If there is one thing that 2020 has tested us on, it is love. With all these changes and interruptions we have had this year, it has been challenging for many to keep things going, but the one factor that pops up over and over again is to notice where love is present between us and those who are part of our lives. Who is keeping in touch? Who is helping?
Many religions and spiritual traditions have festivals that celebrate light and warmth at this time of year. The Hindus just celebrated Diwali, a festival of light, around Thanksgiving. Then Hanukkah, the Jewish celebration of light, followed by the pagan festivals of Winter Solstice and Yule, then Christmas, which is, in essence, celebrating bringing light into the world. And then having savored and basked in the warmth and light of these holidays, we launch into a New Year.
Think how powerful that is for illuminating our path forward. If we look forward using our creative spirits and acting in a spirit of love. During all of the craziness of this year with many businesses being crushed and many people losing their jobs, in addition to people getting sick and dying, millions of people are struggling to pay for food and housing. And yes, some people are doing well and there are examples everywhere in local news about people helping each other in different ways. This will be the key to how we get through this.
I have enjoyed seeing countless examples of kindness and generosity, strangers helping each other. You have probably seen a number of these stories in the news. A number of my clients have been generous and kind to me as well, and these actions have touched my heart. I deeply appreciate your support. My heart is full of gratitude for all of you. Maybe we need crises to remember that it is human nature for people to help each other. When people ask for help, we respond however we are able, if it is something we have the ability to do. This is true human nature.
Spirit gives us challenges so that we can rise to the occasion. When we are faced with a difficulty, we need to learn something different or do something different in order to continue on our life path. So many of us have had to change the way we work, what we do for exercise, how we relate to food, whether we grew some, got into gardening or canning or purchased directly from local farmers.
What could be more heart centered than someone volunteering to help get food to people who need it? Heart centered people help others who are strangers, not just family helping family, get what they need. There are countless people who have helped others in all kinds of ways. We have all seen or heard of some heartwarming stories of that kind.
Warmth and light that evolve from heart centered actions will be how we all get through this by helping each other. Our hearts feel warmth emanating from them when we feel love. Humanitarian love, generosity, kindness, cooperation, empathy, kindness.
Romantic, isn't it? Opening our hearts with kindness and empathy, opens up that other aspect of the heart which is love for other people. In that spectrum of love for other people, our hearts fall in love with life, which is the real essence of romance and this vibration opens us to partnership and romantic love.
Odd as it sounds, all this craziness and hardship can open up new avenues for love and compassion and romance. We are presented with the opportunity to develop a relationship with other people we never met before and learn things we did not know. These crises can open us up to both give and receive more warmth and light.
Magnitudes of sentiment are attached to this time of year because all of these holidays contain warm connections to other people and bringing light into our lives with love, laughter, music, seasonal food and drink during the coldest, darkest season of the year. And these connections warm our hearts.
Today, with various restrictions and difficulties in place many people are not traveling to be with family and far away friends right now, but we still feel that heart warmth that this season of light stimulates. And that feeling and desire is what prompts us to make connections with others who are near us and create new pathways and new relationships.
Spirit changes even basic things to challenge us like how we work and how we play. This is causing us to reexamine what we value and how we spend our time and who are people who are popping up in our lives unexpectedly.
Who would have thought that walking the dog would become the most social time of the day? Working mostly from home and going to stores or other places of business when necessary, walking the dog is the one constant opportunity to get some fresh air, exercise and say hello and chat with other people. It is a whole different level of reality than talking to people on Zoom or Facebook or something. I wouldn't be out walking the dog so much if I was able to do my usual things, like go to the gym or go dancing. And I think it is good to see so many more people out walking and having at least moments of social engagement. It is a good feeling when that happens. We have to find ways to keep going, and that will mean doing some things differently. Imagine how our world will change for the better when we open up to the warmth and light of new connections, opening our hearts and seeing how making heartfelt decisions changes our priorities. That will be a good development coming out of difficult events.
Here is what I offer you in order to help:
- You can get appointments with me days, evenings or weekends. I know many of you have crazy schedules, so I can be flexible to help you with that.
- If you are having a hard time financially, you can have any of my services and pay me whatever price fits your budget. I am here to help, so I remove this barrier.
- You can see me in person, or do sessions via Zoom, Skype, Facebook or phone.
I always love hearing from you, so feel free to reach out if you are feeling moved to do so. Have a wonderful day!
By the way, the photos above and below I took last year at the Denver Botanic Gardens. They are doing this light show called Blossoms of Light again this year. You are walking around outside in the midst of fabulous displays of lights. Dress warm!
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