A New 2010

It was a wonderful 2009. Going to Hawaii with Mika and my friends, sitting above the ocean and meditating, racing across the big island in our rented Grand Marquis, watching the sunset explode in colors across the sky. Getting watsu, being moved through warm water under the stars.

Going to Scotland and assisting the 28-day massage workshop with Perry and Johanna. Yoga and deep movement practice every morning, learning and growing, connecting with 30 amazing people, walking on the stony Scottish beach, feeling like we were at the end of the world.

Going to the USA for my mom’s 65th birthday, and racing around Las Vegas, absorbing the sights and sounds. Staying in the Bellagio. And then to see my amazing grandparents, 98 years old and still going strong. Still golfing! And my Dad in California, and breathing in that amazing ocean air while driving along the winding shore.

Later to Germany, taking another big step with the Esalen Teacher Training. I debated for so long whether to go, then finally decided to take the step. A far deeper experience than I imagined, with more learning, more growing, and more wonderful people, as the secrets of amazing teachers open to me slowly.

And then there were the thousand small moments, the people I met, the friends I connected with, the times we shared, the laughing and fun, the dreaming of the future, the facing of fears.

A wonderful year. Another year of LIFE.

* * *

Fears. Fears can be paralyzing. They can stop us from reaching out, from making the move to get what we really want in life.

Yet the times I have taken a breath and stepped into my fear have created some of the most wonderful experiences I have ever had. That electric feeling of taking the big step, and finding it was not so hard after all, and having new worlds open up that I could never have imagined. Even now, I am enjoying amazing moments because years ago I took a deep breath and stepped into the void of the unknown, in spite of the fear I felt.

Sometimes I think that life itself may just be a big, wonderful experiment or game, where we learn to face our fears so that we can learn and grow. Life is a chance to move in the direction we want to go, in spite of whatever holds us back. As we do this we get bigger, and we get that amazing experience. The feeling when we work hard, take a breath, and make our move.

The future is waiting. 2010 will be the best year ever. Shall we go?