It takes Courage
to remain soft in a world where we are faced with hard realities.
Yet softness is critical to staying aloft.
We find Hope again and again,
and use it as our North Star when things are difficult.
Warm summer nights are the absolute best. Watch the sun drift lazily toward the horizon while dusk paints the twilight as only it can. Listen as the sounds of day quiet and dissolve into the starry night. Stay outside late, and let the lingering warmth wrap you in comfort. These long days are a gift meant to feed your soul.
Feeling lost? Not sure what direction to go next? Stop where you are. Breathe. Look around. The answer may be closer than you think, if you’re willing to trust.
Do you build bridges or walls? Pause to consider this question carefully. Do you look for opportunities to do small acts of kindness that positively impact the lives of those around you? Or are you focused on finding the negative? Either way, I promise you will find what you look for. Take the time to bridge gaps, and build common ground. We need each other, now more than ever.
Reflection is the process of embracing stillness, and going within to listen to our own innate wisdom. Such introspection often leads to inspiration; those “ah ha” moments that give us clarity. We are conduits for our experiences on a daily basis. Take some time today to pause, consider, and reset. Then go back out into the world with renewed insight and let your light shine.
Look to sky in the Northwestern twilight about an hour after sunset, and you might catch a glimpse of celestial magic. Comet Neowise is streaking across the heavens in July, leaving a trail of stardust millions of miles long in its wake. It’s unusual to be able to see such a phenomenon with the naked eye, but our clear, dark Lake County skies provide the perfect backdrop for some magic. Just think. This comet has been hurtling through the infinite vastness of the Universe for thousands of years, yet it’s journey has just now brought it within our view. Fathom that. This time. This place. This moment will not happen again for another 6,800 years! The root word “Neo”means new; “Wise” means knowledge. Could it be a miraculous sign of “new knowing” in our lifetime? Be sure to get outside and see it before it’s gone.
If you want some perspective on your place in the world, go stand in the redwoods. Lean against bark that has stood steadfast through hundreds of years . . . through war, pandemic, drought . . . and yet still remains. We would all do well to follow the redwood’s example; to root down deep and find our strength. We are less than a grain of sand in the big scheme of things, yet we tend to dwell on our problems and challenges as though the world revolves around us. This time in history will one day be a memory—just another ring in these massive trunks marking 2020.
I was out hiking this morning when a beautiful robin crossed my path. Since I believe all things happen for a reason the encounter got me thinking, so I did a little research. Did you know that “A robin is often considered a sign of happiness, hope and new beginnings? It represents luck, satisfaction, growth and contentment. When you see a robin, it may be a sign that you need to pioneer onward and prepare to learn from your future. This bird represents clarity and rejuvenation.” Seeing this robin is a befitting reminder that we are all pioneers in these strange times of COVID19. We are navigating in uncharted territory, learning to adapt, and trying new ways of being in the world. Let us look forward with hope.
No matter what you do in life, start from a place of Love.
Lead from your heart.
When Love is your North Star,
You will always be headed in the right direction.
A Wish. . .
I hear people saying they wish the pandemic would end so life can get back to “normal.” But when this time of COVID19 is behind us, my wish is that we’ve found a new “normal” going forward.
@karenpavonephotography
Consider this: a single ray of light is all that’s needed to pierce through darkness, and illuminate what surrounds you. In times of uncertainty, turmoil and change, Be the Light.
