Happy heart month. I hope that, in the midst of everything happening in our country, you are finding ways to stay heart-centered, resilient, empowered. And that you are breathing.
Now, more than ever, we need to focus on the people, places, and activities that make us feel safe, grounded, joyful, alive. We need to show up with our unique gifts, and concentrate our energies on kindness, compassion, and love. The more love we can send to ourselves, our friends, our families, and communities, the more love reverberates in the bigger world.
Here on the north coast of California, it is officially winter. It’s been raining the last four days, with daytime temperatures warming to about 45°.
When I left Phoenix last January, I spent three months at the beach in Morro Bay before following my deepest intuition to come here to Arcata in April, not sure, yet having a deep knowing that this was my new home. I had planned to return to Phoenix in November to pack up and sell the family house.
Instead, I have stayed here to experience what winter on the coast is like. Friends said it would be cold and wet, that it rained a lot. I imagined huge downpours like the desert monsoons that can flood the streets in a matter of minutes. But mostly, the rain here is a light but steady drizzle, which doesn’t keep Tillie and me from our daily walking.My raincoat keeps me dry, Tillie doesn’t mind getting wet, and she loves getting towel dried when we get home. And on the days that it does rain harder, I’m so grateful that we don’t have to be out in it, and that my cottage is perfectly cozy and warm. Yes, there is flooding, and rock slides, and even snow around the county, but the redwoods and I really love all of the moisture.
A dear friend from Morro Bay came to visit for a few days last month. It was fun to share some favorite spots and meals, and explore some new places, too. Our conversations were deep and rich, about everything from our spiritual beliefs and first girlfriends to my writing life and wearing a ring on your “wedding finger” even if you’re single.
All of that fun and talking prompted a clear phlegmy cough that turned into me losing my voice. So I rested, postponed some big things, and surrendered to the silence. I let go of all of the commitments on my plate, and just listened in. It was strange to not feel any pressure to hurry up and heal, or worry about what I wasn’t doing or planning to get done. I just let it all go.
I Doordashed some wonton soup and groceries, texted friends, and appreciated Marika’s recommendation to get some Mucinex to bring up the phlegm. As I started to feel better, I could also feel that I’ve turned some kind of corner. I could truly feel how full and rich my life is. I have friends, here and all over, favorite places to walk, and still, so many places to explore. I can see how I have been focusing my intentions these last nine months on settling in, meeting people, connecting with things familiar, like kirtan and Heart Sparks and riding my bike. And that now, not even a year later, I am home, completely and fully.
I used to choose a word every year that clearly defined my intention, so I could hold up any choice to the word, like a litmus test, to see if it supported how I wanted to be and feel. My word this year is BEYOND. Beyond what I know, beyond what I’ve done, beyond my limiting beliefs, beyond how I’ve done things in the past, beyond what I could ever imagine.
And so I am showing up for all kinds of new experiences and activities. I bought an e-bike rack for my car and drove to a park to begin my ride, but now I have to wait for warmer, drier weather to ride further. Next week I’m going to check out a Silver Sneakers class with a friend, and the following week we’re taking a Pickleball lesson together. I signed up for a cool, one day online workshop to discover the arc of my story by creating a Zine. And I’m teaching a new class for OLLI this month called Exploring Slow Stitching, that invites students to relax and create without an end product in mind.
I’ve also been creating my own slow stitch pieces using fabric remnants, trims and some of my mother’s jewelry. If you’re in the Phoenix area, check out the TOWARD2050 project at the Desert Botanical Gardens. I created four panels for the installation.
And this Sunday I am gathering four women for the first in-person, 7 week Heart Sparks Circle since 2012. I’ve led the circle many times since then via Zoom, but, oh, to sit in a circle, together, is going to be so much magic. Together, we’re going to explore how we can best show up for ourselves and others, with more presence and joy and love.
It’s so easy to get lost in the chaos of the larger world. It can be just as easy to pause, and simply breathe, to slow down everything outside of you and breathe deep into where you are, right here, right now, in tune with the strong and steady beat of your heart.
May you continue to feel safe and grounded, so that you can lean into the joys of your life, and keep spreading the love. And if you need some support or guidance, let’s talk.
From my happy, healthy, joyful heart to yours,
PS My article about volunteering has been published in PBS’s online magazine, Next Avenue. Check it out.
