blowing, I imagined I was Brennan blowing out birthday candles. These weren’t just any birthdays. These were birthdays that, according to statistics, he had less than a 1% chance of seeing without a successful transplant.
The first time I used this mindset tool, I made it to 18 breaths.
The next time, 25.
It became my personal challenge to reach 100 birthdays for him during that intense, 60-second exercise.
I eventually made it to 48 breaths.
And you know what? So far, Brennan has celebrated 22 birthdays!
I share this because I know you’re facing your own seemingly impossible situation in the aftermath of Helene. It might feel hard to imagine life on the other side of this struggle.
But that’s exactly what I’m challenging you to do.
Your soul care practice for today:
1. Find a quiet moment and close your eyes.
2. Imagine yourself one year from now, having overcome your current challenges.
3. Write a journal entry from the perspective of your future self. What does your life look like? How do you feel? What have you accomplished?
4. Really allow yourself to feel the emotions of that future version of yourself.
This practice, combined with our 25/5/3 tool (listing 25 things working, 5 not working, and 3 things to change), can help you hold onto hope and keep moving forward, even when things feel impossible.
Know you don’t have to go through this alone.
In fact, you will need help to get there. So please don’t be afraid to ask for it!
I know you might just amaze yourself with what’s waiting for you this time next year.
XOXO, Press on, and Shine on.
Tara Simkins is a lawyer turned life coach, facilitator and childhood cancer philanthropist. She left a successful twenty-year legal career to pursue a new calling ~ that of teacher, writer, life coach, and co-founder of the pressonfund.org. Find her at tarasimkins.com
