"We cannot stop the spring or fall or make them other than they are. They are gifts from the universe that we cannot refuse. But we can choose what we will contribute to life when each arrives.." ~ Gary Zukhav
January's winter season, the marking of another year, always holds significance no matter where we find ourselves in life. It can be celebrated as an opportunity to begin again, a time to close out the past year and also for reflection. As pouring rains and blustery winds whip outside my door, I cannot help but feel that nature is reminding us it's time to retreat! She's sending us a reminder to slow down, find peace in the stillness and allow ourselves this special time to envision. To envision giving every day a chance to become the most beautiful day of your life. Listen to Your Heart When we listen, we are reminded of what matters most and where we find true joy. You and I were born for joy, though we often forget it amidst the noise, news and chaos of the world. Our job in this life is not to shape ourselves into some ideal we imagine we ought to be but to find out who we already are and become it. Trust that your true purpose is being your true self. Affirmations for January
"I have everything I need. From the mountains to the sea, all of this is within me. I have everything I need." ~ Trevor Hall Listen to your heart. What are you dreaming of today, tomorrow and for the rest of this precious year of your life? As 2022 comes to a close, I pour a cup of tea and begin to write. A warm crackling fire is my favorite invitation to savor these quiet moments. This has been a year of fresh starts and challenges, both big and small - that gives me all the more to meditate on and share with you. Setbacks seem to be a time to pause and be with things just as they are, whether we like them or not. I think the key is not staying there too long but long enough to learn from each particular experience.
It's said that life doesn't happen to us but rather for us. What a powerful sentiment and a reminder that we have the innate wisdom to see through the lens of truth and, to that end, live the one life that is meant for us and no one else. When I share with you, my messages derive from one of my many big artist journals filled with quotes, meditations and inspirations. The pages begin like a blank canvas, then are colored with thoughts, images and ideas that paint meaning into my world. This week I made a list of my wins and treasured memories that filled the past 10 years – things that stood out to me the most – particularly goals I had set for myself. I would like to share it with you. Don't worry! I've kept it brief for the sake of this letter. I have a much BIGGER version in my personal journal. What became very clear to me by writing everything down over that period was that I could see a perfect pattern – like seeing the front side of a quilt for the first time, rather than the painstakingly detailed stitches, knots and mistakes from the working back side. For the first time, I glimpsed a beautiful work of art like a path that continues to build upon itself, lit by following my heart and pursuing what I love. As most of you know, I divorced in 2010 after being in a long-term marriage, which is hands down one of the most significant turning points of my life. At first, it felt like I was free-falling from a plane, yet I knew I held the parachute and was flying to more beautiful places. With outstretched arms, my world opened up with the gifts of unconditional love and infinite possibilities. A world I could finally be a part of as "me." Fully, unapologetically me! I had never imagined a world where I could finally paint with all the colors of the rainbow – vibrant, warm, sparkling, happy and true. Each of our journeys is unique to us, and what I have learned is that the more we can know and understand about ourselves, the better life is. I think this is Oprah's trademark, and I love her for it. "I've come to believe that each of us has a personal calling that's as unique as a fingerprint and that the best way to succeed is to discover what you love and then find a way to offer it to others while allowing the energy of your life force to lead you." ~ Oprah Winfrey I invite you to take a look at the past 10 years of your life and write down your wins and memories. Hopefully, your list will look nothing like mine (I was rebuilding from the ground up). Your list will be unique to you. So I encourage you to set aside some special time and try this practice. And if you would like support, I am here for you, so please feel free to reach out! Please pay close attention to the details, as everything we do has value. To get you going, I am sharing my list where I actually reviewed the past 13 years of my life as an example: 2009
2010
2011-2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
Now it's your turn! Find a cozy spot, light a candle or fire, pour your favorite drink and start writing. If 10 years is hard to remember, write down the years and enlist the help of your partner or friend. Spend as little or as much time as you like on this. You're simply recording a passage of time you otherwise may not acknowledge how much you've accomplished. Let the record become a tool moving you forward towards creating your best, most fulfilling life – the life destined for you and only you! I hope you gift this to yourself and begin by celebrating your authentic journey! Plan in decades • Think in years • Work in months • Live in days • Enjoy this very moment! Here's to many more accomplishments and milestones. May you have a glorious new year! Christmas is here to stir up the magic within, connect us to the past and guide us forward to a new year.
As a young girl, I believed in the spirit of Christmas when days were no longer ordinary; rather, they were wrapped in celebration, tradition and remembering. Each year my father would string blue lights on the entire roofline of our house, and I would gaze up in awe as they glimmered and gleamed in the night sky, radiating peace and calm. My little spirit seemed to soar as, one by one, shiny golden boxes appeared from the attic, and I would open each glass-colored ornament as if for the first time. There was a magic that could only be felt as I held another memory from a Christmas past. I loved when the special china came out, and the table was set in linens, candles, crystal and silverware that sparkled on this magical winter's night. Remembering the past year is a time-honored tradition that gives way to opening our hearts and embracing the light within so that we may share it with others. Once again, we are reminded of our greatest gifts – the gifts of: Light Peace Joy Faith Family Love Hope Friendship May you hold them dearly, and may this special season fill you with the power of believing! As the boxes come down from the attic, and the lights are strung throughout the house, there is a peace that settles into my spirit as I remember everything and everyone I have ever loved. . . and that to me is believing in the spirit of Christmas! I wanted to share some holiday cheer, so if you have time, make sure to watch Kerry Hart's "Celebrate the Season Together" and Postmodern Jukebox & Vintage Andrew Sisters' cover of Wham's "Last Christmas" (don't miss the dance at the end). 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. |
Blog Author:
|