Two adult women attending a holistic wellness program

The Inspiration conference was a carefully selected array of workshops on mind-body topics that can help strengthen one's spirit. Many of the presenters were well-published authors. Each contributed his or her piece to the overall picture for us. Elizabeth Lesser, author of Broken Open: How Difficult Times Can Help Us Grow, taught 'the fruit of prayer is the realization that life is an eternal adventure and that we are explorers, always changing, always learning, always breaking open into new vistas of clarity and peace' (Lesser, 2004). Carolyn Myss (1997) explained that 'health doesn't occur outside of a community - it requires conscious connection between mind, body, and spirit, a connection between the individual, other people, and the greater universe ... often even modest health measures, like learning meditation and yoga or changing our diets, will seem insurmountable if we can't envision doing them with at least one willing partner ...' Donna Eden did a session on energy medicine. She believes that we 'are a latticework of energies' and that these energies can be marshaled to create better health and well being in each of us. 'Energy medicine is the art and science of fostering physical, psychological and spiritual health and well-being' (Eden, 1998). This can happen through a series of guided exercises, which she demonstrated and describes more fully in her book. I found these helpful because they can be done independently anytime and at no cost.

It is said that when people experience a physical loss, they often use spirituality to make sense of it all. Inspiration and wellness go hand in hand. How can they not? What might more effective holistic wellness programs for people with disabilities look like? They can become newly comprehensive and integrated. Health promotion professionals could offer workshops composed of content pieces that nurture the total person, the total mosaic: body, emotions, intellect, and spirit. Participating in the Inspiration conference several months ago for three short days was a strengthening source of comfort, insight, and reassurance. Tapping into my spirit, I continue to search and listen. Although it may be a journey without a goal, that's okay. Because in these mystifying days without Mom and Amy, my world is very slowly becoming a mosaic with new meaning and clarity--even one that, on occasion, shimmers slightly.