I’ve been learning more about this concept, that happiness and sadness can co-exist. And the same seems to be true for joy and grief.
To say that this year has been a roller coaster ride would be an understatement. I don’t think there is a single person on the entire planet that has not experienced some form of loss over this past year, whether it’s their income from their job or business, a loved one, a pet, normalcy, celebrating a milestone with family and friends. None of us have been pardoned.
Let me tell you, trying to navigate a one-year old wedding business in the middle of a pandemic has its challenges and I have given myself as much permission as I need to grieve the losses. I’m still grieving them, because every time I’m feeling a wave of inspiration and I want to start planning something fun and exciting either for my business or in my personal life, I am hit with the hard reality that it’s just not possible right now.
But I wanted to take a minute to share my joys with you! It’s not anything huge, actually it’s quite the opposite. It’s very little things, but a wise mentor recently challenged me that in these difficult times what we can best do for ourselves is “be in the now”.
Be in the now.
Take a minute to let that sink into your heart. What does it say to you?
For me, it helped bring everything back into perspective. It hasn’t caused me to stop planning for the future (hello…planner for life over here), but it did help bring me back to my feet.
Have you ever gone through one of those meditation / grounding exercises where you close your eyes and the instructor tells you to clear your mind and only focus on your toes? It’s like that statement brought me back in touch with my toes and my feet. I’ve been so focused on my “head”, that I’ve forgotten that my feet are still on the ground.
So, to tell you plainly what I’ve been experiencing, I’m finding so much joy in the simple things that bring me back to the present. Like wrapping gifts for the ones I love and driving across the city to deliver them! Picking up custom gifts from local businesses. Taking my hilarious, sweet dog Roarie for a walk in this gorgeously mild December weather! And listening to only my favourite Christmas songs! Getting out of bed each morning clinging to the hope that brighter days are on the way. Technology. Drinking coffee or peppermint tea from my favourite mugs! I could go on because this week there have been a lot of simple, little things that have brought me joy. And today, I just wanted to take a minute to share it in hopes that maybe it will bring you a little bit of joy in a season that many of us expect to spend in a very different way than we will be this year.
“Someday soon we all will be together if the fates allow. Until then, we’ll have to muddle through somehow. So have yourself a merry little Christmas now.”
Judy Garland
Much Love,
Ashley-Dawn
