INSPIRATION | 51 CALENDARS

Detachment

by Natalie Gervasio

As human beings, we feel deeply. We are affected by others and how others respond and react to us. This can cause us to feel like we are on a rollercoaster of emotions, especially if someone is reacting in a way that puts us on the defensive. A co-worker passes by and gives us that “look”. We know what that “look” is. That “look” that says “Who do you think you are?” Our mood suddenly shifts to a negative mindset, just from a “look”. Now, it is possible that we misinterpreted that “look.” Perhaps the co-worker was deep in thought and that look wasn’t even meant for us. Maybe they were having a bad day and that look was letting us know that. There is also the possibility that maybe that look was meant for us. We really don’t know. We assume the intention of the look based on our own insecurities and history. And that voice in our head which keeps playing the scenario repeatedly and “confirms” that what we are thinking is correct just doesn’t help. The fact that the mind keeps playing the scenario repeatedly just keeps us living in that destressed state of mind which leads to the rollercoaster of emotions. The key to overcoming letting others’ actions affect our mood is detachment. To know that we are not our emotions and feelings, it is just what we are feeling at the time. Whatever we are feeling will eventually pass. Nothing is permanent including our current mood. The goal is to be like the bottom of the ocean in a hurricane. When someone says or does something that hurts or angers us, we are going to feel hurt and angry, but the goal is to not to stay in that state of mind for hours, days or weeks. Think about the ocean in a hurricane or bad storm. The top of the ocean is very turbulent; waves are crashing, and the water is very choppy. However, think about the deepest depths of the ocean, miles down at the very bottom. The ocean floor is more serene, not as disturbed as the top of the ocean. The water may be a little wavy, but not nearly as turbulent as the top of the ocean. When we don’t identify as our emotions and feelings, we are at the bottom of the ocean floor, untouched by the storm above.

Natalie Gervasio is a Certified Spiritual and Mindfulness Life Coach with The Journey Within, based in New Jersey. For more information, call 856-259-3779, email Natalie@JourneyWithinMe.com or visit JourneyWithinMe.com.

SOUTH JERSEY’S

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Email Publisher@NASouthJersey.com for guidelines. We advise confirming in advance directly with the business or organization.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 1

Galloway Green Market at Historic Smith-

ville – 4-7pm. Also Sept 8. Weather permitting. Stop by the Village Greene to get your veggies, produce, seafood and all things locally grown. 615 E Moss Mill Rd, Galloway. HistoricSmithville.com.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 2

Pine Barrens Folklore – 5:30-8pm. A guided hike in the forest where we’ll continue in the rich history of Pine Barrens storytelling. Pinelands Adventures, 1005 Atsion Rd, Shamong. Pre-registration required: PinelandsAdventures.org.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 4

Deities of Power – 5pm. With Josey Manna. Learn about the masculine and feminine energies that connect us to our Deities of Power through group meditation and discussion, connecting to your Higher Self, learning Deity history and mysticism. $30. The Center, Life in Balance, 45 S Main St, Medford. 609-975-8379. TheCenterLifeInBalance.com.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8

Galloway Green Market at Historic Smith-

ville – 4-7pm. Weather permitting. Stop by the Village Greene to get your veggies, produce, seafood and all things locally grown. 615 E Moss Mill Rd, Galloway. HistoricSmithville.com.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 10

CommUnity Wellness Day – 9am-4pm. Holistic practitioners, speakers, workshops and activities, family and children’s activities. Free to register. Unity Church of Christ, 629 S Church St, Mt. Laurel. UnityWellnessDay.com. Light Language – 10am. With Donna Fleming. Light language is a form of sound healing. It can energetically raise thoughts, emotions and your physical health to a higher vibrational frequency. Donna will channel light language through speech to create an environment that activates your DNA blueprint for self-healing. $40. The Center, Life in Balance, 45 S Main St, Medford. 609-975-8379. TheCenterLifeInBalance.com.

South Jersey Apple Fest – Sept 10-11. 10am5pm. Families invited to kick-off the apple harvest season. Salem County Fairgrounds, 735 Harding Hwy, Pilesgrove/Woodstown. 856-765-0118. SJApplefest.com. Lower Batsto Guided Tour – 12-5pm. An immersive journey on the Batsto River led by one of our trained guides. Explore the Batsto River and learn about Pine Barrens history, plants, and animals. Pinelands Adventures, 1005 Atsion Rd, Shamong. Pre-registration required: PinelandsAdventures.org.

