WonderFull Living Newsletter

Appreciating Life…

What do you do when life passes by in the blink of an eye?…
What do you do when one chapter ends and another begins?…
You appreciate life and all the experiences it brings – and simply keep going!

Life is a series of cycles – a natural process of spinning and weaving – a beautiful, wondrous experience to be a part of. We can feel this flow in all it’s glory when we simply allow it to be – without interfering, expecting, manipulating or trying to control it. That’s not to say we stand idly on the side lines of life and watch it go by. No, when I allow myself to truly immerse myself in life then I can stand at the end of one era and at the beginning of the next, fulfilled, as there will be no regrets. Resisting and fighting against life and all it represents – the weird and the wonder of all that is unique – is pointless, judging others from a limited perspective is also pointless, it leads to regret and sorrow… Life is short – STOP struggling and START living!

At the confluence of one chapter ending and another beginning there is often turmoil and mixed emotions, yet I can’t help but be in awe of life’s cycles. When we look at a washing machine at work we know that it goes through cycles and has to ‘agitate’ the clothes to get them clean. Sadly human stubbornness blurs clarity of mind and often only comes after much agitation. However, if we understand the process of life then we can learn to take the good with the bad and over time turn the negative into the positive – with less agitations and more powerful experiences. Quietly accepting, appreciating and cooperating with life’s cycles is rather liberating – simply cycles, and cycles within cycles – minutes into hours, night into day, sadness into happiness, winter into spring, life into death…

When we allow ourselves to be present, we can see and appreciate life’s fullness with many cycles at play. Rather than get caught in an agitated struggle in the washing machine of life I can embrace, enjoy and breathe life into every waking moment. When I am present I can watch nature naturally unfold – like the old tree that instinctively releases new seeds before it takes its final breath without a struggle – accepting nature’s own timely clock. As the old tree is absorbed back into the earth it makes room for new, young saplings – trees in the making… The cycle quietly continues on – no struggle – just smooth, easy transitions from one stage to the next… to the next… to the next… In a gravitational world, what goes up must come down and when we are prepared we can actually enjoy the ride.

When I allow myself to believe in possibilities and allow myself to continuously transform, I get to taste life – the sweet and the sour – appreciating each event (each cycle) as a unique learning experience. This way I can keep loving, laughing and living…While I keep learning, growing and giving – regardless of what is happening around me. Appreciating life and accepting ALL of it’s gifts, opens a way for a smoother passage – enabling me to cope better with life and the constant change that it brings. When I believe that anything is possible I can awaken each day grateful for another chance to change… I can trust that the sun will always shine, the stars will always sparkle and the wind will always bring change – no matter how dark the clouds may be.

Question: Do I notice and appreciate the little things in life, allowing myself to flow with it? Or do I get agitated in life’s washing machine and miss important pieces along the way, and then blame others?

Consideration: Why do I allow myself to get so agitated and what stops me from appreciating myself, others and the world around me?

Action: Don’t take life for granted, LIVE each day, till you die. Each day be grateful for at least one thing and use that one thing to motivate and discipline yourself. Write them down (anywhere) as a reminder… On sticky notes on your doors and walls, with colourful whiteboard markers on your mirrors and windows, with ‘abc’ magnets on your fridge – literally anywhere you look. Freedom is a paradox – in order to be free from any bondage of the mind, discipline is absolutely essential… Reminding ourselves on a daily basis about all the good in life is a simple stepping stone until we can once again SEE and appreciate, without needing to be prompted.

This newsletter is dedicated to my mum – may you rest in peace…
And to my new niece – welcome to the world Alexa Louise, may you have a happy life 🙂

Love Annemarie