The solstice has passed, I am on break from work for Christmas and it was sunny today. What does it all mean? It means that my mind has been unchained and I can assign significance to whatever I want to move forward.
The pre-solstice days were some of the most depressing I care to remember. It was so dark to me - I was worried about my health, my relationships, current events, hateful words, fear was everywhere. I had read an blog by Dr. Weil about how in-congruent it can feel to be pressured to celebrate! holiday! party! when traditionally, and naturally based on the light, the instinct is to draw inside, stay safe, it's the most dangerous time of the year. (I like to sing that in Bing Crosby voice, by the way. "It's the MOST. DANGER-OUS. TIME of the YEAR!") Plus all the silly Mayan calendar superstitions, schools cancelled for a "threat day", etc., seemed to indicate to me I was not the only having this dilemma.
So I wake up today, and there's shadows on the wall. Sun. The world did not end. The threats are all in our head. I "knew" this before, but it wasn't real until the sun shone. Maybe the world did end - if the world is all of our old fears and superstitions. I sure hope so.
It's hard to remember what I already knew, sometimes. So I wrote it down. This is just from August to present, based on my notebook ramblings!
1. I get to be happy, too.
2. I live here because of the community.
3. When I feel scared, I am scary. When I feel calm, I am calming.
4. They don't know any other way. Show them.
5. What kind of peacemaker is afraid of conflict?
6. My true love is poetry.
7. The economic story is not the whole story, nor necessarily a true story.
8. Fix it, if you can.
9. Trust the body, especially the gut.
10. Vote for yourself.
Ah yes, deep as a drinking glass am I. More reflections to come.... I still need to set my 2013 goals.
So I wake up today, and there's shadows on the wall. Sun. The world did not end. The threats are all in our head. I "knew" this before, but it wasn't real until the sun shone. Maybe the world did end - if the world is all of our old fears and superstitions. I sure hope so.
It's hard to remember what I already knew, sometimes. So I wrote it down. This is just from August to present, based on my notebook ramblings!
1. I get to be happy, too.
2. I live here because of the community.
3. When I feel scared, I am scary. When I feel calm, I am calming.
4. They don't know any other way. Show them.
5. What kind of peacemaker is afraid of conflict?
6. My true love is poetry.
7. The economic story is not the whole story, nor necessarily a true story.
8. Fix it, if you can.
9. Trust the body, especially the gut.
10. Vote for yourself.
Ah yes, deep as a drinking glass am I. More reflections to come.... I still need to set my 2013 goals.
Hello, Liz,
ReplyDeleteYour perspective on the holidays gave me some good thinking to do. I appreciate your list—Wow! Some of them are now on my list. Thanks for the gift. The holidays have become (on deliberate purpose) such a simple fun time for me, and our family. What I love about them the most is that they give me the opportunity to celebrate in my own way, our own way—solitude and togetherness, reflections of the past, being present now, and envisioning my dreams, quiet times and loving laughter. I seclude myself during the holidays—our family just hunkers down and cuddles up—it's a wondrous time of year. We're downright unconventional so it's easy for us.
Thanks for the gift of your words.
Thank you for your kind comment! We like to stay quiet and cozy, too. (Except for when we don't... I should be getting ready for tomorrow's party right now.) But yes, it's a wondrous time of year, even if the result is just reflection.
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