Stunned. Scared. Steady.

That’s what happened this past Sunday morning when I found out about the mass shooting at American Fish Company in our coastal community of Southport, NC where residents and visitors enjoy spectacular sunsets, cold beverages and local bands.

I was stunned.

I immediately thought of my friend who bartends regularly on the weekends and is a real estate agent during the week. I texted her to see if she was okay. I then called her best friend from childhood, who is also my hairdresser, to see if she was okay and had any updates. Thankfully, she answered and since Saturday was the anniversary of her mothers passing from ALS the year before, she and her sister were with their dad at his house instead of downtown Southport. I called the other folks in my tribe that go there regularly to make sure they were okay.

I was scared.

Sunday was a blur as texts came in from family and friends to share their concern and check-in. I was just hanging out at American Fish two weeks ago with friends and knew focusing on what I could not control would get me nowhere. I’ve been coming to Oak Island since 2001 and moved to Southport two years ago. This community is my new family. I chose to SHIFT to be in the present. When I began to get overwhelmed with “what if’s” throughout the day, I would say a prayer for the people that were killed, injured, their family and friends.

I was steady.

Now it’s Monday, and I’m choosing carefully what to focus on, what to let go of and SO grateful for this morning’s Boho meditation theme…