Moonlight Walk – 7-8pm. Join an experienced guide for a night walk in the pines. $5/member, $10/nonmember. per person. Whitesbog Preservation Trust, 120 W Whites Bogs Rd, #34, Browns Mills. 609-893-4646. Whitesbog.org.

Full Moon Night Hike – 7-8:30pm. Enjoy a guided hike to visit nocturnal habitats that are home to owls, raccoons, opossums and other wildlife that emerge after dark. $15/adult, $10/child. Woodford Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge, 4 Sawmill Rd, Medford. Registration required: 856-983-3329 or CedarRun.org.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 11

Atsion Lake Adventure – 9am-12pm. Paddle on Atsion Lake with a guide. Great for beginners. Pinelands Adventures, 1005 Atsion Rd, Shamong. Pre-registration required: PinelandsAdventures.org.

Toddler Yoga – 1-1:45pm. Also Sept 25. This “Family Yogi Bears” class for you and your toddler (ages 1.5-3) will aid your toddler with the fundamentals of mindfulness in body, breath, mind and life, encapsulated in a fun and imagination filled narrative. $15. Excitari Wellness Center, 30 Jackson Rd, Ste D101, Medford. Register, Julz Teixeiro Alexander: 215-292-6387. Vagaro.com/excitariwellness/classes.

Family Hike – 1-2:30pm. To celebrate Grandparent’s Day, join us for a hike through the Refuge with the family. All ages. $15/ nonmember adult, $10/nonmember child (ages 4-12), free/members & ages 3 & under. Woodford Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge, 4 Sawmill Rd, Medford. Registration required: 856-983-3329 or CedarRun.org.

Interpretive Trail Hike – 1:30-2:30pm. An interpretive hike through our varied habitats. Easy pace suitable for all ages. Inclement weather cancels. Registration limited. Free. Rancocas Nature Center, 794 Rancocas Rd, Westampton. 609-261-2495. RancocasNatureCenter.org. Plein Aire Watercolor Painting – 5:307pm. Come paint in the outdoors. We’ll set up in the meadow and paint the beautiful flowers that are in bloom this time of year. No experience necessary. $25/person; all supplies included. Rancocas Nature Center, 794 Rancocas Rd, Westampton. 609-261-2495. RancocasNatureCenter.org.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 16

Vedic Thai Bodywork Workshop – Sept 16-18. 8am-3pm. With Mukti Michael Buck, Founder and Director of the Vedic Conservatory, accompanied by Marisa Incelli. Open to anyone who is interested in learning about Thai Bodywork. 21 CEs. $497. Excitari Wellness Center, 30 Jackson Rd, Ste D101, Medford. Register: 856-885-2990 or Vagaro.com/excitariwellness/classes. Evening in the Pines – 6-8pm. Guided evening hike to get a different perspective of the forest under the light of the moon. Pinelands Adventures, 1005 Atsion Rd, Shamong. Pre-registration required: PinelandsAdventures.org. Reiki Share – 7-9pm. A collaborative healing event where all participate in the energy healing of each other. Reiki Masters Jen Treichel and Jenni Mae will invite the reiki energy in, and then have everyone join the session. $25. Whole Body Yoga Studio, 103 E Walnut St, North Wales. 215-661-0510. WholeBodyYogaStudio.com.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 17

Saturday Guided Hike – 10:30-11:30am. Studies show that taking a walk in a natural area is good for your physical and mental health. Free. Rancocas Nature Center, 794 Rancocas Rd, Westampton. 609-2612495. RancocasNatureCenter.org. Restorative Yoga & Reiki – 1-3pm. Be led through meditative postures that allow our bodies the space to release, to relax and to renew. Will connect to each person with individual reiki. $45. Whole Body Yoga Studio, 103 E Walnut St, North Wales. 215-661-0510. WholeBodyYogaStudio.com.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 18

Pygmy Pine Plains Hike – 9am-1pm. Explore the surreal, fire-kissed and windswept landscape of New Jersey’s Pygmy Pines, also known as the New Jersey Pine Plains. Pinelands Adventures, 1005 Atsion Rd, Shamong. Pre-registration required: PinelandsAdventures.org. Autumn with the Animals Festival – 10am3pm. A fun-filled day for the whole family. Go wild for our wildlife programs, live music, canoeing, food, games, crafts, campfire and more. Woodford Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge, 4 Sawmill Rd, Medford. More info: 856-983-3329 or CedarRun.org.