“You couldn’t have strength without weakness, you couldn’t have light without dark, you couldn’t have love without loss” – Jodi Picoult
The shortening days are a time for reflection and pause. More often this winter, I feel the wish to cocoon, to wrap myself in comfort and care while feeling all the feelings. When I really sit down with myself, I realize that there is so much to be grateful for in this past year. The natural beauty around me, the love and magic of my connections to my animals here at the farm, and the family relationships which offer meaning to my world. I also felt moments of heartbreak and realized that grief and loss are universally human truths that none of us escape. The contrasts in life show us that we are meant to be in flow, ever moving, ever cycling. Nothing stays the same for long and change is the only constant.
My latest life assignment is learning how to gracefully live with the contrasts in life.. How can I (or you) feel blessed or grateful when walking through fire, hearts are breaking or the world is crumbling down? And why should we even try?
Well, I try because I want to truly live in each moment offered to me. This is what being mindfully present to your life is about. And this is how we find JOY in all we do! As in Jodi’s quote above, we cannot have light without dark and we cannot have love without loss. There is no way for us to have one without the other. That means embracing the grand scope of each moment we live through and finding a way to know both the joy and sorrow coexisting right now. And somehow being at peace with that.
Noticing our present moments with kindness and curiosity is the first step. We can be patient as we struggle with feeling overwhelmed or panicked. We can continue to notice each inhale and exhale, being fully present to joy and sorrow. We can tune into the simple miracles of everyday life.
A mindfulness practice helps us to learn how to gracefully live with contrast. This doesn’t mean we do this all the time, or that we should even aspire to that unrealistic ideal. We are human and sometimes mindful presence can feel light years away from our reality while other times it seems attainable for just a few instants more of our day. As it is for me, you too get to make a choice with each present moment. I choose to take all the sorrow if it means feeling the joy and walking through the fires to feel bliss or contentment for even a short time. Mindful practice helps me immensely with this. I hope it does for you as well.
Xoxo,
Shreyasi
Founder and Lead Mental Therapist, Mindful Mare Wellness
