If you find yourself in this familiar time of year, but are seeing and experiencing it with what feel like unfamiliar eyes, may your vision be sharpened to take in what you missed during all those years you saw what you expected to see and felt what you expected to feel. May you experience the unfamiliar as an unfolding and not as an undoing. And may you not take any of it, or yourself, even a tiny bit more seriously than absolutely necessary.
Nadia Bolz-Weber Dec. 16, 2023
I’m not feeling “Christmassy”. I don’t know why. I find myself trying to come up with a story, even though I know stories are just that. I’ve driven around looking at Christmas lights because that always brings me up…only it doesn’t.
My mind is in overdrive.
How do I let go of everything trying to get my attention? Wars, disasters, pleas for money, friends who are sick, endings… Everything is changing. Is it really unfolding?
I don’t know. So maybe I’ll just exhale and believe what my T-Shirt says:
I trust the exhale and the tee ♥️
AMEN!!! ❤️
No expectations-not for parties, gifts, food, decorations, etc.
Hang out with Buddy, he gets it.
See you soon.
Thanks, Barbara! I feel you!! Sort of wishing I’d made plans to go on a retreat somewhere in a natural setting, to drink in nature as it is right now – in stillness … resting … waiting. : )
I think you should try to look at rocks with beautiful layers. Get out your yarns, select a color pallet, warp your loom , start weaving . Think about your entire piece . What shape will the entire piece be? Make some planning notes or drawings, to which you might not want to follow later, but endless decisions have to be made along the way. If you don’t want to weave alone, take your stuff to Starbucks and work there. Other people read or work on their Pads , you can weave. OR you can do something you have never done before. Connect with the earth directly with your hands. How? Look for an open pottery studio and learn to throw on the wheel. Take their class. The connection of hands to earth is pretty cool and so satisfying. Do not think about where our culture wants you to be on a calendar , or what news you should know. Yes, our life is changing , embrace it , it is a chance, you can do it. Don’t think about the bad events, those have been through history and will always be there, but look what man has created simultaneously. What beauty in creating.
A suggestion: Think of your health vs. all the people that are in nursing homes, hospitals., all the veterans who have no arms, legs, etc. Their suicide rate is very high.
Think of your freedom: you can pick up and go places: movies, plays, art exhibits, travel whenever you feel like it vs. people who can’t do that for any number of reasons.
Think about the fact that you can go shopping: grocery, clothes, etc. whatever you want and all the people who have to count their pennies just to feed their family
and when you realize how blest you are maybe you can change your focus to others and donate money or time to an organization like Salvation army or there are hundreds of good organizations out there. Giving to others is a great healer
Me,too. My phone just typed in “ me, birth”. Interesting! I’m noticing and noting situations as hypocrisy and paradox,etc. The evolution of what is becoming seems to be on speed dial. Am practicing being present in the moment, not attached to a calendar as much ch as makes sense. Feeling all my feelings including negative ones. Doing what I really want. Speaking my truth with courage and kindness. Saying “ I love you and meaning it. I go back and center in the exuberance I felt during the solar ECLIPSE The Christmas thing has been burnt into our subconscious for centuries. the simple truth is always readily available via cosmic consciousness/Christ. I love Jesus. I like ce Life.
Love the tee shirt. I love you , Barbara