These are two things that have been missing from my life lately. These are two things I believe we all need to have. Yet they also require cultivation. They do not just happen. Just as my garden does not grow without me planting, watering, weeding and later picking, so peace and joy do not just appear.
I believe it starts first with a choice. I have allowed a lot of things to crowd my life that take peace and joy away. I have allowed myself to react with resignation instead of determination. I may have shared some of this before. But today I had a conversation with a dear friend and finally shared some things with her that I have not felt ready to share with anyone before. It was very freeing.
It got me to thinking about life. As adults we often isolate ourselves. I live on my own. I enjoy that. I would never complain about it. Sometimes I think it would be nice to have someone along with me on this journey but that feeling often passes quickly. For now, I am just me. And yet I am not meant to be 'just me'. We are made to live in community. We are made to live with help and care from others. Not asking for help is not necessarily a sign of strength.
So I have been learning to ask for help. I am incredibly blessed to have some amazing people in my life who are filled with grace and love. Sometimes that is easy to do and sometimes not so much. Yet each time I ask for help, I realise how blessed I am to have some rather amazing people in my life.
Now, I choose joy. Now, I choose peace. I will accept what I have as enough. I will celebrate with others who have great things happening because they matter to me more than circumstance. I will mourn with those who mourn as I too have known great loss and sadness. I will rejoice with those who rejoice. I will laugh with those who laugh and cry with those who cry.
I am blessed. I have enough. I will cultivate peace. I will cultivate joy.
I believe it starts first with a choice. I have allowed a lot of things to crowd my life that take peace and joy away. I have allowed myself to react with resignation instead of determination. I may have shared some of this before. But today I had a conversation with a dear friend and finally shared some things with her that I have not felt ready to share with anyone before. It was very freeing.
It got me to thinking about life. As adults we often isolate ourselves. I live on my own. I enjoy that. I would never complain about it. Sometimes I think it would be nice to have someone along with me on this journey but that feeling often passes quickly. For now, I am just me. And yet I am not meant to be 'just me'. We are made to live in community. We are made to live with help and care from others. Not asking for help is not necessarily a sign of strength.
So I have been learning to ask for help. I am incredibly blessed to have some amazing people in my life who are filled with grace and love. Sometimes that is easy to do and sometimes not so much. Yet each time I ask for help, I realise how blessed I am to have some rather amazing people in my life.
Now, I choose joy. Now, I choose peace. I will accept what I have as enough. I will celebrate with others who have great things happening because they matter to me more than circumstance. I will mourn with those who mourn as I too have known great loss and sadness. I will rejoice with those who rejoice. I will laugh with those who laugh and cry with those who cry.
I am blessed. I have enough. I will cultivate peace. I will cultivate joy.
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