Monday musings

I almost called this "Monday meditation" but that sounded a little too serious.  "Musings" seem to be more my style.  And it has been a day of musings - and a few meditations, but I've been moving too much to do much real meditating, except for the moments in yoga class.  Started my day with a wonderful class with Bekah.  I had not been to one of her classes in months and I forgot how much I like her as a teacher.  She's authentic, enthusiastic, encouraging, and nurturing...all at once, which is pretty cool.  The 75 minutes flew by in her wonderfully rich flow that she had planned for us, complete with her (self-described) sappy playlist.
It was funny because on my way to the studio I was reflecting on how much more frequently I'd been to yoga in 2012 - which had, I think, been one of my resolutions for this past year.  For at least 6 months, I've been pretty committed to getting to class twice a week.  In 2013, I'm challenging myself with three classes a week (plus some practice at home).  I'll save the rest of those 2013 intentions for tomorrow.
At any rate, Bekah started the class by encouraging us to look back on this last day of 2012.  What had we accomplished?  What had we lost?  What had we learned?  How had we loved?  How had we grown?  What had we shared with others?  etc... 
So often on New Year's Eve we're all about looking forward that we forget to look back and reverently acknowledge what and who we're leaving behind and from where we've come.  It's a bittersweet reflection for me as I look back to 2012.  It was a year that was full of love and growth and excitement.  And loss and confusion and hurt.  But that is life, right?  Was it a bad year?  No.  Was it a tough year?  Yes.  Was it one that I'd want to trade in and that I'm in a hurry to leave behind?  Yes and no.  Was it a year that I want to savor and tuck away in some special place in my soul never to forget?  Mostly yes. 
It was filled with some painful moments.  Naturally those were also the moments where I came to know myself and the love and life and strength that is around and within me in ways that I'm not sure I would have otherwise.  And the bright moments - well, there were so many that were bright and revealing beyond measure!  And light-hearted and playful and life-giving and full of health, joy, and promise.  Precious time spent with people who are dear to me.  And not enough time spent with others.  Time in nature rejuvenating my soul.  
With each passing year, I see the fabric of our lives woven together with more and more richness.  Some effervescent threads and some darker threads - all reflective of the lives that we've lived.  And I'm amazed at how in any given snapshot of the days or the threads, the luminous ones continue to push past the dim ones - as if the good and the hopefulness is relentlessly forcing itself in front of the bad and the gloom.
At least that's my take on things...my Monday musing as it were.  Incomplete without my latest musical obsession from yoga class - a wonderful version of the classic "Somewhere Over the Rainbow".  Seems like the words could be just right for a trip over the rainbow - a reminder of hope and promise and protection - into 2013.  See you there...

Sunday something

I love it when my worlds collide.  Well, sometimes it's unsettling and a bit mysterious, but I love it.  I feel like it's God and the universe conspiring to help me make sense of things and reassure me that there is a greater plan at work.  Naturally, there were some gifts from Dean's yoga class today.  And one of the big themes was accepting where we are, not in a sense of complacency but in an act of peace - recognizing that there is a time for everything.  Or, as the Byrds remind us, "to everything turn, turn, turn"...

And then I read a lovely prayer sent to me by my aunt...and it all just seemed to come together.  Some of my favorite lines:
O God of all seasons and senses, grant us the sense of your timing to submit gracefully and rejoice quietly in the turn of the seasons.  In this season of short days and long nights, of grey and white and cold, teach us the lessons of endings; children growing, friends leaving, loved ones dying, grieving over, grudges over, blaming over, excuses over...teach us the lessons of beginnings; that such waitings and endings may be the starting place, a planting of seeds which bring to birth what is ready to be born - something right and just and different, a new song, a deeper relationship, a fuller love - in the fullness of your time.  O God, grant us the sense of your timing (~Ted Loder)
What a lovely prayer and meditation as we head into the new year...leaving 2012 behind us - joys, sorrows, challenges, opportunities, successes, failures, and all...and looking forward to 2013. Accepting everything in its time.  

friday quotation

 


When you do things from your soul, you feel a river moving in you, a joy. 
~ Rumi

a Christmas Day prayer for peace

I loved this post from Kristin Noelle.

A beautiful Christmas prayer for peace - above, around, within, and between...

Merry Christmas to all!  XOXO

sunday something

Random acts of kindness..yes, they do exist.  I've always believed this, but I've never had a story of my own to share.  One of those true "a perfect stranger did this" story.  Until today.  It was simple.  It was thoughtful.  It was a total surprise.  And it is one of those things that I've tucked away in my "this restores my faith in humanity" file - which is wonderfully full these days.   

After a lovely morning of an airport run, a yoga class, some grocery shopping, and on my way to the car wash, more errands, cooking, and a little work on my plants (namely some long-awaited re-potting), I was returning a movie and turning back toward my car when a woman walked up to me with these flowers.  She said, "Excuse me.  I know this is really random but someone just gave me these flowers and I'm leaving town and really can't take them.  Would you like them?"  I tried to look more grateful than stunned.  What a lovely gesture.  Small to be sure, but lovely all the same.  May the holidays bring generous surprises to one and all.    

friday quotation

"There is one love...let's manifest it." 

I am borrowing this one from Dean and it just seems incredibly timely for this season.  It's a high calling but certainly one worth striving for.  

friday quotation

I actually had another post planned for today. 
But after the tragedy in Newtown, CT today, these words from Anne Lamott's new book Help, Thanks, Wow - The Three Essential Prayers seem more appropriate.

Prayers for comfort and healing going out to all affected by this terrible, devastating, inexplicable act.