A month ago I began what is essentially going back to school for yoga. It’s exciting, invigorating, and also quite a new endeavor. As the seasons around me are unmistakably changing, I feel a similar season shift beneath my surface. New routines. New obligations. New commitments. New people. New learnings. All of this has me realizing that even the things in my life which aren’t “new” for me may need changes of their own.
As weather and daylight hours change, I automatically change things too. My activities change from outside to indoor, energetic to reflective & cozy. My clothes become heavier, more protective, caring. My light fixtures more necessary, intentional and appreciated. These changes are natural. Known. Familiar. If I didn’t change, I’d struggle. The pain of the cold would set in, the days would feel dark and long. Those little familiar changes are what make the season comfortable, life-saving, safe and enjoyable. The little changes I make help guard and expand my life and energy. The outer season is different. We don’t revolt against a new season, we adapt. We appreciate its new gifts that arise – scarves, spices, squashes, warm fires, cute pumpkins – while we surrender the sundresses and swimsuits of Summer.
There are always gifts in the season we are in. Always. Just because the gifts change, doesn’t mean there aren’t new ones waiting to be uncovered.
My life is reflecting these needed adjustments. Yet it’s because it is so new, it’s unfamiliar. Recognizing my needs for change wasn’t familiar or quick. My schedule nearly doubled. A whole new social circle of hearts entered. My mind newly filled with philosophy and science and I’m even being taught how to stand and hold myself differently (than I have for 31 years!). Everything in me is adapting whether I choose to help myself do so or not.
So unlike our familiar changes to outer seasons, a life season shift has no guidebook. Sometimes there is no warning to the adjustments we need to shift to feel the most alive. Life just changes and we have to catch up. We have to realize we are in the new space we are in and it would be so so good if something around us changed too.
Routines that are familiar and cozy and have felt helpful for months or years might need evaluated. Schedule engagements, social circles, routines of waking and sleeping…
What if we paused, looked with new eyes at our lives and asked the tough questions:
“In this season, does this give me life? Or does it zap it?”
If you’re anything like me, routines feel great. But routines and what keep us comfortable or safe aren’t meant to be forever. If the season changes, maybe some of the things you keep around you to make life healthy, strong, comfortable are ready to change too. And maybe not. But if we don’t ask the question, we may rear against our lives not realizing we can and do have the power to make little changes to breathe new life into our lives and hearts.
Another difficult aspect of this life season change is just like the season outdoors it’s never a smooth steady trajectory, somedays feel as familiar and warm as summer, and others abruptly call us back inside to add a layer and heat up a warm drink. It’s that two steps forward, one back feeling. And I think that’s ok, maybe even the way it’s meant to be.For most of us I would guess change isn’t comfortable and it’s not always easy. Adapting to the season you are in may feel a lot like trial and error. We are humans and we are in process and progress takes time, thoughtfulness, attention and work.
So what is it for you that may be helpful to you if you’d reevaluate?
Everything is within your power to reexamine. And don’t worry. You are not alone in this re-figuring. There is Love, Wisdom, and all the power and courage you need for this moment within and around you right now. You have all you need to live well. All that you need. Maybe all that we are missing is the realization that we can let go of the things we thought were holding us up, comforting us, helping us navigate life and with the looser, more open slate, let God speak into what would really help us experience full and abundant life here, now.
May you, may I, may we all discover anew the gifts around us in this season. May we adjust what isn’t helping us in this moment. May we alertly reexamine our choices. May we allow God to speak to us through quiet and through safe loving people on our side. And may we, after letting go, trust that Grace will always always catch us and guide us through each and every season-changing day.
Grace & Peace & Namaste friends.
Little Extras
That’s a photo from my first weekend in training. I am LOVING it. It’s a lot. But it’s only a season. Adapt. Choose love.
It’s been a quick month. So two playlists have passed if you’re a music lover. Check out my September 2018 and October 2018 lists if you’d looking for some good listens 😉
The bookclub full of women I absolutely love just met and talked about a Henry Cloud book. The ambitious ladies that we are picked an entire year’s worth of choices for 2019! 🙂 I am excited for them all. This is our Winter read this year to take us through the holidays. Women Food and God: An Unexpected Path to Almost Everything by Geneen Roth
I have never done an in-depth learning into Yoga philosophy since my intro classes in college and I am amazed and loving how much the philosophies can almost parallel the truths of Jesus Christ. Truth is truth is truth.
Ok that’s all for now! Thank you so very much for reading. <3
