Learn
Through Joy
“Begin
today. Declare out loud to the universe that you are willing to let go of
struggle and eager to learn through joy.”
Sarah
Ban Breathnach
New
Year’s Day, 2022: When I sat down to write this morning, the only thought in my
mind was to not scribble a bunch of platitudes about how every new year is an
opportunity to reset the goals and expectations for the rest of your life. If
the last couple of years have taught me anything it is that very little of what
happens in life is under my control. That’s an extremely hard lesson for me,
and I’ll bet for you too.
We did not plan to spend
two years inside our houses while the medical minds tried to figure out how to
handle a brand-new virus—one that stays one step ahead of them by mutating.
We didn’t expect to lose so many people to the sickness this virus causes. And
we didn’t have any idea that it would not be over by now—how many times have we
heaved a sigh of relief thinking we were safe and protected, only to be told to
go back to “protocols.”
It is
my hope that 2022 is the year this gets put behind us, but just in case it isn’t, let’s make a plan. How do we conduct ourselves? Number one in my
survival kit is to have a sense of humor. My friend Leslie posted a notice on Facebook
yesterday that said, “I don’t even know what I’ll wear to the living room
tonight. I might not even go!” I laughed and laughed. Yesterday had to be the
least celebrated New Year’s Eve ever. We’re worn out. Who wants to go stand
body-to-body with someone who might make them sick?
Second
on my list is to stop struggling and just breathe. I don’t mean give up. We
need to stop trying to push the river and just let it flow. Have you ever
inner-tubed on a mountain river? The speed of the current takes you where it
wants to. You can sit in that tube for hours and enjoy the ride while observing
the beautiful scenery. We are not in control. All we can do is protect
ourselves and the people we love as best we can and try to learn something from living through a pandemic.
The third
thing is, do something new. Stretch yourself a little bit. Put your mask on and
go somewhere you haven’t been before, or try learning a new skill, or change
the way you do your hair, or the style clothes you wear. I don’t know about
you, but I have gotten lazy about grooming and dressing these last two years.
Nowhere to go means why put on uncomfortable clothes, or stylish shoes. It
may be time to change that paradigm by simply cleaning oneself up. We feel better when
we look (and smell) better.
And finally,
learn to listen to other people’s stories. We’ve all been through the pandemic.
We’ve lost more loved ones in two years than were lost in all the wars we’ve
fought in the last century. We all have a story to tell about our experience. Tell
yours to folks you love and listen to theirs. 2022 can be our “coming out” year—coming
out of a pandemic with scars and stories. Make them fairy tales about emerging
from a dark forest into a light so bright you must shade your eyes. Now, close your
eyes and see that light; let it surround and permeate you. Let go of all need
to control it. Then tell the universe you’re ready for joy and really mean it.
In
the Spirit,
Jane
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