 As I stepped out into the sun-drenched garden this morning, I thought about the many iterations my garden has seen. Over the years, I have planted, replanted and reconfigured the space to suit my changing desires. Yet, one thing does not change – it remains a place for dreaming and reflection.
As the days grow shorter, we are invited to take a cue from mother nature and begin to draw our attention inward, lending us the golden opportunity to pause and reflect:
If my garden had a theme, it would be that change is happening in every moment. Just as nature is constantly changing, so too are we. The knee-high miniature cypress trees I planted six years ago are now taller than the house. The purple-bearded irises are sleeping tightly beneath the frigid ground. The sunflowers have long died off and hidden their show-stopping beauty until next spring. I always ask myself:
Change is happening in every moment. Ironically it is only through change that we grow into the best version of ourselves. We are not the same as we were five years ago, and it is who we are today that is meeting the new season. How are we choosing to meet this new season? As the leaves fall away, I invite you to reflect on:
Just as nature is in a season of rest, preparing for a new awakening, so too are we. Through change, we invite transformation. When we can embrace our own humanness and let the leaves fall, life becomes newer. Take time to remember the seasons you've grown through, the dreams you've dreamed of and all that you bring to the world. The gifts that only YOU can bring! Like a prayer, may the season reflect "there is always space to change, room to grow and time to bloom."  It's the time of the year when the morning sun streams in through the front porch door. Each morning my furry four-legged one leaps from the bed, waggles into the living room and goes straight to the front door, where he pauses and stares at the golden rays glimmering on his bed. After a few moments, he places one paw and then the next into his plush doughnut bed and soaks up the warmth of the sun.
As my tea was simmering and I was thinking about the day ahead, I looked over, and this moment with him melted my heart. His actions reminded me how to "wake up" and savor stillness, to feel the warmth and to give thanks for all that is in this moment. So I sat with my tea and simply savored the morning sun, the stillness and the peace that comes with it. I often enjoy pulling from a motivational card deck when looking for inspiration. Here is the message from the card I pulled: "I allow myself to savor this precious moment fully." This card was all the affirmation I needed! At this very moment, I set the tone for the rest of my day. A moment I could have missed had I stayed thinking about the future and the day ahead. Whatever is happening in your life now - the ups and downs, the highs and lows, the wins and losses – is forever changing. In the present moment, we can touch life – the very heart of who we are that is often forgotten. May you allow this very moment to reach you where you are and trust that you are exactly where you need to be. There is surely goodness to be found in the moment – where you can open, soften and accept what is without trying to change it. If we miss this very moment, how many others are we missing? I hope you'll remember to savor this precious moment fully.  Why we not only need connection, we thrive on it because it is a part of who we are and who we are becoming!
I remember traveling through Indonesia and feeling a deep sense of belonging, even though I had never been farther from home in my life. It was a comfort to experience a country as joyful and simple yet rich as the Balinese. Theirs is a culture steeped in tradition, beginning at birth. Each child is held for the first year of life, and since a baby is just delivered from heaven, they are not to be sat down on the earth. How they care for their children and the needs of their families made way for a deeper sense of community, one I'd never experienced before. Their regard for nature and their connection to it is witnessed daily and in everything they do. Life is celebrated each morning with a blessing placed on every doorstep – fresh flowers, sweet incense and a prayer. Daily the Balinese gather in their shops beneath a sky of blooming fabric and colorful textiles as they craft their wares and bring them to life. Art and nature are a part of who they are, and the peace it instills is contagious. The Balinese were genuinely caring to all those around them, regardless of race or religion. As I passed through the village each morning, I was welcomed by the young to the elderly with a warm smile and a greeting. What a beautiful culture to be a part of, if only for a short while, where the very fabric of life is built on belonging, trust and connectedness. When I left Bali, I knew I wanted to bring these gifts of true abundance back home with me and into my own life. I also value living intentionally while creating a space where I may live a rich life very simply. The importance of connection is a part of who we are and who we are becoming. Through all the ways we connect with nature and those around us, we experience the deepest meaning of life. "Spirituality is recognizing and celebrating that we are all inextricably connected to each other by a power greater than all of us. And that our connection to that power and to one another is grounded in love and compassion. Our connection brings a sense of perspective, meaning and purpose to our lives." ~ Brene Brown I realize the American culture is not like the Balinese, and it is not simple but much more complicated. Given the complexity, let us never forget the things that matter most and keep them present in the everyday moments of our lives. We are born through connection, and we grow through connection. Through belonging, we find our community, and through our connection, we thrive. Rituals to Support You
We were born through connection, grow through connection and thrive through connection. Together, may we continue to "remember" our truest connection and "thrive."  The idea of summer has faded as we are enticed into a new season. The daily rhythm of life slows and softens along with the light. Autumn gently whispers to us through the falling leaves, "Goodbye, summer."
Every year when fall arrives, I will tell you this is my favorite season! There is a new quiet to the air as stillness fills the space. Crimson skies make way for dreamy days and walks through golden drifts of leaves – all the while pumpkins paint the fields. There is a feeling of completion with the end of a season and the start of another. A golden opportunity to let go in gratitude and breathe into abundance. Natures changing palette reminds us that we, too, must shed so that we can deepen our roots and grow into the coming season. "Before we can begin to build a new future into the next season, we must first be at peace with the present. And that means letting go of the past and all the unconscious thoughts, behaviors, and feelings that come with it." ~ Dr. Joe Dispenza As the wheel of life nudges us forward through its many seasons, may Autumn be the promise that all the crimson leaves that blanket the earth have served a purpose, the bare trees remain rooted deeply, this season is short, and a new one will soon follow. Let this letter be your invitation to choose what you enjoy about this time of year. Dig in and enjoy it! And together, let's open our hearts to the abundance that is. My favorite sweet fall elixirs
 "It's good to wish for and look forward to the wondrous things in life." ~ Mary Smart
From closing your eyes, blowing on a dandelion, to wishing upon a star, we have each felt inspired to make a wish, however big or small. It is in that moment, as the very star I wished upon flashes before my eyes and then disappears, that I know anything is possible. Some wishes come true while others fade from the heavens, like a shooting star. Whether they come true or not, our wishes are still a part of us, expressing our heart's desire and our intention for fulfilling our best life. When we wish for something, our conscious opens to receiving it when it is for the highest good. There is something magical in making a wish. A wish comes from our truest self – the part that believes in extraordinary goodness, possibility and dreams. As a child, I remember that each candle on my birthday cake seemed to light up the entire room, like my very own fireworks display! In that moment, as my birthday song was sung and the candles were ready to be blown out, I'd close my eyes and listen...to the song in my heart. Wishing opens us to the possibility of magic as we wait to see if the invisible realm will bring our wish to life. Regardless of the outcome, we place ourselves in a magical mindset, which is as wonderful as the fulfillment of the wish itself. Remember that in order to dream, we must first WISH. Everything in our lives began with a wish, a thought, a hope and a dream. Take a moment. Close your eyes, open your heart, make a wish for yourself and someone you love and send it out into the world! |
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