(Featured article in Return to Balance Ezine:
December 31, 2014)
This month's featured article is inspired by conversations with family, a Clorox commercial, and a night of reflection on Winter Solstice.
December can be a busy time preparing for the holidays it also is a wonderful time to reflect on the year. I sat down the evening of Winter Solstice to catch up on some journaling. To my surprise it became several hours of writing which resulted in a 6 page manifesto of what I want for my life. As my heart poured out onto the page, I found myself answering questions such as what will I no longer accept, what do I want for my life, describing in great detail what the life of my dreams would look and feel like, and outlining what I was willing to give up and what I was willing to do in order to create this dream life.
I had some wonderful conversations with family members over the holidays this year. I'm so grateful that I had set the intention of being really present with my loved ones. As I was journaling, many of these conversations came flooding back such as the deep philosophical conversation with my father-in-law and my sister-in-law commenting on how a dog probably wakes up every day and thinks "today is going to be the best day ever!" I don't know about you, but I want that experience of waking up every morning excited and looking forward to what is in store for me in each brand new day.
A few days later there was a Clorox commercial showing how kids have all these things attached to them (i.e. an illustration of the germs) that they picked up throughout the day. These conversations with loved ones, journaling experience and silly commercial made me think about how much we bring into our present from our past. So much fear and baggage can build up over time and influence your perception and present experience.
Given these various moments of enlightenment, one of my intentions for 2015 is to meet the day and each experience "fresh". I focused on this "fresh" start over Christmas break while with my family. I have a 34 year history with many of the people that I was with this past week...that makes for numerous moments of love, hurt and a myriad of other emotions. This intention of a fresh experience helped me to not be "living in yesterday" and instead to be fully present with the people I am with as they are now.
It can be so easy to not clearly see yourself, your circumstances and those around you as they are in this moment. It is a great gift to yourself and those around you to take the time to see what is real.
I invite you to take the time to slow down, reflect (write it down!), and really see: yourself, your life, and those around you as they truly are in this moment. What do you like about yourself and your life? What went well? What would you like to change? What do you want to take into the new year with you? What do you want to leave in 2014?
This year more than ever I'm going to recognize each day that it doesn't take a new year to have a fresh start. How are you going to choose to start each new day of 2015?
December 31, 2014)
This month's featured article is inspired by conversations with family, a Clorox commercial, and a night of reflection on Winter Solstice.
December can be a busy time preparing for the holidays it also is a wonderful time to reflect on the year. I sat down the evening of Winter Solstice to catch up on some journaling. To my surprise it became several hours of writing which resulted in a 6 page manifesto of what I want for my life. As my heart poured out onto the page, I found myself answering questions such as what will I no longer accept, what do I want for my life, describing in great detail what the life of my dreams would look and feel like, and outlining what I was willing to give up and what I was willing to do in order to create this dream life.
I had some wonderful conversations with family members over the holidays this year. I'm so grateful that I had set the intention of being really present with my loved ones. As I was journaling, many of these conversations came flooding back such as the deep philosophical conversation with my father-in-law and my sister-in-law commenting on how a dog probably wakes up every day and thinks "today is going to be the best day ever!" I don't know about you, but I want that experience of waking up every morning excited and looking forward to what is in store for me in each brand new day.
A few days later there was a Clorox commercial showing how kids have all these things attached to them (i.e. an illustration of the germs) that they picked up throughout the day. These conversations with loved ones, journaling experience and silly commercial made me think about how much we bring into our present from our past. So much fear and baggage can build up over time and influence your perception and present experience.
Given these various moments of enlightenment, one of my intentions for 2015 is to meet the day and each experience "fresh". I focused on this "fresh" start over Christmas break while with my family. I have a 34 year history with many of the people that I was with this past week...that makes for numerous moments of love, hurt and a myriad of other emotions. This intention of a fresh experience helped me to not be "living in yesterday" and instead to be fully present with the people I am with as they are now.
It can be so easy to not clearly see yourself, your circumstances and those around you as they are in this moment. It is a great gift to yourself and those around you to take the time to see what is real.
I invite you to take the time to slow down, reflect (write it down!), and really see: yourself, your life, and those around you as they truly are in this moment. What do you like about yourself and your life? What went well? What would you like to change? What do you want to take into the new year with you? What do you want to leave in 2014?
This year more than ever I'm going to recognize each day that it doesn't take a new year to have a fresh start. How are you going to choose to start each new day of 2015?