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Begin Again
Yesterday morning, while driving home from my PT appointment, I noticed the sunlight coming through the trees, highlighting the vibrant green new leaves that have begun to emerge.Is there anything that spells spring and new beginnings more clearly than the bright, translucent new leaves in early spring? I don’t think there is. I decided to go back, walk among these trees, and take photos of them to share with you. One of them is right above. It’s been a while since I felt motivated to publish a blog post or a newsletter. The chaotic energy of our days and the tsunami of bad news coming our way daily have made me…
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September Calling
September 22 marked the Autumn Equinox. We have officially entered the new season. The colors are changing. The trees stand tall, clad in rust and orange hues. The cherry tree in the backyard is almost bare. A thick layer of autumn leaves covers the ground, and the Asters and Autumn Joy are in full bloom. The temperatures are steadily dropping, and I can finally leave windows open and enjoy the fall breeze as it rushes through the house. At night, I can hear the coyotes calling, and in the morning, the hawks are busy circling overhead, searching for prey. A couple of bears have come through to pick whatever is left…
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How to Set a Clear Intention During Times of Seasonal and Personal Change
Early spring is messy, isn’t it? Most trees are still bare. It tends to rain a lot, the ground is muddy and soft, and although the temperatures are warming up, it is still cold enough to require coats and heavy sweaters. Patches of green moss are coming alive, and the daffodils are blooming, but the yard and the flower beds look messy and beat up. This transition period between endings and new beginnings almost always feels messy and uncertain. Every time we catch a glimpse of what is next, the clouds move over the sun, the wind picks up, and we turn back inside for safety and warmth. The first day…
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How Unplugging Can Fuel Your Creativity and Forward Movement
Happy March! I wish you all a joyful new month as we transition from the dark of winter to the season of growth and possibilities. Did you know the month of March is named after the Roman god of war, Martius? In ancient Rome, this was the time of year to resume the military campaigns that had been interrupted by winter. In the Northern Hemisphere, March is the month of new growth and fertility. It brings the vernal equinox and the return of Daylight Saving Time! The other day, I was having lunch with a friend who mentioned that March 1st is designated as the Global Day of Unplugging, a day to…
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The Season for Clearing and Making Room for Growth
Happy February, I hope the new month unfolds in ways that support and inspire you as you move forward, creating your vision for the new year. This time of the year usually moves slowly for me. It is winter, after all, a time to slow down and linger, reflect, ask questions, and gain clarity before moving forward with what the new year asks of me. There are loss anniversaries to cope with, but there are also new beginnings to honor and celebrate. February is a landmark month for me. I was born in February. Thirty-nine years ago, I left Greece to move to the US, and in a few weeks, Neal…
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The Lessons and Possibilities of Early Spring
Spring in New England can test a gardener. She begins her slow unfolding on March 20 and proceeds at a slow pace. Spring will not rush, no matter how much we’d like her to. Be patient, she whispers. It will all happen in due time. Patience has never been my thing, but I have learned to accept the futility of picking a fight with nature. April tends to be the month of slow marching through warmer days, cool nights, frosty mornings, and unpredictable weather. The daffodils, slightly confused by this year’s erratic temperatures, have been attempting to bloom for a while now. The landscape is still bare, but there are swelling…
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Walking
Over the weekend, I went for a hike along the river, only this time, I went to an area I had not been to for a while. The photos in this post are from my hike. The river was flowing strong under bright blue skies, and the birds were having a moment. It was a beautiful day that felt like spring. A couple of years ago, during a bad storm, the river flooded and changed its course in some places. Many trees were uprooted. Walking along the river, I could see the damage done to its banks. Same river, different landscape, new paths to take. The path ran along the riverbank.…
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Continued Lessons on Boundaries and Finding Balance
We are well into June, the garden is blooming, and I have resumed my hand-to-hand combat with the Queen. What is that supposed to mean? You may ask. Allow me to take you back to the beginning. When we bought our house twenty-six years ago, there were no established gardens, and I was still a novice gardener. However, there were mature trees and bushes, an abundance of rosa multiflora (wild rose), an invasive dense shrub, a 90-ft weeping willow, and pachysandra, hostas, and periwinkle growing along the stone walls and near the house. A stream cut across the backyard and into the woodland beyond. The property was wild, beautiful, and brimming…
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How to Navigate the Flow of Change Mindfully
Our culture moves fast and is outwardly focused. We are driven by our goals and our to-do lists. Sometimes it feels as if we can’t see the forest for the trees. We tell ourselves that we will rest when we complete what we have set out to do. Of course, not everything goes smoothly, no matter how diligent, disciplined, or organized we are. Things can turn out differently than expected, and life takes us on detours. When this happens, what matters is how we manage ourselves. For example, you may be well into your new beginnings. You waited a long time to change a few things and step onto a new…
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Your New Beginnings and How to Take That First Step
The seasons of a year. The return of spring.The heart grows glad when it can leaf out,when light and shadow are known to belong toone another. – Gunilla Norris We are constantly in a state of reinvention, which is never more apparent than at the onset of spring. Every day, as we look out our window and step out our front door, we are reminded that a new beginning is already underfoot. I was talking to a friend recently who mentioned how much she loves waking up early in the morning so she can stand in front of her window to watch the sunrise. Each morning, the sun rises, marking a…
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The Edge of New Beginnings
There was a full moon last night. I woke up early and went downstairs to make myself a cup of hot water with lemon. I fed the kitty and stood by the kitchen window, waiting for the water to boil. The house was quiet. Outside, the full moon was casting its light on the snow-covered yard. I stood there, breathing, looking up, and in this precious moment, my heart was full, and my mind at peace. When you regain a sense of your life as a journey of discovery, you return to rhythm with yourself.When you take the time to travel with reverence, a richer life unfolds before you.Moments of beauty…
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Beginner’s Mind
We are well into November, and Thanksgiving is around the corner. I have been moving along, following the established rhythm of life and work, but a few days ago, it hit me. We are approaching the end of this year. This is usually when my creative thinking kicks in. It is also when I feel the urge to step on the brakes, look back, and take it all in. Traveling through the dark time of the year affords us this opportunity for self-reflection. Looking back and evaluating becomes the foundation for setting clear, focused intentions for moving forward. It is easy to settle into habits, behaviors, and our familiar ways of…
