Things as It is…Thoughts for a New Year

Greetings everyone and happy belated New Year. It’s been quite awhile since I’ve done any regular posting to be sure.  Life wanted my attention elsewhere and I have learned a long time ago to not argue with life.  I definitely question the things of life but arguing with Life itself, not so much!

Anyway, I’m back in action! Currently, I am traveling and enjoying sunny Arizona for the rest of the month, then it is off to South Florida to finish the winter and explore some new and exciting opportunities.  

It’s definitely been an amazing, unpredictable and fruitful year.  Many strange, humbling and edifying things have happened.

In the personal realm, a chronic health problem that I thought was in remission decided to stop by for a visit; a promising business partnership dissolved; severe physical injury occurred; a “sound” financial investment shockingly collapsed into the void; a young family member suddenly and tragically passed on; the seemingly happy and indestructible marriage of one of my favorite couples, without warning, ended in divorce. I could continue but the point I am making has nothing to do with a tallying of 2009’s “good” or “bad” experiences.

However just as quickly, if not simultaneously, wonderful things happened…

New opportunities arose in place of lost opportunities; helping hands were extended; eyes, ears and hearts were opened; smiles were exchanged; children were born; new friendships were grown while old friendships were rekindled; goals, victories and milestones were achieved; there was singing, dancing, geese; and (picture me with a warm relaxed feeling in my body and a rather large smile of my face) true love stopped by to say hello and decided to stay.

Added up, these are the things of life. Suzuki Roshi once called it, “Things as It is.” Some are beautiful and amazing. Some are dark and painful. Some are minor inconveniences and some are major pains in the ass. Some are wanted and some are not. All are, whether we understand or not, necessary!  

If I lost you on that one, “Things as It is”, is the understanding that life is one whole being that includes everything, and that the many things are found in one whole being.

We can cling and resist all we want (which is the root of most suffering) but the universe will continue “universe-ing” and life will continue “life-ing.” Everything is ephemeral…we can all agree on that.

I choose to see it as a beautiful and mysterious dance. I find peace and excitement in letting go and resting in the mystery of it all, in the not-knowing. You may choose to see it differently and that is definitely okay.

We are all intimately familiar with the obvious discomforts of not getting what we want or getting what we don’t want. However, there is also a more subtle discomfort that comes with getting what we do want and then experiencing its dissolution.

But if it helps, remember that when things seem painful, difficult, confusing or downright insane and absurd, “this too shall pass.”

It is also useful to remember to practice gratitude and humility when we do get what we want or when things are going well and we are happy because, “all good things must come to an end.”

I am sure this new year will bring much of the same: victories and defeats; ups and downs; birth and death; success and failure; love and love lost…

An important thing for us to remember in this new year is to avoid, as best we can, resisting and fighting the inevitable changes and flux that life brings (and the opportunities for growth they offer when we practice letting go and making room for the new) as well as not clinging too tightly to the people, situations or the things we love.

William Blake summed up this second point beautifully when he wrote:

He who binds himself to a Joy,
Does the winged life destroy;
He who kisses the Joy as it flies,
Lives in Eternities sunrise.

I think Mr. Blake’s words are a good note to end on.

So, let’s all lessen our defenses, loosen our grips, focus on what we want, love well and make it the best year ever!

Until next time…

Kind Regards,
A