Where Have I Been? Where Am I Going?

I've been busy this winter and spring, much busier than I usually am through the cold, long, dark, snowy, icy winter months. This was self-imposed. I know that if I don't make an effort to get out of the house, that it gets harder and harder to go out. I hate being cold and I hate the short hours of sunlight and I hate trying to drive on the ice ruts that develop in my city. I signed up for classes and made plans with friends. And then, a suprise from Mother Nature! We had the warmest winter in my memory, with very little snow. It was easy for me to get to my activities. I'm already asking for the same jet stream to be around for the remainder of all my winters. I had to give up some things to take on the new, with sleep being at the top of that list. We can not have something new without saying goodbye to something else.

Three things I've been doing:

- I took a Level A Improv class last October. I loved it so much I took Level A again in January and Level B in March. I didn't want Level B to end and hope the planned Level C for next fall goes ahead. If not, I may just take Levels A & B over and over and over. It was the best break of the week for me - two hours of laughter, of creativity (both mine and others), of learning, of being spontaneous, of learning to listen, of trusting myself and my absolute base gut instincts.

- I enrolled in a writing class - Writing a Guided Autobiography. I wanted something to force me to write in a more structured way, with some guidelines and timelines. It has given me that. I have no plans, at present, to write my autobiography, but the assignments have given me some thought and new perspectives for writing my family history stories. It has also triggered my memory about much of my life and given me food for thought about who I am, who I always thought I was, who I want to become, what is important to me, a mental timeline of my changes and growth.

- I've been attending meditation sessions every couple of weeks. It was interesting for me to realize I have been meditating for much of my life, but didn't know it. I had no name for the places I would go in my mind to relax, to visualize, to daydream, to connect with something greater than myself. These planned group sessions are opening doors to my self and my connection to whatever it is that is out there, whether is is called God, The Universe, The Power, The Great Spirit. It is part of my spiritual journey and one of my favorite soul-feeding exercises.

Being busy and sleep-deprived much of the time was worth it. This list of things I've received and learned these past months astounds me in some ways. In other ways, it seems like a natural progresssion and just part of me and my life. It's a bit of a paradox; by seeing the wonder of my life and my capabilites and my abilities that sight has become part of my every day life. I strive to keep myself in awe of what gifts I have received for granted. These gifts include the people around me; friends, family, colleagues, the instructors, the cashier at the grocery store. All have something to offer me. And I have something to offer them, to offer you. Stay tuned.