Blessons abound!

You know, I am thankful every daggone day for the love I have in my life and all the comforts that make me happy. Looking back on this past year and all the “blessons” I got, I am thankful for them, too.

I am thankful for:

* Getting laid off from the day job in March – while I was beyond happy to be free, it was also scary to know that I couldn’t just count on a paycheck showing up whether I did any work or not. The blesson here was that I can create my own income doing the work I love.

* The gift of words – an email I got early on in my budding full-time career that basically asked me “Who are you to charge this amount for your work?” – that simple question caused me to go into hiding for about two-three months as I grappled with “Yeah, who AM I to do this?”. I came out the other side with the knowledge that who am I NOT to do this work and be paid well for it? This is the work of my soul, work I chose to do before I came here and there’s no reason I can’t earn a living from it. I am thankful that this person posed the question to me because it really made me look inside for the answers. And find them.

* Losing Max and Lucie – it’s always hard to let go of those we have loved and cared for so dearly. Max was 16 and Lucie 20 and that’s a long time to be with each other. They brought me joy, comfort and companionship during some really hard times in my life and also shared in and were part of the good times. The pain of losing them was washed away by the memory of all that was wonderful about them. I will see them again on the other side, this I do know for sure.

* Brogan – what can I say about this little dog who has taught me more about patience in the past six months than I’ve learned in the whole of my life? He’s joy and dorkyness rolled into a big furball. And the thing I love most? Duty’s bond with this dog. He needed that (Duty and maybe Brogan too!) and it makes my heart burst with love. When we lost Max, it tore a hole in our hearts and Brogan came in before we had a chance to close it back up. I’m glad for that, as much as I whine about it.

* Crossfit – I know I talk about this one often but I can’t say it enough – it often takes direct guidance to move me into action because I know if it’s been given to me to do, there’s a reason behind it. My Guides generally don’t give frivolous tasks. When I got this one, well, it was probably the hardest thing for me to just start. But I did. And while I will never compete in the Chubsters Crossfit Challenge, I know that each time I go, I’m getting better and better. I am in my body most days, tackle things I never thought I could do (physical and non) and feel so much more confidence. I love that. So yeah, hard to start, big rewards afterwards. Blesson, indeed.

* This lesson I learned only recently and it was a hard one. Thanks, Dr. Wayne Dyer for saying it better than I can. (emphasis mine and you all know why)

“An important teacher of mine, Abraham Maslow, always counseled that it was necessary for the self-actualized individual to be “independent of the good opinion of others.” Walk with Thoreau in your own mind. Listen to the voice you hear, and the drumbeat only you can feel, and honor it, while honoring it in those you love as well. It is the ultimate act of unconditional love. In being true to your inner calling, you may ruffle some feathers but you’ll have the peace and satisfaction of knowing that you fulfilled your divine purpose and encouraged others to do the same. Another brilliant nonconformist, Dr. Seuss, is credited with saying, “Be what you are and say what you feel, because those who will mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.”

Wishing my three blog readers love, peace and joy today and every day. Thanks always for reading and commenting on my blatherings. For more than ten years, this has been my safe place. I’m glad to have it (and you!)