A little something for the road…signing off, with Love

Hello lovely readers, whomever you are and wherever you may be…

I send you this end of the year note to share my intent to scale back on blogging in 2022 in an effort to channel my creative energy into other corners of my life— exactly what kind of magic I plan to create I am not yet certain, but I do know I have been craving (I know, I know— so un-Buddha like of me) something different and new and exciting and ya know what: I also know that I deserve to find it.

Is there something that you’re feeling called to(ward) or called to do? Is there something that you feel compelled to do but potentially notice yourself not “going for” due to fear or uncertainty? This is the perfect time of year to get quiet with yourself—quiet and curious. Surely this time of year can also be hectic, but creating time to get silent and still is essential. Give yourself that gift over the holiday season: an hour, a half day or an entire 24 hours just to “do” you—and by DOing, I really mean BEing.

I am sure I will pop in with words to share now and again (last time I took a break it lasted a whole month!), and yet I still feel compelled to leave you with some closing Sam-isms. So here goes:

Nurture your relationship with you. It is the most important one that you’ve got, and a direct reflection of how you relate to and treat others. Talk to yourself in the same gentle tone that someone you love would extend to you. Kindness is the foundation upon which a joy-filled life is built, and it starts from within.

Love is everything. As humans, we NEED love (and this does not make us needy). It connects our souls, it fills our hearts, it offers light to guide us through the darkness (that inevitably comes, and also, always goes). Love is connection, love is intimacy, love is truth, love is open and real and kind. You deserve love. If there is any part of you (and each of us has many parts) that believes otherwise, please find someone to talk with about that. Love is our birthright.

Being a human can feel hard. It can feel like an uphill battle at times. Our wild minds have the tendency to weave stories about who we should be or what we should be doing or how our lives should look—which can result in an experience of shame or feeling stuck and small. Our minds cling. We tend to compare and judge despite knowing that these devil horns only lead to self-destruction and pain. It can feel messy when we are caught in the thought loop of “not enoughness,” constantly striving for something just beyond our reach. Here’s something to consider: can you feel grateful for what you have, right now, in this very moment? What would it be like to embrace things just as they are and be with what is just for today? It’s a challenging practice and I dare you to try. Results vary, but speaking from personal experience, I find that when I focus on all that I do have (abundance) vs. that which I do not (lack mentality), I create MORE of what I desire.

Practice. Nothing and no one is perfect. Don’t aim for perfect, simply practice. Practice kindness. Practice self-compassion. Practice appreciation. Practice slowing down. Practice listening. Practice giving. Practice receiving. Practice authenticity. Practice You.