Hello Again

Obviously, I haven't made good on my promise of consistency, but I am back with something of a journal entry. Just a few musings on how I would like to get along in the world.

1.) Ground down. I recently moved, but I am still working in the same job. This requires me to stay with some very generous friends for half of the week, with long weekends at home. Living in two places, or nowhere at all as the case may be, leaves me feeling like a leaf being blown by the wind. This situation brings home to me just how important it is that I make time for my practice and anything else that makes me feel anchored and connected.

2.) Stay open. The rootlessness that I am feeling right now is pushing me toward closing down in an effort to conserve energy and protect myself. I feel vulnerable. But that's no good for nobody. Keeping my senses open in these moments positions me to take advantage of all that the Universe is pitching me. I wholeheartedly believe that the closer you are to the edge of your comfort zone, the more you are offered; there's the "tough love" piece, sure, but also the opportunity for deep transformation and the support you need to make change. But these opportunities are not going to be coming from the directions we expect! That's why I have to stay open.

3.) Give thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So, to speak to my specific situation, I am thankful to have friends who are so generous as to open their home and their lives to me for four days and nights each week. They have integrated me into their schedules and been flexible with my odd comings and goings. I can't believe their graciousness in this regard. And I am thankful for my spouse, who patiently lives the single life while I am away, and makes sure that we have EVERYTHING we need to make this uncomfortable situation work as smoothly as possible. And I am thankful to have an employer that allows me the flexibility to work and live in different cities.

More generally, though, gratitude ripens us. It makes us more aware. And as a practice, it orients us to what we want. When we are thankful for what we have, truly madly deeply thankful, when we feel it in our guts, we becomed focused on the joy, compassion, and abundance inherent in life. Our senses become attuned to recognizing the good, the highest, in everyone and everything. And that builds our trust in the Universe, which is key for uncertain times. All this from just taking a moment to be honestly thankful!

These are my practices right now. They all require me to slow down, a real challenge when I feel anxious. But even when I am only partially successful in them, I can feel the difference. So I'm going to keep on keepin' on in preparing the welcome wagon for my wildest dreams, which I know are soon to come true.