I had a side gig last night that ended fairly late. The job was located about 40 minutes north of Atlanta, so it was closer to the north Georgia mountains in an area where there is more wildlife. Except for the Christmas lights illuminating the houses, it was very dark and as I drove through the neighborhood slowly, I noticed a couple of large deer while heading to the highway to drive back home. Just a few miles from my house a spark of blue and orange light caught my eye and realizing that it was a meteoroid, I got excited! I’ve seen plenty of shooting stars through the night sky, but never one actually falling to the ground at such close range! It was a magical moment reminding me that we are floating through space on this big ball called Earth!
Though I enjoy the holidays and all of the festivities, I will admit that winter is not my favorite season. I love the warmth of summer. I grew up in South Florida, and I am a Leo, so the fiery warmth of the sun is where I thrive. But even though I am not fond of winter, I understand and honor the importance of all seasons and what they symbolize. The cold and dark of winter sends us inward, both mentally and physically. We retreat into our homes seeking warmth and comfort as we cozy up by the fire with blankets, wooly socks, and pajamas. We crave warming foods like pots of chili or stew and we share hot cocoa with friends and family. Due to the longer nights and shorter, colder days it also allows us more quiet time for reflection. We know a new year is approaching, so our minds turn to the possibilities of growth and potential. But in order for something new to grow, something old must die off.
On Friday, Rachel and I had our last ReConnect Retreat of the year. We focused on releasing the things that hold us back so that we can go into the New Year with a clearer vision of not only where we want to go, but how we can make those things come to fruition. Now is a perfect time to reflect on the past year and to ask yourself some questions in preparation for the New Year. What areas have you grown this past year? Where do you feel stuck, physically or mentally? What behaviors, mindsets or habits have held you back? What are you willing to let go of?
Using fire energy to purify, to get rid of old thoughts and behaviors, and also ignite the passion and desire within us helps to propel us forward into new thinking and new ways of being. Fire consumes, but not without giving light and warmth. Think about it- what spark lies dormant within you? How can you ignite that flame? What is it that you are dreaming of doing or experiencing? The dreams inside of us are the things that cause us to reach forward into our greater potential, to stretch and to grow. This innate desire to grow and evolve is something that we can and should foster. We all need to fan the flames of our passion! How can you kindle that fire?
Creativity and visioning is one way we can really dig into latent desires. I love creating a vision board this time of year. It’s very freeing to just let yourself explore places, pictures that you are drawn to without “reason.” We all have a creative side that needs to be nurtured. Much like the other self-care practices such as exercise and eating healthy, we have to “practice” being creative to get those creative juices flowing and keep them flowing.
Creating vision boards is something that the whole family can get in on. All you need are poster boards, magazines, scissors, and glue sticks. Find a space where you can lay out all of your supplies, and just start flipping through the magazines and clip out anything that catches your eye. Concentrate on images that evoke emotion in you. Try not to edit or put thought into it! This is a creative project that calls for imagination and the pursuit of your passions! Have fun with it! Once your vision board is done find a space to hang it where you will see it on a regular basis. Your board will serve as a visual reminder of what you are working on manifesting in your life.
If you plan to set goals for the new year it helps to write them down and revisit them at regular intervals to adjust them along the way. A health or life coach or an accountability partner can help you recognize when you have strayed away from your goal. And remember to be gentle with yourself. Getting stuck, or stumbling along the way are things that we all experience. It's important to take a light-hearted approach and to have self-compassion. Talk to yourself as kindly as you would a friend.
As we turn the page to a new year we hope you will become part of our community and join us each month for our online events, workshops, and retreats. We are excited to enter a new year of self-care education and practice for ourselves!
With Love & Gratitude,
Kinda and Rachel
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