I don’t know about you, but this was a particularly grueling summer. Lots of plans, fallen by the wayside. Lots of questions, to remain unanswered. Lots of transition, expected and unexpected. Whenever I find myself in this kind of murky space, I have to ask myself, what is truly important? What are my priorities? If I can answer this honestly, and really take stock in how things are going, I often find myself back in a place of gratitude for all that is indeed GOING WELL in my life. It’s all too easy to get bogged down by what I wish was happening instead of what is actually happening, but when I look at what it really important, and shift my perspective a bit, I am reminded of how truly blessed I am.
I hope this finds you in a similar place, of feeling blessed. Upheaval, uncertainty, overwhelm can take a toll on our physical, mental and spiritual selves, and sometimes Gratitude is difficult to access. But one thing I know for sure, is that the practice of gratitude is one that can bring us clearly and absolutely into the present moment. And as we all know, the present moment is all there really is anyway. All the rest of it– the past, the future– is all just an illusion that only exists in our minds. Besides THIS present moment, everything is uncertain.
I have noticed in my own life that the future is getting harder and harder to plan for. Long-term commitments are more difficult to plunge into, as if people’s timelines have shifted to near-future events only. A number of people I know are reconsidering the way they work and live, having reprioritized time with family and friends, focusing more on their health and wellness, and doing work that feeds their soul, not just their bank account.
This is inspiring, in that as we reprioritize our lives, we see what brings us meaning, depth of experience, and vibrance. The concessions we were once willing to make are no longer viable, and we shift into more meaningful ways of being. Our lives become more authentic and aligned with who we are, and how we strive to be.
The tenuous feeling and inability to see into the future actually frees us up to live more in the present moment, reminding us of how temporary and precious our time here on this planet is, how important time with our friends and family is. When we aren’t busy planning for a future that we cannot picture in our minds, our present lives can take on a richer quality—everything is more intense in the here and now. Sometimes that intensity can feel overwhelming, because our escape mechanisms of planning for the future has been somewhat eroded by our current circumstances.
However, I am encouraged by September. It has already brought cooler weather, clearer skies, and even some rain! I, for one, am ready to leave behind my Summer Drearies, and look forward to an exciting fall. I have a lot on my plate, some of which is not quite ready to be fully revealed, but I do have a lot to share with you in the coming weeks and months. Even with all the noise and negativity going on in the world, I am feeling positive about the future. I hope you, too, are encouraged by the changing season and are feeling ready for a fresh start. Take stock of all of the things that are going well, and what nurtures your soul, and let go of all the rest. The future is full of possibilities, and I am officially open to being “WOWED” by the universe… I hope you are too!
