sono le piccolo cose che fanno una grande differenza!
after this sentence popped up in my italian lesson a couple of weeks ago, i couldn’t stop thinking about it. i had embarked on a RHYTHM REALIGNMENT six weeks earlier (to jump back into the flow of my word of the year), and it had been going very well (even despite a few setbacks). i was feeling more on track, feeling more like me . . . after admittedly reeling following a 10-week illness, the coronavirus lockdown in italy, and the resultant upset to our entire world.
when i finally made the decision to stop watching my life drift by and take control of it again, i knew i would have to go gently. take good care of myself and take small steps. otherwise, i would quickly ignore my lists, find excuses, burn out. so i did just that, adding things to my schedule a little at a time, until everything began to feel like a well-coordinated machine.
the biggest surprise? i’m getting lots done, with some wonderful self-care thrown in, yet it hasn’t felt overwhelming or difficult. because with each small step, i have been creating and gaining MOMENTUM. and now maintaining that momentum doesn’t feel out of my reach. it truly is the little things that make a big difference!
but (just in case) i chose to concentrate on my momentum extra-special-carefully last week. here are a few of my takeaways . . .
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we just need to begin. wherever there is motion, there is momentum, and we can easily begin the process. of course, there will be obstacles, things that get in the way of our wheels turning efficiently. simply be aware. notice and adjust. forgive and restart.
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two things to ask yourself today . . .
1) do you know where you want to go? instead of reacting to life, we must deliberately live life.
2) do you know what might interfere with your positive momentum, like procrastination or negative self-talk? identify the culprits, and safeguard against them.
piano piano . . . passo dopo passo, andiamo avanti. (slowly slowly . . . step by step, we go forward.)
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reality = exquisite beauty plus inevitable trash
sometimes we feel down, off, troubled, anxious, lonely, depressed, ill. we all know this, we’ve all experienced this. but you know what? i think some segments of our lives just cannot be upbeat and positive. it’s the nature of life, and we do what we can to roll with the ebb and flow pattern. when things are feeling wonderful and good, i take extra special care to seize that emotion and experience it fully (with all its ripple effects). and when things aren’t so great, i try to go gently on myself and not let things spiral beyond their borders. it’s a season. it’s not fun, it’s not pleasant. but time will move on, things will get done, and we will feel better again. happier days are always ahead, and smiles will return to light up our faces and entire beings.
think better. get better. do better. be better.
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last wednesday i took a day trip to bologna, a city in italy i’d never visited before even though it’s less than a two-hour drive from my home. i didn’t really know what to expect since i never research before i go (preferring to let it hit me however it might), but it still wasn’t what i expected. i judge a place by its “feel” and i felt an immediate connection to bologna’s vibe and atmosphere. in fact, by the end of the day (and after 5 miles of walking through this city of 390K), i realized how inspired and energetic i was feeling (something i can’t completely or adequately put into words). i can’t stop thinking about the the enormous impact it had on me.
the deliciousness of a truly fine aperitivo, the friendliness of the people, the vitality of the setting, the strength and sureness of my companion . . . each contributed to the sense of excitement, the burst of crisp energy, i could feel stirring through me. as i mentioned in last thursday’s blog post, i experienced a definite shift in perspective. the road trip, the city, the conversations throughout the day . . . all coalescing with the new place i find myself in amidst this changing world. my mind has been dancing with new thoughts and ideas ever since, with fresh directions to explore. (i envision a lot of writing ahead, to unravel and understand it all in more depth.)
what a welcome gift to receive after a long and despairing winter of grief. i found myself in a very dark place after my dad’s death, my frustrating health issues, the sale of my family’s 135yo homestead, and the strict lockdown in italy (when for two months we were not allowed to venture out farther than 200 meters from our homes). i hinted at my despair, but it was a much deeper valley than i revealed to anyone, with a few unexpected repercussions i’m still working through.
i still don’t know when i’ll see my sons again, i don’t know when i’ll be able to schedule my next retreat, i don’t know when/if this covid-19 drama will ever end . . . but i’m starting to feel like april again, and i’m very happy to have glimpses of her essence back ❤️
“the sun was shining and the sky was intensely blue. the few clouds overhead were like puffs of white cushions, drifting around up there almost as an afterthought . . . april had returned to being april. and i appreciated being alive.” (second time around, mary higgins clark)
