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Hi!
Happy 2024! It’s hard to believe we are this far into the 21st century! I remember New Year’s Eve 1999 as the world moved into the new millennium and was concerned with Y2K… I was living in Santa Fe, NM and as one year was ending and the new one beginning, I did a fire walk. What a memorable way to start the new year, the new millennium, to say the least. [BTW, I slightly burned one foot but not the other—go figure!]
I’m starting this new year pounding the pavement, i.e., looking for a job; my 20-month contract with the University of Washington ended December 29th (boy, did the time fly by!). I’m busy seeking another position while simultaneously enjoying a more leisurely paced life. I feel like I’m on a partial staycation and it is greatly welcomed. I took little time off from my work over the past four years, going directly from one contract to the next.
I am luxuriating in a flexible schedule, with more space in it for me, my self-care, and Spirit. I’m doing things that I can’t normally engage in when working a job. A new nextdoor.com women’s group started at the beginning of the year, meeting mid-morning, mid-week for coffee. I’m glad I jumped on the bandwagon there so that eventually when I’m back working and can no longer attend, at least I’ll have the women in my life and can engage in evening and weekend activities with them. I’m delighted I volunteered to create and maintain the contact list—not only do I get to be of service, but I keep my mind sharp using Excel!
I just finished a three-week class offered by Rev. Richard Rogers at Unity of Prescott focused on Colin Tipping’s book "Radical Forgiveness." I thought it synchronistic that it was exactly ten years ago I first learned of the concept in a Sacred Family Circle group when I was living in Sedona. It is a revolutionary five-stage process to heal relationships, let go of anger and blame, and find peace in any situation. The premise is that there is a spiritual purpose behind everything that happens to us. Radical Forgiveness requires us to look at the pain of our experience through a completely different lens than we've been accustomed to, to step out of victim mode. When we are willing to be open to the possibility that there might be a reason for everything that happens to us, that every person, situation, and event is a gift for us and our upliftment, something energetically shifts that brings us peace. I highly recommend learning more about this life changing process.
Without 40 hours plus spent on working a job. my soul is getting more nurturing as I am able to allocate more time to spiritual reading, contemplative writing, additional volunteer work, meeting new people, attending more live music gigs, and just playing more. I can take all tasks and activities at a more leisurely pace and enjoy them, savoring the present moment—even grocery shopping and laundering clothes! I am so grateful. This time reminds me of when I was self-employed and had a flexible schedule, and I was regularly meeting new people; I suppose it’s like semi-retirement for some folks. I feel so much more relaxed not having to cram life into my life! It is certainly a healthier, more enjoyable way of living.
Some folks have a regular practice that keeps them on track in appreciating and recognizing the source of the goodness in their lives, and being at peace. Sometimes we need a big change in our usual routine to slow down, to stay in the present moment more, to take a deep breath, and say "Ahhh." I hope reading this reminds you to “stop and smell the roses” no matter your schedule.
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When I started thinking I would write about my (temporary) lifestyle change and how slowing down and relaxing have been so enjoyable and beneficial, Spirit popped into my head the words “Slow down, you move too fast.” Of course, those are the opening lyrics to Simon and Garfunkel’s “The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy).”
Written in 1966, Simon and Garfunkel recorded a live version of it at Carnegie Hall in 1970.
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