When I picture my life, I see a winding, wooded path. For years I didn't pay much attention to where my steps fell. As long as I tried to be a good person, not break the law (or get caught) and do what was expected of me, my feet just kept walking.
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Years ago, just married, at 23, my body anaemic, my head forever in pain, my mind in and out of sadness and panic, I recognized the things along my path that I was putting into my body, both physically and mentally, were crushing my spirit, and clearly were making the path harder and harder to walk on. I needed to stop, look around, become mindful and intentional. I needed to watch where I was stepping, focus, breathe a little deeper. I began. I taught myself how to cook. I quit smoking. I gained needed weight. I looked for guides.
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Years ago I sat in retreat with women, some 50 years my senior, and I listened, for maybe the first time. I began to recognize what it looks like to be mindful and joyful and fulfilled.
I quit my job; I put myself back in school; I overcame my fear of public speaking; I became the person I'd dreamed of as a little girl when I taught lessons to stuffed bears and turtles.
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New beginnings...
10 years later, I am far from finished walking this path of mindfulness. But I can say I'm proud of the last ten years. There is a lot to learn, though, and many places I need to grow and nurture.
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I'm ready again to curve my path and walk, again, in unknown lands.
This weekend, I was blessed to be surrounded by beautiful women whose strength and courage, faith and good will, guide me once again into new beginnings.
My personal legend, as Paulo Coelho calls it, is moving me, mindfully, into new directions, and while I'm scared and a little sad, there is so much joy in this growth and change.
This weekend I was reminded of how important we are to each other. Us humans are beautiful. We can give so much of ourselves and help love and kindness, strength and courage, wrap others, friends and strangers, in ways we maybe never thought was possible. We can be light and love. We can choose to be mindful of others and ourselves.
In three weeks the season shifts once again. I'm excited to share my new beginnings as they unfold!
There is a new tab on my blog called Offerings. My teaching life is changing. Here is where you'll find local and internet based offerings. Please bookmark this page and check back often!
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So thankful to be beginning on a new path, for the soul sisters I continue to be blessed to be surrounded by, for the husband who loves me and lets me nap after being away for two days and cooks and cleans up and does bath, for the children who wrap me in their love and giggles. This I do for you. This I do for me. Much love to you all!
