“I think I will do nothing for a long time but listen,
And accrue what I hear into myself...and let sound contribute toward me.”
The end of the year is a time for reflection and soul
searching. And, the possibility of creating a new you!
As I look back on the year I am touched with how blessed I
am. I have shelter, food, my health and people around who love me. I have purpose and passion. What more do I need? There is absolutely nothing that I need. But I might want the odd material things of
comfort, like awesome sheets, which I simply can’t have enough of. LOL
That said, what really matters to me is my relationships and
the feelings of connection I have developed with others. It could be a smile, a
kind word, or just an acknowledgement that I matter in some way. As humans, I believe this is what we all
desire: a validation that our existence means something to someone and has
purpose.
This past year, I’ve witnessed so much sadness and melancholy
in others. I have listened to people who
were in their bleakest hour. I trust
that I was able to provide them with the compassion and light they needed to
see that they indeed matter to someone. Really,
it is nothing special about me, because anyone can be a conduit to help others.
All I have tried to provide was a sliver of hope that their life has meaning.
Social media played a big part in what I was able to do
because reading some of the posts truly broke my heart and I reached out to
those who looked like they needed someone to hear them. Moreover, living in the
east helped because I am normally up when I read some overnight posts from western
Canada, where most of my family live.
The truth is that the real “hurts” often have to do with
feelings of being not accepted and misunderstood by our very own family. Whether
we admit it or not, what we “think” family “thinks” about us does impact on our
wellbeing.
To me it is all about my family. I have a very large family with plenty of
opportunity for drama. I have witnessed acts of kindness, compassion and generosity.
However, I’ve also witnessed how cruel
we can be to one another.
Sadly, there are members of my family who have not talked
with one another for long periods over some disagreement. Still others are more
serious, like disowning one another because of a rumour, which they in many
cases have never confirmed to be true. They simply stop acknowledging they are
family. People’s lives have been destroyed
and left in shattered pieces by simple rejection. I know that their pain is
real. I am not diminishing it and know
it can be complicated.
Fortunately, there is a way that family could let go of the “story”
they hold so tightly, even as it shackles them to their pain and keeps family estranged. First, they must be willing to admit: “I am
willing to be open.” And “I admit my belief is not serving me.”
There are always two sides to these “stories” and both can
be “true” to each side. In order to avoid perpetuating this pain they must be
willing to view it from the other person’s perspective. To do that they must let
go of being “right” and to really “hear” each other with compassion and empathy.
Tell me you don’t want to be a game-changer in 2018, when it
could mean restoring a relationship you desired with a family member you might have
disowned.
Tell me you don’t want to Stand for creating a remarkable
family relationship. Tell me you don’t want
to Stand for knowing that you can release your pain and suffering. Tell me you don’t want to Let IT go! Tell me that you don’t want to let go of your
BELIEF, which is not serving you.
I stand in the possibility that you can be a game changer. What are you waiting for? If you change your
attitude you can change your reality. I
dare you to Stand for a healthy and happy relationship with your Dad, mother,
sister, brother, nephew, nieces, and cousins.
Believe me, transformation does
happen every day. Stand in the possibility
that your relationship can be transformed and I will absolutely support you in
that.
Happy New Year!