Begin Again.

It is remarkable to witness myself changing, evolving, shedding layers of me that no longer fit or are needed in this time. I feel so much that I somehow never did before; am aware of so much that I couldn’t see or understand in previous iterations of myself.

Evolution is a natural outcome of self-inquiry. If the inquiry is honest, (which can be, admittedly, incredibly hard to maintain) the evolution brings about more balance, less polarization, and a sense of deepening peace with oneself and what is.

Facing ourselves is brutal sometimes; at other times inspiring and eye-opening. We first wade into the shallow pools of our conscious and the qualities we are familiar with. Over time, the waters get deeper and murkier. We lose our compass in moments or we cower in the face of storms. But we stay.

And if we lose our footing or find ourselves seemingly knocked backwards, we begin again.

Here I am.

Beginning again.

In some ways I am in the same place, but my mind is very different.

In some ways I am the same person, but the lens through which I see the world has changed and evolved in ways I never could have imagined five or ten years ago.

I am so grateful for the practice and work of “living a conscious life”, as my friend calls it:

• To own up to the hindrances I place on myself (no one else does that)

• To look inward rather than outward at the call of responsibility for the state and quality of my life

• To embrace the battle scars as openings for change, and

• To observe myself and others through a lens of open curiosity, rather than hardened cynicism.

What is this thing, life? Who are we and how do we all dance together in such a way that we support one another’s growth and expansion? How do we welcome the challenge of existing together as a grand opportunity to evolve?

I am not yet sure, but I am always eager to find out more.