Saturday, February 29, 2020

LEAP!


















February 29. 2020

“Until one is committed there is hesitancy, the chance to
draw back, always ineffectiveness.  Concerning all acts of
initiative ( and creation), there is one elementary truth, the
ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans:
that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence
moves, too.  All sorts of things occur to help one that would
never otherwise have occurred.  The whole stream of events
issues from the decision, raising in one’s favour all manner of
unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance,
which no man could have dreamt would have come his way.

I have learned a deep respect for one of Goethe’s couplets:
“Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it.  Boldness
has genius, power and magic in it.”


- W.H. Murray, The Scottish Himalayan Expedition

_____________________________________________________________

I've always loved this quote. It goes straight to the heart of my own holding back in life, hesitations about doing what I love, my deep desires to create and connect when I know + have experienced the unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, when I've stopped thinking about it and took the leap. Wonderful things have happened, come my way. Things I never thought I'd do, but did.

Here's to not thinking so much.

I have to push my worried, Henny Penny self out of the way, relegate her to the backseat.  The one who likes to keep things under control, always preparing for the worst. Otherwise, I'd never do anything. 

What if I took a different stance about my life, a more open, trusting stance. 

In what ways can I leap? 
In what ways do I still hold back, stalling myself out of some imagined fear(s)? 

• Failure = so what. 
• Not having control of the outcome = we never do. 
• Having a dream but thinking it's okay for others but not me? = ridiculous.

What is nudging me (you), wanting my attention? Maybe it's tiny. Like, please take a walk. Maybe not so tiny? Like, please leave this work situation or find a publisher, move.

Not every leap needs to be dramatic and BIG or flashy.  I've never been a fan. But I'm more open to bigger leaps these days since I've often been tentative in the past. 

Hesitation, wanting to step, move, say YES, but holding back gives power to anxiety and depression.  I'm familiar with those dark twins. They've kept me stuck in some serious ditches. Caged when the door was open the whole time.

Hesitation = suppression of something longing to be seen, heard, put into action. 

Always the voice says not now, not yet. 

I ask, If not now, when? 













Maybe your leap, your decision, is to rest, relax, do nothing. 
Maybe it's to release yourself from someone or some thing. 
I don't know what your leap is, but you do.

A leap can be anything. 
Whatever your leap, give yourself a firm yes today, drop the hesitation.
Take a leap with both feet (the only way).
See what happens. Stay curious.
It's possible you'll be amazed, surprised, freer, happy you finally did it?
You might end up saying, What took me so long?

Leap. 
Repeat.











Thousands of seen and unseen helping hands are supporting you/me. 

Sending peace and a dash of courage.

leap. 

xo b

*drawing by Michael Collins xo

Friday, February 14, 2020

Feast on Your Life















Love After Love

The time will come
when, with elation
you will greet yourself arriving
at your own door, in your own mirror
and each will smile at the other's welcome,

and say, sit here. Eat.
You will love again the stranger who was your self.
Give wine. Give bread. Give back your heart
to itself, to the stranger who has loved you

all your life, whom you ignored
for another, who knows you by heart.
Take down the love letters from the bookshelf,

the photographs, the desperate notes,
peel your own image from the mirror.
Sit. Feast on your life. 


-        Derek Walcott



xo b