Today is a good day. I know it may not feel it with nearly the whole world in some form of shutdown as a result of COVID-19, and the widespread anxiety many are experiencing, but there is still so very much to be grateful for. For me, good coffee, books, my gratitude rock, the sun streaming through my window and a cozy “fire” at my feet as I write are just a few things making me happy right now – but I could name hundreds more.
This doesn’t mean I am ignoring the world situation. There is no denying that we are in the middle of a storm right now. The “Shelter in Place” happening in Washington State as of yesterday means I will not be teaching any classes, likely for a while. The beautiful studio space I looked at renting the week before things really blew up here sits empty. For millions of others in Washington and the world over, businesses will not recover and the economic impact of this will be frightening. The short-term (months) result of the worldwide shutdown will be difficult for many and feel impossible for some, and none of us can predict what the longer-term impact will be.
But how we navigate the storm will affect how we emerge. We are each of us the master and commander of our own ship – we own our thoughts, our actions, our life. So here’s the question – what does your ship look like, and how are you choosing to navigate through the wind and rain? I was recently in an office that had beautiful lithographs of the most gorgeous, six-masted ships from the late 1800’s as they sailed proudly into Bellingham Harbor; the city I largely grew up in. I would like my life to look like something from these paintings. Are you steering a sleek sailboat, a proud six-masted schooner or a broken up dingy? When we come out of this, will you stand proudly on the prow of your ship, grateful for the beautiful horizon and safe harbors you have arrived at, knowing your ship will be repaired and perhaps better than before – or will you hide in the bow, seized by anxiety?
Ultimately, we WILL get through this. We are incredibly resilient and marvelously made. So let’s focus on that. Let’s be grateful for navigating our ships through this storm together. Let’s be grateful for those that share our waters and the time we get to really be present with – perhaps for the first time in years. Let’s be grateful for the food we are able to set on our tables, for the good health that most of us still enjoy, for the projects we can get to, the walks we can enjoy, the books we have time to read. What are you grateful for today? How are you navigating your ship? Visualization is a powerful tool for creation – I would love to know what your ship looks like! Much love, friends! ⛵️🛥🛳💖
This Blessed Sacred Life 