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| Me & my handsome boys, July 2011. |
When I
reflect back on 2011, it has been a pretty amazing year. My life is richly blessed with the
stuff that matters.
It’s been a
year of growth, loss and new beginnings.
I’ve recognized that one of life’s greatest gifts is the ability to
feel. To genuinely feel the range
of emotions in life and appreciate them for what they are. I think it comes from being fully
engaged in life and being ok with feeling the bad, the uncomfortable, the pain,
along with the good, joyful moments in life. I recognize that the moments that have been the most
challenging… the ones that I would have avoided given the chance, have been
moments of great growth. So, I am
thankful, yes, thankful for the challenges, the pain, and the injuries. All these things have made me more
real. I’m changed, and change is
good. If you’re not growing &
changing, you’re stuck. I still
have a lot to learn, so I welcome life’s challenges because this year is going
to be a BIG year of growth.
Yoga. I can’t say enough about how cool this
practice is. And by the way, it’s
a practice, not a religion. It’s a
way of living, an amazing physical discipline that will make you feel, really feel incredible. It’s a spiritual journey that is what you make it. I thank God each day for the breath of
life, the breath that carries and sustains me. Yoga gets you out of your head and into the flow of life,
one breath at a time. Some of my
greatest gifts this year were born of yoga. I’m a little more patient, a little less judgmental, and a
little more grounded. All
beautiful gifts to me and those around me. Yogis are good people.
This year I’ve made some of the most amazing friends through my
studio. They are both friends and
teachers, because they all teach me things on a regular basis like how to give,
share, laugh at yourself, make an impact, open your mind and open your
heart. Yogis rule.
In a couple
short weeks I’ll begin training to teach yoga. This is both terrifying and thrilling at the same time. Yoga has made such a positive impact on
my life, and I want to share the love.
Something tells me I will be like a rock thrown into a tumbler. Shaken up, rolled over and over,
painful at times, but in the end, a smooth & shiny teacher will emerge. I’m ready now. Bring on the training!
Probably
the most significant event of this past year was being present through my mom’s
last week of life. I can’t say it
was a best or worst moment. I
cried. I felt both sadness and
joy. It was beautiful. Life is beautiful. There is something sacred about being
with someone during their last days.
It’s just you and God. You
can feel the closeness and the grace of God. I felt it in a big way with my mom, and I feel it every week
when I’m visiting at Faith Hospice.
I so love my time spent at Faith Hospice. It is such a gift each and every time. A “wow” gift. Kind of like Steve Jobs’ last words… “Oh wow. Oh wow. Oh
wow.”
In 2012 I
want less stuff and more stuff that matters. I like nice things as much as the next person, but we Americans
have way too much stuff. I will
live with less and sponsor a child in need. Check out Katie’s story: http://www.amazima.org/katiesstory.html
Better yet,
read her book, Kisses from Katie, and prepare to be wowed over one amazing
young woman and the impact she is making in Uganda.
What I want
more of this year is something I want for me and for everyone - more patience,
more love, and more presence.
Be kind to
yourself and others, be quick to forgive, replace fear and judgment with love,
and live in the moment. Those
little moments are the significant ones, so don’t rush, breathe deeply, live
fully. Love this moment. It’s all we have.
