You live, and you learn, they say! An adage most used when one has had a particularly nasty experience they would rather not relive ever again. Thanks, but no thanks. But what about the flip side of that? The lessons we learn, embrace and grow from? The things we realise are worth incorporating into our lives for the richness they bring? No, I don't suppose these all have to be "pleasant" - a life full of just frills and cotton candy would be most dull I think!
In my last blog post, I mused on how I had tallied 25 lessons I had learnt from the past year. I'd love to share these with you, not because I think they are particularly special, or even unique to me. In fact, I hope not. I hope they are shared experiences that we can mull over and grow from together. If only to realise that we always have within us everything we need - to survive, thrive, and be happy.
It has been a little hard whittling down what I think is the uppermost important lesson, but here are my top 3.
"What is meant for you will be peaceful, and not cause so much angst and desperation."
The mountain is you. You are the reason you are exactly where you are today.
It is all within your power. To change it, or to live with indecision and consequently indirectly accept it. Not choosing is choosing; not deciding is deciding. The mountain is you.
Hold all things loosely.
Petition the universe (or God if you have a faith), then let things be. Let go. Loosen that grip or control you think you have. Force nothing. What is meant for you will be peaceful, and not cause so much angst and desperation.
My life story, my pain, is not relational currency.
No, you don't have to know someone to relate to them. I don't have to tell someone my life story, or share intimate details about my personal life, for me to be relatable. No one is owed an inch of me in order to consider me warm, friendly, and you guessed it, relatable. Share if you must, if you want to, but let's fight back against the narrative that we need to have prying noses all over our lives in order to not be called "cold" and "difficult". Two actual descriptives that were used against me in a professional performance appraisal in the past year. Which is illegal, if you were wondering. So no, my life is not relational currency; neither is yours.
"May the road rise up to meet you."
Join me every alternate Thursday from today onwards, and together we can unpack the lessons. I will delve into these top three lessons, and the twenty-one others, over the next year. I can't wait for the opportunity to reflect and grow, and let every lesson learnt be an opportunity for immense growth and blessing.
Allow me to leave you with this Irish prayer: "May the road rise up to meet you. May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine upon your face; the rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand."
Tell me, what were your top lessons from the past year? Let's share in the comments below.
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As always, with all my love
Kate
