Be Light!

Tomorrow marks 10 years since I began writing this Time to Be blog. What began as a healing mechanism to help me put words to my grief after my mother passed away turned into a delightful space in which to explore my writing voice, refine my focus on blessing and joy, and share messages that I discovered deep in my heart. 

As with all things, however, they eventually come to an end. It's time for me to be for a bit. 

While my Time to Be blog will continue in some shape or form, I will contribute to it only periodically, not on a weekly (or more often) basis, as I've done over the past decade.

When I do post again to this blog, I will be sure to share the link to Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Till our next time together, thank you. Thank you for sharing in this forum. Thank you for your supportive words, your encouragement and your feedback. Thank you for inspiring me with your ideas. 

Till next time...Spread sunshine. Be the light.

Sunday Sunshine: Start Anew

Just as a blanket of new snow cleans and freshens the landscape, the new year offers a clean slate for you.

Spend some time this week reflecting on all that you experienced and learned over the past year. Express your gratitude for those moments.

Then, think about the new year and look with anticipation on the beginnings that will come with the turning of the calendar.

Be confident in yourself. Don't be afraid to start anew. Opportunities and invitations will lead to satisfying, new adventures if you're open to them. 

Look to the new year with joy. Be present and grateful for all of the good that will come.

Today, this week: Allow for the changing of the calendar to offer fresh starts for you. Look forward to glorious, new adventures in the new year. 

New Beginnings

"This is a Day of New Beginnings" is one of my favorite songs in the United Methodist hymnal. It is a fitting song, I believe, for this time of year, when the calendar turns over to a new month and a new year, and we begin anew. As the hymn's lyrics state, it's a "time to remember and move on." I like to ponder in early January about the year that has been, what I've experienced, what I've learned, what I've given and what I've received. I also like to devote time to thinking about the year to come, anticipating all that will be new and interesting. In the end, however, all we have is this day, this moment. One can dwell on the past or plan or fear the future, but we really only have today. We really only have Now. Every day is a new beginning -- a new chance to love, learn, grow and give of ourselves with gratitude for our many blessings. If there is one thing I hope to do in this new year, it will be to live fully in the present, trusting in my intuition and in my faith as each day unfolds, bringing with it new opportunities to better understand and give of myself. May your new year be filled with great days of new beginnings.

Heavy vs. Light

I read a quote attributed to the late Steve Jobs recently where he compared the heaviness of being successful to the lightness of being a beginner again.  I am in that heavy versus light conversation with myself these days.  A few weeks ago, I left a job that I believe I had a certain degree of success doing.  It gave me meaning and I enjoyed the type of work I did and the people with whom I worked.  There is great joy in such an unusual employment experience that combines purpose and passion.  But, I knew that it was time for a new path, just I had done a couple of other times in my professional life.  Each time, I've given up what I've known and embarked on a new journey, a new beginning, a new industry.  New beginnings bring opportunities to explore important, little discovered facets of ourselves.  As Steve Jobs said, there is a lightness in being able to be a beginner again.  You shed the so-called baggage of your past, including the possible heaviness of having found success in something, and you start again with very little in your luggage other than the optimism and hope for an exciting and meaningful tomorrow.  As one who craves some certainty, I almost shock myself each time I leap out of my comfort zone and start anew, but my wings are light these days, just like the summer breezes, and I realize that the things I am learning about myself right now are among some of my greatest lessons.