Dramatic, Beautiful, Awe Inspiring Big Sur

Check out this video on one of the most beautiful places on the Monterey Peninsula by Andrew Julian.

Link to Video    or cut and paste in your browser: http://vimeo.com/58045466

~Yes to Self-Surender

“I don’t know Who — or what — put the question,
I don’t know when it was put.
I don’t even remember answering.
But at some moment I did answer
Yes
to Someone — or Something —
and from that hour
I was certain that existence is meaningful
and that, therefore, my life in self-surrender, had a goal.”
~Dag Hammarskjöld

~Endings and Beginnings

This morning the dream before I awakened continued to linger in my consciousness as I sat and gazed out the window drinking a cup of coffee. I was appreciating a symphony of birdsong, the amazing blue skies—a rarity here in the Pacific Northwest, the fluff of cottonwood seeds wafting on the gentle breeze and enjoying the stillness and quiet only morning can bring.

My plan was to begin work on a homework assignment. However, the dream remained with me, gently nudging me to sit with it. After distilling its essence, the image that came to mind was a butterfly newly emerged from its cocoon allowing its wings to dry prior to taking flight. The butterfly’s instincts, the innate knowing encoded in its DNA indicates how long it will need to rest after emergence from the chrysalis, how many beats of its wings would enable it to take flight, and finally when the metamorphosis and re-birth was complete, to leave the branch that was its temporary home and explore its new surroundings.

I am reminded that I am this butterfly. My chrysalis for the past eight years has been the world of academia. Like the butterfly in my mind’s eye, I have emerged from the chrysalis—am nearing the completion of a master’s degree and will be leaving the university that has facilitated a large part of my transformation.  Soon like the butterfly, I too will pump my wings—I will begin to put in practice what I have learned. As I was musing on this image and how my life once again will be facing new beginnings, I pulled a book by one of my favorite author’s off the shelf, opened it, and read:

“Tus maith leath na hoibre.”

Translation: “A good beginning is half the work.”

Perhaps the art of harvesting the secret riches of our lives

is best achieved when we place

profound trust

in the act of beginning.

Risk might be our greatest ally.

To live a truly creative life,

we always need to cast a critical look

at where we presently are,

attempting always to discern

where we have become stagnant

and

where new beginning might be ripening.

There can be no new growth

if we do not remain open

to what is new and different. 

This year I see many profound changes on the horizon. I eagerly anticipate crossing the threshold of endings and entering another doorway of new possibilities and beginnings.  John O’Donohue’s poetic words remind me that as I have journeyed I have experienced many storms, the road has twisted and turned, has lead me around blind corners, has been enshrouded in dense fog and blinding sun. Yet I continued to trust and persevere.

Now, towards the end of the journey I am reminded to watch for the ripening of additional new beginnings, and to remain open to them.

Like the butterfly in my mind’s eye, I too will know when the metamorphosis is complete. I will know when it is time to take flight and explore a world which for the most part has remained the same; it is I who have changed.

© L. Gavlick 5/2012

…

Excerpt from the book: To Bless The Space Between Us. © John O’Donohue All rights reserved. For more information go to: http://www.johnodonohue.com  

 

~Yosemite

Yosemite Time Lapse video

Click on the Yosemite link above to watch a stunning time lapse video

filmed by Shawn Reeder, set to beautiful music by Shaun Paul

~Uniquely Individual

There is not one big cosmic meaning for all,

there is only the meaning

we each give to our life,

an individual meaning,

an individual plot,

like an individual novel,

a book for each person.

~ Anais Nin

~Reframing a Label

Turn It Around

We live in a culture that uses labels

as a means of understanding the world

and the people living in it.

As a result, many of us find ourselves

laboring under a label

that has a negative connotation.

…

Unless we can find a way

to see the good in such a label,

we may feel burdened

by an idea of ourselves

that is not accurate.

…

It is important to remember

that almost nothing in this world

is all good or all bad,

and most everything

is a complex mixture of gifts and challenges.

…

In addition, different cultures

revere certain qualities over others,

but this does not mean

that these qualities are inherently good or bad.

…

For example, a culture that elevates outgoing behavior

will label an introvert in a negative way,

calling them antisocial.

…

In truth, the ability to spend time alone

is one that most great artists, mystics, and visionaries share.

…

Owning the positive side of this label

can lead us deeper

into our gifted visions and fertile imaginations.

…

When we look into the lives

of any of the great people in history,

we always find that they had quirks and eccentricities

that earned them less than ideal labels

from the societies in which they lived.

…

Many famous artists and musicians

were considered to be isolated loners

or disruptive troublemakers,

or sometimes both,

yet these people altered history

and contributed to the world

an original vision or advances

in our understanding of the universe.

…

If we can remember this as we examine our own selves

and the labels people use to describe us,

we find that there is a bright side to any characterization.

…

If you have been labeled,

remember

that all you have to do to see the positive side

is to turn the label around.

…

For example, you may be considered to be overly emotional,

and the fact that you are perceived this way

may make you feel out of control.

But notice, too,

the gifts of being able to feel and express your emotions,

even in a world that doesn’t always encourage that.

…

You might begin to see yourself

as brave and open-hearted enough

to stay alive to your feelings.

…

You may also see

that there are certain paths and professions

in which this is a necessary ability.

…

As you turn your label around,

the light of your true nature shines

to guide you on your way.

…

http://www.dailyom.com

~Authentic Reflection

Those who love you are not fooled by mistakes you have made

or dark images you hold about yourself.

They remember your beauty when you feel ugly…

your wholeness when you are broken…

your innocence when you feel guilty…

and your purpose when you are confused.

~African saying