Pause, reflect, and look for the gifts

"What is to give light, must endure burning.” -Viktor Frankl"

Dear friends and family,

As we collectively experience the passing of 2020, it’s fair to say that this year has been like no other in our lifetime. It began with catastrophic bushfires in Australia (remember?), and continued with an unpredictable ride through the pandemic, shootings, protests, an election, and much more that made life quite challenging for people across the globe. 

Has it been painful? Absolutely. Has there been tragedy? Without a doubt. Has adversity continued to present itself to us? One hundred percent. 

But as I often do, I invite you take a pause, reflect, and look for the gifts. Because steeped in these challenges, has also lived enormous opportunity should you choose to see it. There has been opportunity for growth, resilience, and many reminders of what is really important to us - family, friends, health and wellbeing, giving our time and love to others. And perhaps most importantly, the gift of simplicity and remembering what really matters. Basically, there has been ample opportunity to make important changes to ourselves and the world we live in.

On a personal level, I have learned to embrace simplicity. I have learned to practice acceptance by allowing, and even welcoming change with more courage.  Also, I’m in touch with friends and family on a regular basis, many of whom I hadn’t spoken to in quite a while. I “see” people on Zoom who I rarely saw before (pre-Covid), and of course my Zoom classes and offerings have been a worthy addition to life. I am blessed with the gift of love, connection, and purpose. How simple….

In my last note to you, I invited you to reflect on your deepest values and beliefs for the purpose of finding your unique gift and talents, so that you may bring them into the world, more intentionally, in 2021. Please let us not forget all that we have learned. Pause, look within, and find the places in your life that have grown and changed. Because at the center of it all, still exists you, and your “why.” Hold dear those things, and purposefully bring them into this next year upon us.

Take heart; slowly but surely the pandemic will fade, so let’s welcome 2021 with warm, loving, and open arms. Because as always, it is the dark times that offer us the greatest gifts of light. 

Here’s to a happy, healthy, joy-filled 2021 for us all. And remember, it’s not about waiting for the storm to pass, it’s about learning to dance in the rain.