I began this year with the very best intentions. I set out to be more mindful and to show up in the world energized, centered, and light. As January came to a close, though, I realized that good intentions were only going to get me so far, which turned out not to be very far at all.
I stumbled out of the 2021 starting gate and never fully regained my footing, as I limped through the next 31 days. I allowed outside circumstances to distract me and fell back into old patterns that were familiar, but not helpful. It certainly was not how I thought I would feel one month into the new year, and I was ready for a reboot.
Luckily, February 1st kicked off a new day, a new week, and a new month. A timely triple dose of fresh starts and new opportunities! I, again, went into this month with good intentions, but I also worried that February would be a sort of Groundhog Month, a repeat of January. It wasn’t. February may be the shortest month of the year, but I discovered that a lot can happen in a short period of time.
On that first day of February, I began my day as I always do. Before I left the comfort of my bed, I prayed, journaled, and set my intentions for the day. Then, my morning routine received a wake up call. Something told me to meditate.
This may not appear to be a monumental moment, but for this self-proclaimed meditation dropout, it was indeed. I have tried to establish a meditation practice countless times over the years, but I never could embrace it and would quit in frustration. So, why this thought would pop into my head is beyond me, and why I listened to it was even more surprising, but I did. And I am so glad that I did!
I downloaded Insight Timer, a meditation app, and immediately had over 80,000 free meditations at my disposal. Some of the practices were as short as one minute. Even I could meditate for one minute, so, I was off and running, or rather, sitting and breathing. I went into it with no expectations, and I came away with a meditation practice that has continued every day since then, usually for much longer than one minute and not just reserved for my morning routine. I may not be a zen master, but I definitely feel like I can master the day better after listening to a guided meditation.
As the month moved on, I found myself perusing social media on a cold Saturday evening, when a notice from my yoga studio caught my eye. It was an announcement regarding an upcoming Reiki training at the end of the month, and even though I had seen this notice numerous times before, this time was different. I have benefitted from Reiki as a recipient, but never have I been the Reiki practitioner or ever considered being trained as one. Until that moment.
I read the announcement over and over, and I kept coming back to it again and again. The more I reviewed the training details, the more I just knew I had to register for it. So, I did. I still wasn’t sure why I did it, other than it felt right, and I allowed that to be a good enough reason. No over thinking. No regrets. No judgment. Just a sense of joy and giddy excitement that continues to grow!
As February began to wind down, the trend of following my intuition continued. On a whim, I attended a meeting at work about mentoring. Like my meditation practice and Reiki training, I wasn’t sure why I decided to sign up for this particular meeting, other than it felt like I should be there. It turns out that I was right, but I didn’t know that until later.
I left the meeting with lots of great information about the mentoring process that I thought I could use some day. Some day came the following day! A colleague, whom I have had the pleasure of collaborating with recently, had attended the meeting, too, and she noticed that I was there. The next day, she asked if I would be her mentor.
I was so surprised and humbled that she chose me. It is easy to get lost in the shuffle of the corporate world, especially now in the virtual world. So, to be seen, especially to be seen as a mentor, truly touched me. It made me see myself in a different light and has given new purpose to the work I do. I am really looking forward to learning and growing alongside this wonderful person and am grateful for the chance to share what I know.
It’s hard to believe everything that has happened in the span of 28 days, and something tells me that this is only the beginning. The best intentions still need to be supported by deliberate actions, an open mind and heart, and the willingness to follow your tuition. It doesn’t always have to make sense for it to make a positive difference. Okay, March, I am ready for you!
That’s another story. . .
Categories: That's Another Story
That's Another Story 
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