This picture was taken at one of the many beautiful beaches we frequented during our time in Grenada. The moment captured in this photo was--and still is--magical for me. As I stood gazing at the ocean through this little "window," time seemed to stand still, and I was struck by the feeling that, just beyond those rocks, the whole world and all of my hopes and dreams were waiting for me...calling to me...
With each wave that ebbed and flowed and tickled my toes, I was gradually reminded that, just like the enthusiastically bubbling surf that kept rushing into my little hideaway, all of my hopes and dreams would flow to me, too. The Universe is our biggest cheerleader, always eager to hand us infinite abundance and love. All we have to do is reach out and accept these gifts with an open mind and a grateful heart.
Sometimes, though, our own fears, doubts, and insecurities seem to stand in the way of our dreams. We grasp at our security nets, and we struggle to control things that we cannot. We think we know what want, but when we don't get exactly what we ask for, we become angry, bitter, and depressed. In time, some of us learn (sometimes the hard way) that when we let go of our need to control and simply surrender to a power greater than ourselves, the pieces of our lives fall together effortlessly. Suddenly, we realize that the Universe always gives us what we NEED, if not what we asked for or expected. Our battle-weary souls can then sigh in relief and relax into a space of ease and grace. It is in this space that we come to discover who we truly are, that we DO matter, and that each of us has a unique and valuable role to play in this world. Life becomes beautiful. Others become beautiful. WE become beautiful. We finally uncover the brilliance of our true selves.
"But," you ask, "what about all of my walls I've built to protect myself?" Many of us have learned to build imaginary walls around ourselves, complete with moats that add an extra layer of fortification between ourselves and our perceived threats, which can include fears of rejection, abandonment, failure, and sometimes even love. We wear different masks in order to feel "safe." We change our skins like chameleons, depending on our surroundings and who we're with at any given time. I know, I get it--trust me. Living an authentic life can be tough, especially if your authentic "YOU" is very different from those around you. The pressure to "fit in" and not rock the boat can be overwhelmingly tempting. But I can tell you from experience that the price for NOT living your truth is much too high--sometimes devastatingly so. For to deny ourselves is to eventually lose ourselves, doomed to walk around inside empty shells and to live our lives only to please others. After years and years of living inside just such a shell, I no longer knew what my own hopes and dreams were, let alone that they were within my reach. I felt like I was constantly seeking something without even the slightest inkling of what that was.
Lucky for us, there is no darkness without the light. Once we've uncovered even a glimmer of the joy that is felt whenever we let our true lights shine, there is no going back. Our confidence, our self-love, and our joy just grow and grow. Don't mourn the exodus of certain people from your lives (and, believe me, there will be some who will run like the wind), for they aren't meant for you, anyway. Once I realized that living authentically draws the right people to us like magnets, I was able to let the others go with a sense of peace and to wish them well, knowing that all was being made right in my world. Of course, you may have to actually go out and look for some like-minded stars to inhabit your new galaxy with you (YOU try being a free-spirited vegetarian with liberal views in Texas, and you'll know what I mean--haha!), but you WILL find them. :-)
Go within and discover who you really are, then go out there and let your light shine bright. Then go find other beautiful, strange, slightly dented--yet equally lovable--people, and let your lights shine even brighter together. Because you are special. You have worth. You are loved. And because you have hopes and dreams that are ready and waiting to come to you. Never forget that "what you seek is seeking you."
It has been over a year since my last blog post, but I'm a firm believer in creative inspiration, and I don't write just to write. So much has happened in the last year, and my family is finally getting settled in to our new lives off "the rock." The island was an unending fountain of inspiration for me, but, if living there taught me anything, it was that inspiration is everywhere, and we can experience it if we just stay open and receptive to our true nature and to the people and signs all around us. It takes courage to view ourselves and our world with innocent and curious eyes, but when we do, inspiration is inevitable.
Recently, I spent a delightful evening with some incredibly strong, beautiful, diverse, and interesting women, sharing laughter and random bits and pieces of ourselves over dinner, and it was one of those experiences that I'll remember forever, because it touched me on a soul level. I truly felt a sense of real, raw, and human connection with these women. Then, tonight, I spent the evening with some amazing coworkers, laughing and being ourselves, and it made me so...well...HAPPY. On the drive home, all I could think about was getting home so I could write to my heart's content. Writing--or doing ANYTHING meditative and from the heart--is so cathartic.
It's very easy to get caught up in the "if I only had this, I would be happy" syndrome, but I tend to forget that it's actually the things right in front of my nose that bring me the most joy. Not just a fleeting moment of giddiness, but the soul-filling, heart-warming, gut-wrenching, turn-me-inside-out kind of joy...the kind that envelopes you in a feeling of utter contentment that goes beyond descriptive words. All we have is the present...here and now...this moment. In this moment, if we could all just take a deep breath in and a deep breath out and then give thanks for that breath...for the life that fills our bodies and minds, for the people we love and who love us back, for the experiences and lessons we are blessed enough to be having and learning, for the little things that make us smile--like our favorite cup of coffee; the pink and blue hues of the sunrise on our drive to work; those people we encounter during our day who always have a laugh or a smile for us, even when we're feeling grumpy; the human beings and animals who offer us kindness and unconditional love when we need it most; the homes that shelter us; the food that nurtures us; the jobs that make us feel secure; or the laughter and camaraderie shared with our coworkers during a simple happy hour after work. These are just a few of the things that bring me joy--the list can go on and on. When we stop and think of all the things in our lives that we have to be grateful for instead of lamenting over our perceived lack, there is no room for worry, regret, or fear--there is only joy, peace, trust, love, hope, and contentment.
Of all the things that bring me joy, the most important are the ones that light my inner fire and fuel my passion. As many of you know, for me, one of those things is yoga. It has changed my life in earth-shattering ways, and it has caused me to look at life and my place in this world like I never have before. Yoga has brought me insight into "who I am," as well as compassion and understanding for the other human beings who co-exist with me on this planet. I'm not saying that everyone has to do yoga in order to be happy...what I AM saying is that each of us should find SOMETHING that makes our corks float...that special something that brings us complete joy and contentment. Maybe for you, that thing is gardening, painting, or cooking...or maybe it is taking care of your home and your beautiful children...or maybe it is being the best you can be in the job that you LOVE (note that "love" is key here)...or maybe it's scuba diving or kicking ass at restoring cars and teaching challenging students (shameless shout-out to my amazingly talented daughter and hubby here). The point is--finding what makes YOU tick and having the courage to express your truest, most authentic self is the doorway to happiness. When you can do that, you are golden, baby. The rest is icing on the cake. Love like there is no tomorrow, dance like you are the only one in the room, laugh with wild abandon, be strange and weird and quirky and goofy and ORIGINAL, and be the best YOU that you can possibly be. The Universe doesn't make mistakes--don't forget that. There is only one unique and beautiful you. Find your joy, use your voice, express your authentic self, and remember to be open-minded, kind, and compassionate with others...for each of us is on a journey, and we are all just walking each other home.
I love you all...truly and deeply. "Let yourself be silently drawn by the strange pull of what you really love. It will not lead you astray."--Rumi
