My favorite thing about my family of origin, as well as most of my chosen families, is that no one has any expectations of me.

They just kind of roll with things, trusting that – while my execution is sometimes sub-optimal – that my intentions are pure. That I’m coming from a good place.

Last year, for instance, my brother Shrek and I were floating in a pool in Koh Lanta, Thailand. He was chit-chattering away, probably talking about beef jerky or Skittles (or possibly his deepest yearnings and his darkest fears?) when I swam to the edge of the pool, got out and walked away.

I jumped down the barrier separating our villa from the beach.

Then I walked over to the next beach and got in the ocean.

I had no idea why I suddenly needed to be in the ocean instead of the pool. I don’t know why there wasn’t time to inform Shrek of my change of plans and invite him to join me.

But there I was. Out of the pool and in the ocean at the next beach over.

Then, as I turned to the shore, I squinted my eyes. 

“Nina?!” I shouted.

And the woman who was walking along the beach with her dog turned to the ocean and squinted back at me.

It was my friend Nina.

Neither Nina nor I live in Koh Lanta. Neither Nina nor I knew that the other was in Koh Lanta.

But there Nina was. Walking her dog along the beach that I suddenly NEEDED to be on.

Nina got into the ocean and we started talking. And the conversation turned to a modality that she was studying, TRE.

That’s when I started to laugh.

TRE stands for “Tension and Trauma Releasing Exercises” and it’s a mind-body therapy that is designed to release deep muscle tension and reduce stress.

Any guesses on who had recently been looking for a TRE practitioner?

I’ll give you a hint: it’s a woman who had been floating in a pool with her brother, then for some reason suddenly HAD to be in the ocean one beach over.

The same woman who had recently been emailing different wellness centers in Hong Kong looking for a TRE practitioner because something inside of her said, “You know what would be great for you right now? TRE.”

And then, on a beach in Koh Lanta, Thailand, that very same woman found a practitioner. And not just any practitioner. One who was already her friend.

Nina and I did a session a few days later. And it was marvelous. If you’re ever looking for TRE, she offers virtual sessions and she’s very good at what she does (https://www.instagram.com/selflovewhisperer/). Shrek recently got in 7 car accidents over the course of a single week, including one that was a smidgen near-death-experience-y and, honestly, I should book a few sessions for him. TRE activates the natural shaking/tremoring mechanism that babies and animals have, allowing you to shake off trauma so that you’re done with it and it doesn’t lodge in your nervous system.

So anywho.

Recently, I was having a hard time with IVF hormones + a post-egg-retrieval complication (ovarian hyper stimulation syndrome) and I found the exact perfect healer for me in just as enchanted of an unfolding.

Isn’t life on Earth fascinating?

Keely

***

Morning Musings is a delight-first writing practice where I wake up, put my fingers on the keyboard and “learn in public” (credit: Liz Gilbert). If anything I write resonates with you, please share it freely.

To receive my musings in your inbox, subscribe here: https://keelyc.substack.com/