a-musing-lee twin reflections

It's that time a year when we think of everything from holiday decorations, food, family and friends, community, giving and new resolutions for the year to come after reflecting on the year that has just passed.  It's the thoughts of giving and reflection along with the setting of goals that always draw me to dwell on the "presence", mine as well as those that surround me.  By "presence" I refer to what I am doing to contribute, how I am making a difference to others or the universe.  Being present or reflecting on our "presence" of course, means something different to each one of us.  How we view the impact we have each day and on others varies from day to day, at least it does for me (I often let life get in the way).  Each of us have a social impact (not just what we post on Instagram and our social media sites), but in how we enable sentient beings, hopefully to lead richer, more flourishing lives.  So, in the spirit of giving and setting go...

September is a month of transition for many as summer moves closer to autumn, some head back to school, temperatures start to drop, rain and wind race through the air almost giving it a sense of cleansing, allowing us to start anew, to get back into a routine. This fall I may not settle into a routine, but I do find it a time to find a way to shed layers versus adding them due to the cooler temperatures outdoors. The layers are those that have closed me in. It's a constant battle that I have fought, especially over the last few years, but some are the same battles year after year, month after month, day after day that I can't seem to win. This fall, I am determined to shed some of those layers, even if it only equates to lightening my wardrobe, but hopefully I will also feel some lightness and freedom from the heaviness in my soul.  I may not be completely in a place of peace, but knowing that with continued hard work and a bit of grace I will forge a new path of freedom. Th...

Usually this time of year gives me cause to write about the change of seasons, service, family, giving thanks, or new resolutions.  However, this post is a little of all of those things strung together in a very different light.  As I get closer to celebrating another year of my life, I am reminded of a phrase that a dear friend shared with me a few years back and said to me, reminded me, and drilled into me, many, many times during a very challenging and difficult time in my life.  However it is a phrase that has helped me turn difficult days into hurdles and challenging thoughts into deep breaths and fleeting moments. That simple phrase is peace through strength. As we move through life, we all have days that are more challenging than others. Sometimes, they seem to run into weeks and/or months. So I write this hoping to find a little more peace for me and the hope that others that may run across this post will find this as a reminder of how easy it can be to let g...