Tag: alignment

Summer of Alignment

After several weeks of travel and writing, I am back from a retreat in Arizona where we discussed and experienced what it means to be in alignment. May was a busy month–I spent time in Virginia with my family, and we added a trip to Deale, Maryland where a friend let us stay in her home on the water. Being there reminded me of my parents, who have both passed on, but it was a good memory, for they loved the water and had a home on Hilton Head for many years. As soon as I arrived, I felt my breathing slow down and let my body settle into the slow pace the location offered.

I have been very busy with working on a book and submitting essays for consideration in a few publications. I never know how it will work out, but my job is to do the writing, so that is what I focus on. As part of a writing community, I find that I spend much more time writing, but I am also learning so much from the other writers, regardless of their chosen genres. 

I get inspiration from other art forms, such as live music and theatre, and have enjoyed both in the past month. I saw a performance of August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson, part of his American Century Cycle of ten plays reflecting the lives of Black people in the 20th century. In Louisville, Kentucky, I went to hear Rhiannon Giddens and her band play, something I did last year in Durham at the Biscuits and Banjoes Festival.  Next up, jazz and opera–I sample different genres in music, as I do in my reading.

The book discussion I hosted, Beloved: A Communal Exploration of Toni Morrison’s Award-winning Novel, ended in May, but since Ohio will be celebrating Morrison and her work until February 2027, there are still monthly discussions of all of her books. You can learn more about the many offerings at Literary Cleveland; the talks are free, online, and there are always good facilitators and authors participating. I read Sula for the first time and see why it is the favorite Morrison book for many of her readers.

After the whirl of activity and work, it was ideal to slow down at The Aligned Life Retreat in Scottsdale. Although the schedule was replete with speakers and hands-on workshops, we could choose the sessions that spoke to us or take the time to relax. I did a little of both. Being among a group of focused women who are managing complicated, fulfilling careers while taking care of their personal needs was inspiring. In addition to the work of building businesses, there were activities such as yoga, somatic movement, and for me, a first – a sound bath. Mind, body, and spirit were all attended to, depending on how you structured the day.

If it sounds like a lot, it has been, but I have paced myself, at the retreat, and over the last several weeks. If I make sure that I add in margin, a bit of space between the activity, I am fine. I wrote about this a few weeks ago and will share that with you soon. 

I hope your summer is going well and that you have plans for rest, fun, and work. May your life be in alignment with your deepest goals and dreams. 

Ramona

Day of Reflection and Preparation

4 Comments

Last week, I devoted one day—I call it my Quiet Day—to a day of quiet reflection and preparation for the year ahead. This has been an annual practice and it is my way to start the year in a less rushed state of mind. I don’t bother with resolutions, at least not in the traditional sense of the word. Nearly 20 years ago, I went through the training to earn a certification in coaching, and even though I no longer coach clients, I still use many of the tools when I want to work towards change in my life.

I began with a look at my 2018 calendar, going week by week to see how I had used the days. I remembered little victories, trips I took, days where I stayed home and enjoyed working in my yard. I thought about the people I spent time with, the meetings and events I attended, and then I wrote down on one sheet of paper the highlights of the past year. It is easy to quickly forget what we have done, felt, or experienced. I saw many happy, positive moments, and the exercise also helped me see where I had spent time doing things that I did not feel were in alignment with my goals, values or needs. Nothing to feel bad about, just something to observe.

Once I had looked over the past year, it was time to dream ahead. I identified a few areas where I want to focus, of course, one is my writing, and then I thought about the steps I would have to take to move forward. I felt a strong desire to try a new thing this year, perhaps something that is a stretch for me. I have not yet pinned down exactly what it will be; I have a few ideas, but I am certain the answer will come to me soon.

This morning, a question popped up as I mulled over an invitation. My inclination is to sometimes say yes, forgetting that no is also an option, often because it’s nice to be included, I am truly interested or curious, I like the people, the place, or the issue, or a sense of if I can, I should. But today I asked myself, “What is most in alignment with my goal or need for this moment, for this day?”Only then did I realize that although participating might be a good thing, it was not the best thing, for me, at this time. I’ve always said that as you get clear on your Yes, the No or Not Right Now becomes more apparent.

Because I can look back with gratitude and understanding that I am still learning, I can move forward with my dreams and goals for 2019, eager and excited to see how it all unfolds. Taking a quiet day is transformative for me, but it does not have to be done at the first of the year. Any time is a good time to look at your life and see if you are headed in the right direction.