INTENTIONAL REFLECTION | June
Continuing with my Intentional Reflection practice:
Name a moment of celebration in June.
With Caden’s help, I can now park my truck in the garage! We moved things around - including all of Cole’s boxes (labelled and mailed to Calgary) - and the truck fits with plenty of room to spare. Growing up my family always parked our vehicles in the garage, it never made any sense to me to use the garage for storage, which I did for close to 20 years. I’ve used the garage since 2011 and to not have it available has been off-putting. It’s a weird exhilaration and happy exhale knowing I have my truck safely tucked away where it’s supposed to be parked.
What did you need more of in June?
I needed to read more. Not that a day goes by that I don’t read a copious number of words, but other than “Sparring Partners” (in hardcover!) the new release from John Grisham, I didn’t read any fiction. I have oodles of novels downloaded onto my Kindle and I really want to get to them. There are simply too many things I enjoy doing and certainly recording a full week of activities and then another week of deciding how to put it all together in a book has been time-consuming. I know there’s always time for what’s most important - life happens in cycles, and I’ll get to all of those activities I most enjoy!
What’s one arrow you’re following into July?
I have rediscovered my joy found in capturing the simple complexity of life in photos. For no particular reason, I’d gotten away from taking photos purely for fun over the last year or so. My Week in the Life™ project reminded me how much I enjoy capturing ordinary extraordinary everyday photos. Most of the images for the project were taken by my iPhone but I really enjoyed dusting off the big dSLR and plan to bring it with me when I’m out and about through the rest of summer.
What about you?
As you may or may not know, I only just started following these intentional refection prompts in April and didn’t realize they change up. Because I didn’t get a newsletter in May (nowhere to be found in any inbox!) I assumed they stayed the same. WRONG! So HERE are the actual (newly received) prompts for July:
Name a moment of closure in June.
I let go of the idea that I constantly have to be doing something in order to be worthy. I’ve spent my life living with lists and calendar blocks, producing, producing, producing. There has always been a goal, a focused direction. A couple of weeks ago, I was talking with a friend and realized that at some point over the last couple of months, without really noticing, I’ve found a groove and have created a life that is easy, I’m in flow every day. I have no place to be and nothing to do - and it’s wonderful to simply enjoy the view.
What’s one decision you’re proud of from the last 30 days?
I decided to go back to therapy with the specific intention for it to help me deal with the trauma that keeps too much weight firmly in position. It hasn’t changed (except for a brief 27-pound loss when Bill was with me) in the last 10+ years regardless of what food I eat, exercises I do, supplements I take, rest I receive, doctors I see, nothing seems to make it budge - except the too brief time I felt safe, secure and loved. As a result, I can only conclude that my weight is more in my head than my belly. All of those events I’ve worked through in prior therapy will have to come out, be unboxed, and then be fully accepted and integrated into my system. It’s going to take some time, but it’ll be worth it.
Have you experienced Divine Light in June? (She continues: “God’s presence, a felt sense of God’s love or with-ness?” Though I don’t share her belief or relationship with “God” I understand the question - and yes, I do follow a number of religious thinkers, it helps me keep a broad and more inclusive view of the world.)
I feel a deep and abiding connection with the Universe, it’s a warm and steady vibration within my body. I feel a deep contentment, unexpected happiness in my life for which I am grateful. That divine light is part of my daily flow. I talk to Bill every day, and though he doesn’t (necessarily) talk back, there are signs that nudge me. I have a knowing of things, an ability I’ve denied for years and have come to embrace as simply a part of what makes me, me.
I greatly enjoy using reflection, certainly of the intentional variety, to keep things on track in my life. Do you?