Communities Found!

It's been almost a year since my last entry.  And yet, it feels like just yesterday or perhaps even a month ago, that Christmas was here.  My Mom was upset that decorating took so long; a cat knocked over the 14ft tree for the first time ever in our long history of super tall trees, and my year off of healing and self reflection came to end as I started my 'new' job.

46 weeks, over 17,000 miles, and an abundance of new experiences later, I have once again carved out a new life for myself.  I am still living at home with my parents and feel just a smidgen of shame over this.  Yet it feels comfortable and safe, and I enjoy not living by myself.  I have my room, my books, and my phone.  I have pets and the love of family and friends.  The years spent yearning for home (i.e. MAINE) are at an end.  That deep seated need is being met.  

AND!  Most exciting in all of this - My 2013 theme and desire for community has yielded AMAZING results!  As well as my search for a spiritual practice and a form of 'work'/ life purpose that comes naturally to me. 

My communities are varied and spread throughout the state of Maine.  I have found a type of home in my Unitarian Universalist church and the subsequent small groups therein.  A Discussion/book club and a Women's Spirituality group both meet monthly.  As well as weekly services and a variety of church events like the craft fair and theater productions.  New and varied friends have been discovered and such a wealth of information and insight come from the many Sages within our church community.  It's a mind opening experience each and every time I get together with any of my church peoples.

Curves is my new gym and thus new workout buddies have been found.  My Monday/Wednesday/Friday group is typically there from 6-7pm and I enjoy my time and discussion with them.  I also found out that my favorite coach teaches country line dancing one night a week!  Hallelujah!  I can dance again - it's been loads of fun!  The dance group also had ties back to my grade school line dancing crew - so yet another home coming of sorts was found  :)

And then - my Holistic Fairs!  Where once I sought them out to obtain guidance and supplies for myself, I now have the opportunity to pass along the messages of self love, and trusting ones own intuition to others!  My life long gift of empathy - the ability to tap into others to read their emotions and their situations (along with an abundance of other insight) has yielded such joy and love in my life - and a means of additional income which is a fabulous bonus.  The community is large, yet a number of folks (vendors) attend most if not all of the fairs.  Some of them have adopted me and taken me into their group.  It feels so much like 'coming home' when I walk into a fair either as a vendor or attendee.  A smile stretches across my face and my heart feels light and full.  It's a wonderful thing and I am very grateful to be a part of it all.  I'm not sure how long I'll do fairs - if it's just a stepping stone to my own healing practice later or if its something I will do for fun for years to come.  But right now, it fills me in a way that I cannot explain, except it's good, and makes me happy! 

I was also able to receive my Reiki I attunement in the spring and look forward to my Reiki II attunement soon :)  This has, and will continue to, assist in my readings, and will allow me to help people near and far.  Reiki is an amazing healing modality that has opened my own awareness so much.  I look forward to many more wonderful experiences through it. 

And I cannot forget my family and friends who made, and continue to make, ALL of this possible.  My family - including all of those I 'adopted' along the way.  The Waterville crew, thanks to my best friend Amanda, and the friends I left behind in MA & NH.  All of you supported me and continue to support me, along the way.  I would not be here, as successful as I am now, without you!  THANK YOU! 

And to my new friends - you are opening my eyes & heart in ways I would have never imagined.  You continue to Present new ideas and perspectives that make me smile and enrich my life.  Many thanks and much love to:  Autumn, Tysa, T.J., and Laurie (because it's a whole new connection!)

Quotes for the past year:

"Celebrate the people in your life who are there because they love you for no other reason than because you are YOU.” ~Mandy Hale 

"Whatever we think about and THANK about, we bring about!" ~John DeMartini

"As I began to love myself
I freed myself of anything 
that is no good for my health 
- food, people, things, situations, and everything 
that drew me down and away from myself.  
At First I called this attitude a healthy egoism.  
Today I know it as 
LOVE OF ONESELF"
~ Charlie Chaplin

"Trust your Struggle...Know that every obstacle before you has it's own purpose, no matter how painful or pointless it may seem.Trust in your journey that has been set out for you..keep the light within you lit, ..and you will always have the flame to overcome anything." ~Babz

Listen to their story

Conversations.  Interviewing.  Networking.  Personal Commercial/Sales Pitch.  Stories.

Breathe.  Ground Yourself.  Enjoy the beauty around you.  LISTEN.

Repeat.

This past month plus at home in Maine has been any version of the above.  With joy in my heart I have found networking groups, gone out on 1-on-1's with folks, had amazingly insightful conversations, and have enjoyed the connection found when conversing with others.  What incredible stories we each have filled with unique experiences and perspectives.

Boston Native with a passion for health.  Manager turned Reiki master.  Postman turned Financial advisor.  Insurance agent by day, Fire fighter in heart.  RN who believes Health care is really Sick Care and is pioneering her own change movement.  Entrepreneurs aplenty.  TV reporter visiting Maine 14 years ago, who never left.  Chance meetings, scheduled meetings, stories all around.

I am repeatedly reminded of some recently read articles and even fictional stories that describe typical conversational habits.  The parts where we stop listening and instead are eager to jump in with our next thought or immediately find a reference point and follow up with an "I or my" statement about the other person's experience, instead of simply commenting on the point or asking a question to further the other person's story.  How it's very typical to have a desire to tell our story, to express ourselves in conversation.

It's a testament to my time off and cultivating self awareness that I have been able recognize myself slipping into this trap of "I & my" and not reciprocating the questions as well.  Of thinking more of my response than really listening to the other person.  At those times I would stop my mind, (try not to overly criticize myself), and re-devote my attention to the other person.  And in those moments, I felt a softening, a gratitude, to be able to connect with another person.  I admit, it's still a habit I'm trying to overcome, and I'm thankful for the self-awareness. 

It's natural for us as humans to find similarities with others, just as much as we also immediately recognize differences, the mine vs. yours.  It's such a joy when a shared point of reference can be expressed.  Another thing that joins you to me.  I'm finding more and more that when I can relax and listen, that softening becomes more natural and I am able to enjoy the story being told.  Our communities are made of such diverse individuals with extraordinary skills, perspectives, journeys, and advice.

It's with a prayer of thanks, and a grateful heart that I reflect on all the serendipitous meetings I have encountered in just 4 weeks home and the opportunities to experience the generosity of others; their time, wisdom, and sneak peeks into the passionate works they provide for others.

These encounters help shape the world I am creating for myself and others, and I look forward to paying it forward every day possible!