The Embrace of Gratitude

 

New Year's Eve has always been a time for looking back to the past, and more importantly, forward to the coming year. It's a time to reflect on the changes we want (or need) to make and resolve to follow through on those changes.  Whatever it may be, just remember each day is a new day to make a change....a change for the better.  It is always interesting to me how we seem to wait until year's end to make changes....to make resolutions.  Throughout this past year, I have been reminded each moment is a gift and THAT chance. We can transform in each and every moment.  We are in control of our reactions and more importantly our actions and our words. God gives us the ability to transform; to become more like the Perfecter Of Our Faith in each moment we exist.  Our job is to use yoga for its sole purpose: to prepare the mind and body to meditate with God.  We need to allow our faith to be connected; think of ourselves as being plugged into our faith in each moment.  Allow others to see our faith in action, not just in our words.  To allow others to see we are being the change we want to see in the world, of being an extension of God's love to each other and to this world.

2 Corinthians 3:18 New International Version (NIV)
And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

2 Corinthians 3:16-18 The Message (MSG)
Whenever, though, they turn to face God as Moses did, God removes the veil and there they are-face-to-face! They suddenly recognize that God is a living, personal presence, not a piece of chiseled stone. And when God is personally present, a living Spirit, that old, constricting legislation is recognized as obsolete. We’re free of it! All of us!  Nothing between us and God, our faces shining with the brightness of his face. And so we are transfigured much like the Messiah, our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like him.

Personally, 2020 was a year of growth and gratitude for me.  I experienced things I never dreamed were possible; both good and trying.  My trials over the last few years have dug DEEP trenches, but coming out of them ever so slowly has been all the more sweeter....tender repair....the growth after the pruning. I have been taught to let go of things I have deeply clung to, to trust God no matter what, to trust my heart, to listen to my inner voice of God guiding me no matter what the outside world is saying.  

I have recently spent some time with someone who challenges me to look at not only how I deliver a message, but also how I view some current situations happening in my life in light of choices I have recently made. There is something to be said about the sting of removing veils to be able to see more clearly....I am grateful.  They have stirred something I thought I had dealt with from a few decades ago only to find it still lurking deep within. The deep, dark and twisted tendrils of anger and resentment still needing to be released completely....and with love. Yep, still working here...again grateful. 

I have found new depths of my girl gang and I never realized how deep our love for one another goes. The trust. The rawness. The authenticity in which we are all capable of existing in and from with one another. Thank you to each one of you for loving me in my mess these days and responding when I cry for help. It's so hard for me....asking for help. I at some point in life, I appointed myself the fixer--the handle it all person. Not sure why or how I did that, but have operated on that notion since I was 22. Finally, over 50, it has dawned on me....what the hell am I doing that for? We are made for community and just like I like to help others, who am I to deny others of being able to help me? It takes tremendous strength to ask for help and to go get help....I have been an avid practicer of both this last year. Again....grateful.

All in all, it has been a year of reclaiming things.....slowly....and with tender, loving care.....that were set aside and needed to be gathered back up.  A year of getting my priorities back into living sequence. All in all, it has been a GOOD year.  Definitely a challenging year as well, but GOOD. Each year is GOOD though....each teaching what it has to teach....if we are a willing and alert student.

As we all get ready for 2021, it is important to be filled with gratitude for all we have come through! All we have learned about ourselves, our family, our community, and our world. We have managed the day to day changes of these unprecedented times and have all experienced a global pause. A chance to reset our priorities and get back to face to face conversations we all miss and crave!

We, the staff of Soleil Lune, are grateful for this crazy, COVID-ed journey and each one of you has had something to do with it.  Whether you take our classes, come to our special practices, dive into our advanced studies program, or read this newsletter--you have been an inspiration to us!  We appreciate your flexibility in the constant changing tides of this pandemic and the inward roller coaster of emotions as we all dealt with the 'new normal' of the day.  Thank you for embracing our virtual studio as well as our beloved brick and mortar sanctuary of a studio. Without each and every one of you, our jobs as yoga teachers would not be possible! We appreciate all your encouragement and especially your word of mouth-it is what makes and keeps us successful!  

Thank you......although thank you just does not seem to do it.......

THANK YOU FROM THE DEPTHS OF MY SOUL AS WELL AS TO THE MOON AND BACK  for allowing this studio to exist and continue be an amazing community!
  

With Utter Gratitude,

Trish