A new year has come around and our culture seems to push for us to resolve to change. In my opinion, this is to keep feeding the businesses that capitalize on our feelings of “not enough-ness”.
So, I stopped “resoluting” and started reflecting. If a theme bubbles up, I will try to come away with one word that I can use to help guide or ground me through the next calendar year.
As a tribe, we are coming out of a really intense season. I imagine a movie scene where the main character is walking towards you, covered in soot, torn clothes, maybe a limp. Behind them is a larger than life disaster with smoke stacks, some embers still burning and a huge mess.
Don’t get me wrong, I am still dirty, stinky, quite overwhelmed and carrying so much guilt that my body aches. But I am walking, ok dragging, working towards my healing.
During this season a little light came into our world. She is my niece and her name literally means “shining light” in Hebrew. Meet Nora.
Watching my sister become a mom has been one of my most unexpected joys. She is just incredible. We’ve recently started a new thing called “Fridays With Nora”.
Watching her go through her world has been enchanting to me. She feels her feelings, and moves on. She takes a tumble, makes eye contact with me, lets out a giggle and keeps on playing. She reaches for love. Pushes me away when she’s done. She lays her head on my chest and falls asleep. She explores and talks the secrets of the universe in complete gibberish and I answer. She just lives through her day.
This year my word is “Lila”. Lila is Arabic/Hebrew for “play”. Do I want to spend the year playing? Probably not. I am too melancholy for that. I have realized that things don’t need to be so heavy for me all the time. I can go through my days trying my best, laughing at my mistakes instead of obsessing over them. Clapping the dirt off my hands and putting one foot in front of the other. Making jokes and sending the people I love funny memes. Sharing my feelings without apology and yes, literally playing more.
May we all find our Nora’s and Lila this year.
Love,
Rebecca
The Low Place Consulting 