OM Blog + Press

By Jill Emich, Spirit Warrior and Owner of Shine Restaurant and Gathering Place www.shineboulder.com

Grief is a word that invokes emptiness inside. It conjures loneliness and feeing forsaken, forlorn, lost – a sadness so deep that it feels palpable and overwhelming.

Most of us have felt this at some point or another in their lives either from personal experiences or from witnessing another in emotional pain. The first time I experienced grief was when I realized that my dear brother Dennis was born a twin and my mother had lost one at birth. I hadn’t known this until my early teen years when my mom shared her story. Being a triplet myself (yes my mom was just very, very fertile), I felt such a sense of grief for my brother and my mother’s loss.

The fact that my brother shared a womb with another spirit and another body and then surfaced into this world alone was heartbreaking. What affect did it have on his little soul then and what affect does it have now? I will never truly know because my brother is mentally and physically challenged. The only way he communicates is through his powerful huge smile, through his facial expressions, his tears, and those eyes…..

So I grieved for him and with him. I felt all those overwhelming feelings and then I decided to shift it.

I started to recognize the gifts. First and foremost my brother Dennis is still here with us and he has taught me and my family about compassion, patience, acceptance and unconditional love. His story and his existence has made me a better person and I want to share that love and compassion with others. I also know Dennis has a powerful twin angel on his shoulder, protecting him and whispering sweetness into his ear. And, my brother is the glue of our family. He has kept the love strong between all of us and has kept us united. The very rare disease he has gives a life sentence of approximately 25 years. My brother is 44 and his doctors attribute his liveliness to his amazing care, love and his inner strength. His loss has made him strong, it has – this I know.

The other way I am able to transform this feeling of grief is by reaching out to others, sharing the story and hearing other peoples story of grief and how we can transform it through community and family. This is why I know the Grief Support Network is such a powerful and important organization.  It is something I am so proud to help support.  We need one another to heal, to grow, to share, to see a new perspective.

Thank you for taking the time to read this and to learn more about Grief Support Network.  We hope to see you at Shine on September 20^th for GSN’s Gratitude Celebration & Fundraiser!  

To get your tickets for the VIP farm-to-table dinner and/or the live auction and entertainment CLICK HERE.

Owning our story can be hard but not nearly as difficult as spending our lives running from it. Embracing our vulnerabilities is risky but not nearly as dangerous as giving up on love and belonging and joy—the experiences that make us the most vulnerable. Only when we are brave enough to explore the darkness will we discover the infinite power of our light.” ― Brené Brown

In honor of the heart.

This is an invitation for you to explore. Make this a journaling or meditation exercise to help open your heart and make you shine.

Here at The OM Collection, we strive to provide functional fashion that keeps you feeling good on and off your yoga mat. This is the first in a series of blogs on what to wear to yoga to assure that your wardrobe never dissuades you from finding your bliss.  This series will include a candid discussion on what to wear for different styles of yoga and room temperatures, what cuts work for certain body types and modesty levels, and what is appropriate attire for yoga teachers and students in a class setting, as well as at festivals. Additionally, we hope this blog series helps you find the perfect holiday gifts for the yogi and yogini in your life. 

Show More Skin:  The benefits and drawbacks to short shorts and yoga bras.

Using organic cotton is a conscious fashion statement. Discover how Organic Cotton yoga lifestyle clothing impacts your health and the health of the world. Also, Details on The OM Collection's upcoming runway show at Shine Restaurant & Gathering Space

© Merrick Chase Photography

The OM Collection is thrilled to host our upcoming runway show at Shine Restaurant & Gathering Space on November 16, 2013 at 8PM. Sign up for our newsletter to get all of the details about how you can join this exciting event.