Don't Look Away

The sun shining against the recent fallen snow is blinding. As I scan the landscape, I need to squint. When I close my eyes, brilliant orbs of light dance behind my eyelids; reminders of the brightness that I have just witnessed. The flash of a sunbeam passing through an icicle catches my eye. I cannot look away.

The brilliance of the sun dancing over the microscopic ice crystal snowflakes that one by one have magically fallen from the sky above to land softly at my feet and pile inch upon inch astounds me. Something so delicate and small creating such grand splendor. I cannot look away.

Winter's light is so unlike that of summer. There is no haze to distort. There are few clouds in the blue sky above to blanket the ground below. There is tremendous stillness as the trees have shed their leaves and all that remains are skeleton arms reaching up to the birds to invite them to rest. I cannot look away.

Few shadows form in the sun of winter. There is a rawness to the exposure. There is a relief in the openness and an awareness in the exposure. My soul has stepped out into this light to be seen. My soul has entered into the rays of light to be illuminated and healed. The stark brightness is blinding. And I cannot look away.

Do you see yourself differently in your season of winter? Do you find that your light shines and radiates in ways that are less shrouded? Do you allow your vulnerability to be exposed instead of seeking cover from the possible burning rays? Don't look away. Find how your soul stands in the light of your winter. Learn how she shines. Learn how she dances. Learn how she feels to be so exposed to the element of your winter. Don't look away.

Blessings, Lisa

The Gift of Slowing Down

I live in Connecticut and we are on the back end of the big storm, Blizzard of 2015. While it did not impact us as badly as the weather people had forecast we surely got our share of snow, at least a foot or more, and the high winds that howled through the night.

Upon waking this morning, the beauty that awaited me outside was breathtaking. And my soul soared at the thought of a unquestionable slow day. Obviously Mother Nature had gifted me with this delight. With no cars allowed on Connecticut roads, the driveway with drifts rising to three feet and the snow still coming down I headed back to the warmth of a hot cup of coffee and got ready to settle in.

Most days, life is full and busy. While I pay close attention to the natural rhythms of my day and my life, there is a certain outer influence that is dictated by schedules, clients, calendars and the like. But today, all that is placed aside.

Today will be a day of a long walk in the silence that freshly fallen snow brings. Today will be the chance to sit by the fire, favorite book in hand and cat curled at my feet. Today will be hot soup for lunch with fresh corn bread from the oven.

Today will also be a day of reflection. A beautiful opportunity to bring my focus on the moment. To bring deliberate intention to what I am engaged in this winter season. It will be a day to pause and really appreciate the abundance in my life, the beauty that surrounds me and to bring calming energies to my intentions and dreams.

Blessings, Lisa

All It Takes Is One Small Step At A Time

One small step is progress. It is moving forward, changing the perspective, the energies and our options. We have to remember to not always get too focused on the big picture. Living that way can often cause overwhelm. It can often be discouraging. And we can lose our motivation, our connection to inspiration and our awareness of the smaller lessons and gifts along the way.

Each day we are given possibilities that can impact our soul's journey. We are given opportunities to engage with new energies. We meet new people. We have fresh moments of pause for reflection, rest and regeneration. Each day we are afforded twenty four hours to dream, to re-invent, to negotiate and to discard what is no longer needed or not the right fit. Our life unfolds, day by day, moment by moment. And yet time seems to fly by.

So many times we get caught up with the big picture, the ultimate goal, the grand scheme and by doing so we lose so much. There are moments of wonder woven into the fabric of each day. There are tremendous lessons that will save us the waste of time, energy and more. There are people who are crossing our path that are meant to inspire us, support us and celebrate us. There are gifts the Universe has planted along the way, waiting for our discovery and appreciation. But if our vision is only set on the far distant horizon, we become unaware of these special moments.

If we keep a story in our mind that there is tremendous work ahead of us, we grow weary. If all we tell ourselves of all the years of effort, tremendous lengthy strategies and required stages before we can have what we hope for, to achieve what we long for, or to reach this projected destination on our path, we lose our energetic commitment. Instead, we can chose to focus on just one small step at a time.

Each step we take is of value and can carry great intention. Each step can be celebrated and honored. Showing up in our life with this perspective keeps us engaged with the energies of the present moment; our now. We embrace the gifts that come our way, we value the lessons that will save us as we move forward and we cherish the relationships that inspire us.

Being present and appreciating the importance of every single step we take allows us to make the most of this beautiful gift of life, instead of forever focusing on the some day in the future. After all, life is meant for living, not waiting for.

Blessings, Lisa

To Remain Open

Remaining open to life lessons and insight is a beautiful essence and way of being to bring to your day. There is a freedom that is found within. Accepting that we do not need to have all the answers, all of the time, is something that creates room for expansion, growth, gifts and beauty.

Many people have a difficult time saying "I don't know." They will struggle, pretend, and grasp for an answer as if the admittance somehow makes them less than in the eyes of others. But the reality is, within this statement, there is a great truth that shows just how wise one truly is. Being honest and open to one's ignorance creates room for greatness to be shared, room for our soul to expand and grow, room for life experiences and more.

Let's face it, we are not all interested in the same thing. We do not spend time studying, learning, exploring and investigating the same topics. We can't! This creates beautiful opportunities within our relationships for introducing, for sharing and for expressing. When we admit that we do not know something we create an opportunity to learn, a chance for wonder, a moment of engagement and a time for interaction in being the receiver of information from a giver of knowledge. The art of expression blossoms.

When we create the room for not knowing, we are not showing our weakness. Instead, we are making room for greatness. It becomes an opportunity for a relationship to deepen, for someone's confidence to shine bright, and for our ego to become comfortable with the not being the ONE! Most people who have practiced this act are very comfortable and confident in their not knowing. Being an empty vessel creates beauty within.

It takes honesty, integrity, confidence and great authenticity to admit we do not know something, especially when there is an expectation from others that we do or "should" know it. Not only is it an opportunity to model to others that there is no shame in not knowing, but it also opens our being up to the magnitude of discovery and learning. It creates pause to be receptive, it generates inquiry and wonder, and it shows your genuine ability to be flexible and vulnerable. It is a time for curiosity to grow and possibilities to manifest!

Blessings, Lisa