An Invitation to Be

“This is the time to be slow, lie low to the wall
until the bitter weather passes.”

— JOHN O'DONOHUE

Create a Clearing

What if…

As we are bombarded with opportunities to set new goals and make this OUR year with resolutions that promise us a healthy, happy, and prosperous 2023 —we resist? What if this new year started with permission to be okay (enough) just as we are?  

I understand the urgency of our goals and dreams and our affinity for speed, but these times are asking for us to make time for solace and to move forward slowly with more intention and reverence. This has been a year of enormous stress and grief for many, the request to do better and be happy may feel like a lot of pressure. We are experiencing unprecedented levels of distress that calls for our attention, compassion, and care.

My own search for comfort led me to read Life is Hard authored by Kieran Setiya, a philosophy professor at MIT. He writes, “the truth is that we should not aim to be happy but to live as well as we can.” Consoling words for these challenging times. His insights on how to weather life’s adversities and find hope solicited a much needed exhale and softening around the expectations of this new year. His advice to reflect honestly on our afflictions because it helps to simply acknowledge them and leads to greater concern for others, gives me hope.

But it was the chapter on grief that I needed to hear as I continue to grapple with the pain surrounding the trauma and death of my father. This comforting acknowledgement reads, “unhappiness is part of living well, of facing the truth and responding as we should. If we did not grieve, we would not love,” making grief a token of persisting love and a worthy companion.

So, I won’t abandon my wishes for happiness or my ambitions to build a better world, but will move into the potential of 2023 with a gentler attitude and less striving around the expectations. Happiness has always been an elusive goal, so if you seem to be digging deeper for it, especially this year —you are not alone.

Perhaps you can join me in a slower cadence, to allow us time to listen more, to share our stories, and offer compassion for ourselves and each other. We can direct our ambitions towards forging deeper, more meaningful connections within and around us. It has been my experience that the healing threads that stitch broken pieces into new life are often found in the simplest and quietest moments. Together, we can make this year a little more supportive and set intentions to create opportunities to disarm and open to the slivers of joy amidst the realities we face.

Create a clearing to simply BE….

 Be in the presence of all that is and isn’t okay right now

 Listen with deep receptivity

 Acknowledge any discomfort, grief, loneliness, or anxiety you are carrying

 Allow love and support within and around you to generate comfort and ease

The essence of this practice is to be present with what is. Only you know what your clearing might look like, but my hope is that you join me in accepting invitations to restore as a routine part of your day.

I am always here with encouragement, support, and some practical suggestions:

It can be as simple as noticing when you need a longer exhale or monotasking when the demands of multi-tasking are hindering your presence.

It can be allowing yourself to sit in solitude for a few minutes to be guided in a meditation or wrapped in the comfort of music.

It can be plugging into an inspiring podcast, favorite newsletter, or simply resting in the words of a poem.

It can be time to be with the simple beauty and hidden magic of nature.

It can be anything that makes space to soften and soothe your nervous system, which can also be setting a boundary.

SUPPORTIVE OFFERINGS:

Pacing the Heart is a short 5-minute guided meditation for difficult times. It is my most cherished practice, as it is the one my Dad asked to experience during his treatments. His loving feedback is everything to me in this time of grief.

An Invitation to Rest is a collection of products designed to support deep rest and restoration.

May we walk into this winter season with a kinder concern for ourselves and each other with plenty of patience and deep appreciation for the moments that feel like spring sunshine.

With love and gratitude,
Pam

“In our world, dear reader, sad and terrible things often happen, though I wish I could tell you otherwise. But strangely wonderful things also occur, and this is the truth that makes life worth living.”

— JOHN MARK GREEN