(not necessarily in that order)
This Father’s Day I’m thinking about both my Dad and my Mom.
Yesterday — the day before Father’s Day — was the 30th anniversary of my mother’s passing. It boggles my mind how so much time can have gone by already.
Thinking of you with love, Mom. And feeling more grateful than words can express that my Dad is still with us.
It was raining really hard as we drove up the A-1 on Tuesday, but we had no idea just how much rain the region was getting until reading about the flooding, evacuations, and deaths this morning.
I’m extremely grateful that we decided to stick to our departure date, rather than delaying by even a day.
Our guardian angels were definitely looking out for us.
We’ve really enjoyed our stay here at the Utoring complex in Aldesago, but it’s time to say goodbye — to this little apartment and to the expansive view of Lugano and the distant mountains.
Day after tomorrow we’ll say goodbye to Lugano itself for a little over a week while we visit Italy; first Riomaggiore in Cinque Terre, then Ananda Assisi.
Feeling extremely grateful right now.
Sometimes when there’s so much to do (as is happening in these days!) I can feel the overwhelm slowly but surely starting to paralyze me.
So, I’m grateful to be reminded that I can ask for help, for guidance, which makes all the difference in the world.
Well.
I had every intention of writing thank you notes (and this “thank you” update) before leaving for my weeklong ayurvedic healing retreat at Blue Sage Sanctuary, but for a variety of reasons that didn’t happen.
However, as is so often the case, it’s actually better this way.
Why? Because if I had written before I actually experienced the retreat, I would have been expressing gratitude in the abstract: “I’m so grateful for the gifts that are enabling me to go on this retreat.”
And now? Well, now I can say with absolute conviction: “Your generous gifts helped to make possible one of the most profoundly transformative weeks of my life.” It was perfect in every way, and for every aspect of my being.
I had very little idea of what to expect from a weeklong panchakarma immersion. The two weeks beforehand were filled to overflowing with commitments and events, as well as a big snow storm that arrived just in time to complicate my even getting there. Needless to say, I was feeling a fair amount of stress by the time I arrived, but I could feel the palpable peace and serene beauty of the retreat environment helping me relax right from the start.
The daily Ayurveda consultations were deep, informative, insightful, and even fun, while the physical treatments ran the gamut from cleansing to relaxing to uplifting.
There isn’t time or space to share all that I felt and all that I learned; in short, it was altogether transformative. I’m more grateful than words can say.
Namaste.
Today I encountered a profound life lesson in the form of a poem.
“I wonder if you know,
the work your body has done today.
And every day.
How much disease it has fought off.
How many times it could have failed but battled on,
how many ways it could have broken but did not.
I wonder if you know,
the work your body has done today.
And every day.
And each day it has done this amazing job,
without your help,
without your approval,
your acceptance,
your kindness.
Each day it has soldiered on,
regardless of the constant stream of negativity,
pulsing its way from your brain to your cells.
Not good enough.
Not attractive enough.
Not the right shape.
Perhaps it’s time to see your body for what is truly is,
An amazing and mind-blowingly competent machine.
To get your soul to where it needs to be in this life.
To let you live.
I wonder if you know,
how much better you would be as a team.
I wonder.”
From the book, “I Wish I Knew” by Donna Ashworth
It’s been a week of high peaks and low valleys. Big challenges and bigger blessings. Joyous fun and deep discouragement.
I’m grateful for all of it…and also grateful the week is over.
How lovely it’s been to be relatively still and inward on the winter solstice.
And a rare blessing it is, as we’re usually up to our eyeballs in Christmas prep during this week. But with the concert behind us and (for once) not being in charge of Christmas Eve music, we were quick to take this opportunity.
I’m so grateful we did, as I’ve enjoyed some deep meditations with important insights.
Bring on the light!
What a blessing to be able to stay home — warm and cozy — in such stormy weather.
Don’t get me wrong; I’m extremely grateful for days of heavy rain (though the intense winds were less appreciated).
It’s just that I’m equally grateful not to have had to get in the car and go anywhere in the midst of it all!
I’m sure it won’t come as a surprise to learn that I’m particularly grateful for some very specific things this Thanksgiving season.
I also want to take this opportunity to let everyone know that I’m doing extremely well physically. It’s true that I still have to be careful to avoid viral infections (as my immune system comes fully back online), but my energy is so good that the only other “danger” I have to guard against is slipping back into “normal” mode too quickly.
Why? Because my usual tendency has always been to neglect the subtle and holistic self-care elements that can lead to deeper levels of healing. And I feel one of the major lessons of this whole experience has been to wake me up to the absolute importance of true self-care. So, I’m working on it!
I love and appreciate each and every one of you, and hope you’ve enjoyed a blessed Thanksgiving, filled with an abundance of love and joy.