Nature has a way of calming me down.
I love the feel of the wind in my hair.
The sound it makes as it moves from here to there.
Carrying things from far away and gently grabbing my own scent and energy with it.
As it sweeps across the land to another place, another time.
I know not where it comes from or where it goes.
But I know that it will always be there, changing things.
It’s seen the epochs.
The wind is my friend.
… .
The wind was with me last year on this day, when I was turning 29.
As I looked into the mountains, noticing the rock, its ragged edges, knowing it used to look completely different. Only time had changed things for the rocks. And it would change things for me too. Focussed steady action + time, that’s what it takes to see a difference.
The mountains comforted me that day, as they always do. And I knew this year would be a big one.
It has been.
I’ve learned about lifestyle businesses, entrepreneurship, design, filmmaking, blogging, social media, email marketing, networking, art direction, the Denver art community, strategic sales funnels …
I’ve learned how to experiment online and off, how to live with less, how to engage mindful practices, about non-violent communication, what it feels like to love a niece and lose a grandmother, how to hold a crow pose and unite body and mind in yoga, about a New Kind of Christianity and my new church family, about myself, about others, about the artistic journey, how to B-R-E-A-T-H.
It has been an AMAZING year.
The wind has done its work.
But it sure as hell isn’t finished.
A friend of mine is launching a project soon that I’m really excited about dealing with the role that transition times play in our lives. January 18th, 2011 was the middle of a huge transition time for me. There were unexpected health /physical transitions and there was the transition into my third decade on the earth. January 18th, 2012 is by no means settled, but it’s completely different. It’s because I decided to lean into the transition.
Are you in transition right now? I’d be really interested to know your feelings, fears, excitement, uncertainty.
Would you be willing to share?
Or first, would you be willing to go find a spot in nature that calms you, sit with yourself, and think about what you would like this transition to mean for you?
… .
You may have read that I’m launching an art magazine in February.
It’s a way I can walk through this journey with others, with you. Living a life dedicated to your own craft, whether it’s painting, filmmaking, poetry, design, even business building, is an enormous challenge. But anyone doing it will tell you it’s enormously worth it (if they’re doing it right).
If there are others of you on an artistic journey of your own right now, would you be willing to introduce yourself in the comments? I know it’s easier to just read, but I’d like to know who you are, and if this resonates with you at all.
… .
We held five minutes of plank yesterday in yoga sculpt. I was nervous before going in because I knew what I was in for. I didn’t think I could do it. I did it.
Last year I didn’t know if I could get to where I am. I tried anyway. I did it (and am still doing it). It may not look exactly how I pictured, but the year has been full of successes.
This isn’t me throwing myself a little birthday brag party (well, it is but it’s not meant to be bragging). There were times during the past year when I crumbled, literally shattered on the floor with my spirit totally broken. There were (a lot) more than anyone knows about. There will be more this year. I’m beyond grateful for the people in my life I know I can count on in those times and on celebration days like this one.
But I want to take my little shining opportunity today to send out encouragement and a healthy dose of creative energy to friends out there doing the same thing and chasing your dreams.
DON’T SETTLE FOR LESS!! You are completely capable of overcoming the Resistance and reaching not just your goals but your dreams! And if you’re not sure what they are, then STOP TODAY and figure them out.
You don’t have to be in transition to make one. You don’t have to be turning a decade older to change the direction of your life.
What you do have to do is D.E.C.I.D.E.
(Source: birthday)
