Many of you know of my change 13 months ago, when I left a relationship and moved to Victoria. I felt hopeless and helpless, ashamed that I let myself get into that situation. Yet I kept moving forward, taking baby steps, doing what I knew would help- exercising, connecting with others, with Nature, with Spirit, practicing gratitude, visioning a better future. Even with joining a choir, a couple of hiking groups and a women’s group and seeing a counsellor/coach, I still felt lonely and disconnected at times. I got tired of trying to create new friendships and become a part of this community.
According to Vancouver Island Health Authority, “Spiritual Well-being is defined as the ability to experience and integrate meaning and purpose in life through a person’s connectedness with self, others, art, music, literature, nature, or a power greater than oneself”. What was missing for me? I was enjoying nature regularly, singing, connecting with others, reconnecting with my authentic self, healing old wounds, and yet, often I felt lost, alone, and the future looked bleak. I was doing all the exercises I knew to get back on top of the world.
This summer I went camping with my kids and grandkids, and still felt a bit disconnected. Then when I got home it was as if the light came back on- I felt hopeful, happy, back to my old self. Was it knowing that I was loved, feeling that love even though I wasn’t at my best, or was it having a break from the routine? Maybe it was the old adage, time heals- and that was the time it took to heal, to recover and reconnect with my true self. I do know now I feel like I belong, life has meaning and purpose again, that I am exactly where I need to be on my spiritual path, and that I am here to help others do the same. Life is good, and I am so blessed!!!
I was thinking how our society has given us the impression it is not okay to feel sad or lonely; yet the truth is, some things in life are sad and lonely; a breakup is sad, it is lonely. After being intimately connected to someone it is difficult when that tie is severed. We all are connected on so many levels, and long for it- it is the human experience. Yet when we are feeling disconnected, it can be hard to believe we will feel connected, happy and whole again. When we allow ourselves to feel what we are feeling, and continue moving forward in our lives, doing what we know is good for us- whether that is exercising our body, mind and spirit, going for a walk, or resting- eventually we will come out of the fog and back into the light again. It is hard to believe there is sunshine after the storm, but there always is. It is having faith (even when it is hard to believe) and holding on until it does!
When I look back on this past year, I was amazed at how far we can come in a short period simply by taking (almost) daily steps. We don’t have to leap tall buildings in a single bound, but in a year of small steps we can accomplish a lot! I encourage you to take some time and reflect on all you have accomplished this past year, and where you’d like to be a year from now. Then set yourself a daily action step or two to get there. Celebrate what has occurred, and what is yet to come! Here’s to moving on!!! Forward ho!