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I began this new morning of the new year the way I have for the last 4 years or so, with a walking meditation at a labyrinth near my home. Each year it is a completely different experience from any before. Today was no different. Walking a labyrinth is a journey that can reveal much, if you open your eyes and ears, and observe.
The weather of late has matched my demeanor. This has been a tough few months, health, loss of 2 dear friends, drama in many different parts of my life, and me turning inward and feeling stuck. It has been either very cold, or warm and muggy, cloudy, and decidedly not spectacular. Today, though, I woke to see the clouds blowing away, and the sparkling blue and bright sun peaking through.
It was quiet at the labyrinth. Much more so than usual. My friend Sheron and I were the only people there for the whole hour. The sounds were the fountains and the wind. And the quiet serenity. It was warming and the sun was bright, the air clear and clean. As I began my walk, I realized that my jeans legs were too long and were dragging. It was bothering me. I stopped, rolled them up and continued. The first thought--I can remove any obstacles that are in the way of my forward movement. Wow, that was in the first few steps! Then, I realized that for a few moments, Sheron and I were walking along side by side, on different parts of the path. Sometimes, I will have a friend or companion, and sometimes I will be alone. Both ways, I can keep moving forward. Wow again.
I slowly made my way to the middle, and in my journey, I felt myself calming, releasing, and focusing. One word kept coming to me, purpose. Purpose. I know that is the word I must focus on this year, because when I was thinking about anything, the word purpose kept relating to all my thoughts.
Once in the middle of the labyrinth, I stopped to stand for a moment. In each of the petals in the middle, I focused on one specific thing that is important to me...Family, Health, Focus and Intention, Happiness and Joy, Prosperity and Success, Peace and Serenity. Then, I stepped back to the middle, and the word that was so pervasive at that moment was Love. I felt love. I felt clear, unblocked, and light.
On my journey along the path out from the center, I felt my strength and focus, and optimism returning like a flood, blowing back to me on the breeze. The labyrinth was surrounded by beautiful roses. I stopped to smell them, and during the year to come, I plan to do a lot more of that sort of thing...stop to notice the beauty that is always around me.
I changed the signature line on my email after several years. Now it is a Mother Teresa quote, "Peace begins with a smile." Peace in the world, and peace within. Peace in 2011.
The theme for Christmas at The White House this year is Reflect, Rejoice, Renew. I am not a person who celebrates Christmas in a traditional sense; I am not a Christian. There are many holidays and different faith traditions that celebrate this season. As the days are short, nights are long, and the pace of life slows a bit and the end of the year in sight, it is a time to do a little bit of the three R's.
Reflecting on this year in my life has included an amazing of events--completing my second half-marathon, getting a job, losing a job, nurturing a fledgling business, nurturing a fledgling family, the loss of my grandmother, my bad health, amazing trip to Israel, lots of medical procedures, diagnosis that presents yet even more challenges, financial struggles, lots of drama (keeping things always interesting in every aspect of my life,) good friends, new friends, lovely family, knowing that I have the ability to make a difference, knowing that I am strong--that is the 2009 for me.
Well, that is the year in a nutshell. Reflecting, though, I will look closely at this series of statements, and what I have learned. Reflecting, meditating, looking back. Actually, my favorite definition of reflect is (from dictionary.com) *to cast back light* Perhaps with reflection, we can see things in a new light, shed light on something we might not have understood, or, hopefully, enlighten and then, carry the light forward into our lives.
Rejoice is to celebrate, to feel joy, to delight. Rejoicing may not always be easy, but being aware of success--which is different for everyone, and different on any given day at any given moment--is always a reason to rejoice. Success can be taking a first step toward a goal, or completing a goal. Feeling joy is something that is easier for some than for others, but if we choose to celebrate success, no matter if it is a very large accomplishment, or something that may seem on the surface to be rather insignificant, accomplishment is in your head and in your heart. I rejoice in waking up and having a whole new day to use as I choose.
Renew, restore, recover, revive, to take up again. Using quiet time to renew goals, body, mind, spirit is always worthwhile, but at this particular time of year, I feel like I get a clean slate. Sort of. My past is part of me, and will always be part of who I am, but my future is part of me too. Future is when I can reinvent, or renew myself. However, renewal is also now. What can I (or you) do right now to begin the process of renewal?
Renewal is something else for me too. I am right here, right now, and living in this moment in time. For me, adding the the theme of Christmas at The White House, I would add another thing to celebrate--being present. Treasuring each and every moment for what it is--good, bad, sad, joyful...I must remind myself constantly to get out of my head which is always reflecting and reviewing...and just be. Renew.
So in reflecting, rejoicing, and renewing this holiday season, celebrating Chanukkah, Kwanza, Bodhi Day, Eid al-adha (which I know was in November this year,) Pancha Ganapati, Yule, Christmas, the Winter Solstice, or the New Year, I wish everyone happiness, good health, success, love, and peace.
