Wholeness

It’s been a minute – since I’ve sent a newsletter. Turns out you can’t rush self-expression. I’m here now. 

Last month, I had the long-awaited opportunity to get back to France – a place that is so near and dear to my heart (link to earlier post). Lots of anticipation – first international voyage since covid – friends, nostalgia, new adventures, family time. All of it.

After a few years of not seeing old friends, the life stories accumulate. The challenges of life that pull on our bodies, hearts, minds had gathered and pooled. All that to say that everyone with whom we reconnected had a tale to tell. Some fear. Some loss. Some strain. And yet the joys and the exuberance were also palpable – and contagious. The feeling of life’s complex wholeness was always present. And by wholeness I mean the ups, the downs and the sideways. All swirling around for everyone, always – not trying to change that, simply to know it.   

On the plane home, I was thinking about the common threads. What seems to allow people to hold all the ups AND the downs? Certainly there’s many reasons but what seemed consistent across our adventure was an open-hearted stance, some kind of movement or action, and a view towards the horizon – eyes up. Sure, sometimes the eyes were filled with tears – but other times overflowing with possibility. They were certainly up. I noticed that there was focused purpose in each day – as simple as caring for a garden on a routine schedule. And attention to broader meaning as well – as nuanced as recalibrating personal identity in retirement. 

There was so much buoyancy that you could easily sail by without knowing their concerns or pain. Important to note, however, that it also didn’t read as artificial positivity or false bravado. It was in conversation that the richer picture surfaced and gave a sense of wholeness. Well-rounded complexity. In our daily life we don’t always have the time (or connection) to hear others’ truer present story. A reminder to ‘not judge a book by its cover’, or ‘there’s always more than meets the eye’. Know that every person you meet has a whole story.

Ok, so now what?  

This idea of wholeness brings me calm and joy. And I try to remember that it lives in everyone – that there’s more to every story and to every face. That means that inspiration lives everywhere – so I go looking for it. And actively listen well, with space and patience. Trying to see others through the widest lens possible. 

Sometimes I’ll do a simple scan of my own current situation and see what is Up, Down, Sideways – allowing it all to be observed. From there, I can ask ‘what has my attention? What stands out?’, creating a point of focus. And then, as always, ‘what’s that asking of me? What’s my next move?’.   

And, if you are looking for someone to have an out loud conversation about that point of focus, and how to activate it – a reminder that this is what I love to do, so please reach out to learn more.

Until next time.