21 -12 – 21 12:37pm (AEST) 786
BEGINNING AGAIN. REFRESH.
Peaceful greetings, dearly beloved.
I have begun this way for 851 days. Dearly beloved. These words were actually inspired by Roula Said when I attended one of her workshops in Toronto. Yes, I speak gently to myself as I would to any dearly beloved.
Just as I type this, my web browser crashes and forces me to align with this message – refresh.
Gentle speech. Gentle reminders. I begin again. Another cycle of life experience bringing me to 33 years of cycling, recycling, recalibrating, and reimagining. What a washing machine of irregular rhythm it has been. And within the cycle, there are many beautiful patterns to learn from.
What am I beginning again? For starters, reminding myself, daily, of the everything’s worth giving thanks to and for. The breath within that carries me from moment to moment. The faith and surrender to the Creator, who, I trust, guides me in my choice. I am always held. I am always home. And the community of family, relatives, and extended family and relatives who have helped raise me directly and indirectly. I am never alone.
I woke up on my first birthday (I live in two worlds…hemispheres... happily) thinking of what I wanted to write to express my gratitude to everything. I found the words immediately.
“There are two ways to live a pleasant life, either in someone’s heart or in someone’s prayers.” – Imam Ali (A.S)
“It’s good to leave each day behind, like flowering water, free of sadness. Yesterday is gone and its tale told. Today new seeds are growing.” – Jalāl al-Dīn al-Rūmī
“When all your desires are distilled, you will cast just two votes: To love more, and be happy.” – Jalāl al-Dīn al-Rūmī
As I write in my journal on my second birthday;
“Today, I am grateful for a new day. I offer words of gratitude in return. Expressing the new year I’ve entered. Grateful for being kept in hearts, prayers, and thoughts. This inspires me.
Today, I let go of yesterday. My past. All that has brought me to this existence right now. I do not forget, but I move onto the 33rdstepping stone knowing I’ve arrived because of all the stones leading up to now.
Today, I focus on transmuting all I possibly can to love and to affect my happiness. All else, after that, is possible.”
1:08pm