questions and answers

Isle of Capri, Italy

There are years that ask questions, and years that answer.”

~Zora Neale Hurston

2020 is definitely a year of asking questions.

At least for me.

I’ve noticed how I tend to ask myself lots of questions. Questions for which I don’t have answers. Or at least I’m not ready to delve deep enough to find the answers.

Perhaps there are also years that rest in silence. Years where answers sit in a place of refuge from the bright light of clarity. Years where answers take sanctuary from the free fall of questions.

compassion

Temple of Athena Ruins – Priene, Turkey

“I forgive myself for being imperfect.

I forgive myself for making mistakes.

I forgive myself for having to learn about life by living it.”

~Rolf Gates

Since the onset of COVID-19 when Rolf Gates started offering free guided mindfulness meditations via facebook, I’ve been practicing with him and his community. (He is the author of two of my favorite books, Meditations from the Mat and Meditations on Intention and Being.) Above are the words that frame the compassion meditation that we do together on Wednesdays. Words that have been very soothing and healing for me.

So many times in my life, after some unskillful behavior that went against my values or that hurt someone, I hung on to feeling bad about myself, replaying the behavior and beating myself up, with time being the only real healer. My hope is that this practice will support me in being kinder and gentler with myself and enable a more graceful response to being human.

blossom into more

Photo by Vicki Flaherty | nasturtium blossoms

“You are built not to shrink to less,

but to blossom into more.

To be more splendid.

To be more extraordinary.

To use every moment to fill yourself up.”

~Opray Winfrey

I find these words inspiring, a beautiful reminder that we are here to feel alive, an invitation to embrace the little joys that arise in a day and allow them to feed our spirit.