Annual Tradition
I was tempted to name this birthday tradition, because today is my birthday after all. But it seems to be so much more than that. Since September is my birth month, my wedding anniversary, and the month I started my business it feels like the perfect time to look back and reflect on this past year and all of its gifts.
(I clearly have a connection to that virgo energy of getting things done)
While I normally write more on personal practice, rewilding techniques, the ancient teaching of yoga and so on, this blog post is to be a bit more personal. Everything I write and teach about is something that has been close to my heart, however I think it is important from time to time to just be a human in front of you, my students.
This past year has been one of profound transformation for me.
On my birthday last year my family was homeless and both me and my husband had just lost our jobs. The world was a scary place last fall. It was impossible to find housing, impossible to get a job, then you layer on not even knowing where to send our kids to school because we did not know where we would be living. Paired with moving to a new state to stay with family while figuring things out and it being practically impossible to find a new community due to safety concerns.
So what did I do?
I split wood, trusted the universe, did yoga, and I waited for a sign.
A sign for what it was I was supposed to be doing with my life. And it came loud and clear. COVID obliterated the support systems for neurodiverse individuals. Given my 10 years in the field of direct support, social therapy, and managing of a care home, I had the answers that people were looking for.
So I started a business. I think you may have heard of it *wink
What I found as I started this work is that it was not just neurodiverse individuals that lost their support systems to COVID. Everyone did. So I started expanding my work to include anyone and everyone that would benefit from the teachings of yoga, mindfulness, and social therapy. Which it turns out is just about everyone.
With joy in my heart I realized that I could help so many people. That I could be making the world a better place everyday.
Now while all that was going on me and my husband started homeschooling our 3 children with a Waldorf curriculum, bought a dumpster house that needed to be completely demoed and rebuilt from the studs out, and my husband also started a small business.
And I have to say I am so proud of us. It would have been so easy to become dark and jaded after losing everything and starting from scratch while providing for three small humans.
It is no coincidence that we took this devastating event and spun it into a beautiful transformation.
First, off we had an amazing support system of people around the world. All the people whose lives we had touched and made an impact on came to our aid. They validated our worth, filled us with love and good food, and made sure we were OK. If you are the light in the world you will attract light in return.
Second, our family’s commitment to personal growth and development allowed us to not lose hope even in our darkest hour. By not victimizing, or allowing anger to consume us, it kept us open to the divine offerings of the universe.
Whew. Can I just say that I feel so full of love after writing all that?
There are so many gifts to be found on looking back and reflecting. I encourage you to do the same. This could be done annually on your birthday or at the end of the year. It could be a reflection of all the things that have happened either as a story or a timeline. It could be about the things you have learned or the struggles you have overcome. It could be a journal that you keep for your children about the past year of their life and important messages you want to pass on to them at a later date. However you choose to embody this practice it is important to reflect so that you can honor the wisdom of your own journey. If you are reflecting and identify themes that need your attention, things that you want to change before the next annual review then reach out today to start your mindful tradition.
