Five Fridays a year I join forces with Aubrey of Limber Yoga, and we create a five-hour, sack-lunch-mini-yoga retreat meant to inspire and support a circle of women. Tomorrow we will gather and our theme is Let’s Begin, I have written the following notes about what I more or less want to say to them, and now I say them to you.
Dear Attendees, Dear Reader, Dear Holders of the Cup —
Please don’t think of this Invitation to Begin—a race—a contest—a challenge for you to conquer. The bulbs are rising, the seeds are readying themselves to sprout, notice the same within you. You may even need more time in the soil but that doesn’t mean you can’ ask the question about what must take root.
Ease in, listen to what is stirring and start with being curious to the poke, nudge, gentle rub at the center of you. Perhaps, only perhaps, you will be inspired today to dream again because for such a long time you have been so exhausted taking care of everyone and everything else that you completely forgot what dreaming was all about. Maybe you are still exhausted and the only thing you want to start is the discovery of rest.
Whether you are here to end the exhaustion, to start dreaming, you have already made the first step. You began when you said YES, when you registered for this retreat and you said yes, a second time when you walked through the door just now. Don’t worry about what to Begin, Where to Begin or How—only arrive where you are—trusting, open to possibility. Let’s Begin together, without comparison or judgment only love, love for yourself the person who is worthy of starting that which must. Don’t be attached to the window that unlocks or the door that is waiting open, make one step, choose with joy, then step again even if the first two steps are in your mind. Now step with your heart. Your body, all of you. Even before you think you are ready. Act like you are ready, act like it is time. Leap, stretch, and I bet where you land will be the exact next step that needs to be taken.
What is waiting? A job, a change, a relationship, a move, a connection, a choice, a decision. Whether it is a commitment to a daily pause, a weekly routine or simply a decision to trust, to live on purpose in the little moments, you are not alone, you are supported, you got this. Notice the signs, be patient with yourself, believe in possibility. Begin what you must.
The dragonfly pictured was just the beginning. Together with a dear friend we painted a mural on our backyard wall, I was tired of looking at grey cement. This was just after my rock ministry, aka my pandemic project. I painted over 165 rocks and left them a handful at a time on our front lawn. Two projects I never would have attempted, I don’t regard myself as an artist. I had so much fun getting paint all over my hands and creating rocks for strangers to take home and later for passersby to notice instead of grey cement.
We never know what is waiting for us, we only know we have to begin.
And for you dear retreat attendee, reader, holder of the Cup every mural, book, healed relationship, gift of love, exercise routine, garden, rock band and the list goes on, began with one small seed, what will you plant today? What will you create? What will you begin? Can’t wait to see what is waiting for you in the wings.
Cheers, Jenny
