It's been almost two months since I last posted to this blog; after traveling back East to spend Thanksgiving with my husband's family, I got caught up in the holiday rush—and then took two more trips, one out of the country, in the next month and a half.
And—perhaps not coincidentally—for the last 30 days or so, I’ve had the cold-with-lingering-cough syndrome. Experiencing the various symptoms, I’ve been very aware of how much our health impacts our energy—and the enthusiasm we have about living our New Story. In the past weeks, I’ve noticed a marked difference in my normal excitement levels; I haven’t been as inclined to involve myself in as many activities, such as blogging, as I usually do.
It’s a great reminder to me of how important our health is to the development of our New Stories—how the art of renewal, being mindful to consistently replenish and renew ourselves, is very much a part of that process. Maya Angelou wrote that “The woman who challenges herself to invent herself daily displays sublime creativity”—and I would add that the woman who challenges herself to renew herself daily displays sublime wisdom.
I have learned, again, that when I don’t heed the need to rest and renew, the need will make itself persistently (and usually inconveniently) known. A dear friend of mine, Ilene Cummings, encouraged me to allow myself to just be with the following wise words: "You are doing exactly what is required right now. Here is a quote from Pema Chodron: 'Now is the time...now is the only time. Now is the path.' " Sometimes, to most fully live our New Stories, we need simply to pause, replenish, and trust that whatever is happening is, as Chodron reminds us, the path.
And—perhaps not coincidentally—for the last 30 days or so, I’ve had the cold-with-lingering-cough syndrome. Experiencing the various symptoms, I’ve been very aware of how much our health impacts our energy—and the enthusiasm we have about living our New Story. In the past weeks, I’ve noticed a marked difference in my normal excitement levels; I haven’t been as inclined to involve myself in as many activities, such as blogging, as I usually do.
It’s a great reminder to me of how important our health is to the development of our New Stories—how the art of renewal, being mindful to consistently replenish and renew ourselves, is very much a part of that process. Maya Angelou wrote that “The woman who challenges herself to invent herself daily displays sublime creativity”—and I would add that the woman who challenges herself to renew herself daily displays sublime wisdom.
I have learned, again, that when I don’t heed the need to rest and renew, the need will make itself persistently (and usually inconveniently) known. A dear friend of mine, Ilene Cummings, encouraged me to allow myself to just be with the following wise words: "You are doing exactly what is required right now. Here is a quote from Pema Chodron: 'Now is the time...now is the only time. Now is the path.' " Sometimes, to most fully live our New Stories, we need simply to pause, replenish, and trust that whatever is happening is, as Chodron reminds us, the path.
