Don't Retract. Expand.

Disclaimer.
It was my full intention that my first blog post was going to be a spiritual hippie toned 'how to' that had been on my mind for a while. (Think 'How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days' for the hippie hearts). But here's the thing. I waited a really long time to get this blog up and running. I Love writing. It gives my life meaning. By this I mean it's how I make sense of everything, and when I don't write for a few days, I feel as though I'm coming unstuck. Despite that post having meaning to me, driven by the passion for healing ourselves and our planet, it just didn't feel personal enough. So in order to set the tone, musings. . .

Don't Retract. Expand.

There was a time in my life that when things got too much for me, I would do one of two things. A) act recklessly, or B) withdraw from life completely. Withdrawing from the pressures of life is not bad in itself if you are withdrawing to rebuild, dig your heels in, or plant deeper roots to grow stronger.

Challenge is the very foundation of life. Once we accept this, riding the waves becomes that much easier.

Unfortunately facing the challenges life throws our way can often disable us in such a way that we not only withdraw temporarily, but retract from life. When this happens we can let our trials engulf us. OR we can expand out and beyond said challenges. Challenge is the very foundation of life. Once we accept this, riding the waves, and the hopefully infrequent tsunamis, becomes that much easier. I don’t say this to be grim. Life is made up of sunshine and rain. That doesn't mean there aren't times when we ask for reprieve. Begging for a little ease and grace. With time unfolding, and humanity growing as it is, the lessons are coming in thick and fast. I have uttered those words more than a few times in the months passed.

There is a lesson for us even in the smallest trial, waiting for us to uncover it. The treasure.

I often wonder how I would've fared in these frequently challenging times as my now ancient self. Likely burying my head in the sand. Grabbing a drink, or several with friends, and waiting for the storm to pass. Never truly acknowledging or feeling what begs to be seen and felt. Therefore ensuring it will need to be both acknowledged and felt in some way in my days to come.


Now I beckon the storm, and grab a surfboard. Sometimes I sink. Sometimes I swim. But I never lose, because I am always growing. There is a lesson in even the smallest trial, waiting for us to uncover it. The treasure. We can ignore it if we so choose. But just wait for the same lesson to arrive on your doorstep again, and hope that next time it's not banging the door down.


Learned the hard way or much easier, our lessons will still transform us in all of the ways necessary to our growth. And surely, keep on rolling in. Sometimes, on my better days, I give them a wink at first recognition. Just to say "I see you". "I've been expecting you.” With a little bit of, "bring it"!

Sometimes, on my better days, I give them a wink at first recognition. Just to say "I see you". "I've been expecting you". With a little bit of "bring it"