[Photo taken on the South Island of New Zealand, March 2009]
In every journey there will be days like I had yesterday, when I spent a lazy afternoon lying on the grass with four dear friends, two giggly babes, cupcakes, sunshine and gentle breezes.
In every journey ideas will be born, goals will be set, and dreams will be made real, and all of these manifestations will light the way for others to forge their own creative path.
In every journey there will be failures - experiences that might initially give birth to feelings of shame, but hopefully, in the end, will reveal themselves as lessons that needed to be learned rather than endeavors that should never have been pursued.
In every journey there will be moments when a dear friend will say, "Today I buried my father." In those moments we cannot reverse the ticking of the clock, cannot change the passage that is inevitable for each and every one of us, but we can pick up the phone, call our friend, and listen to whatever stories our friend needs to share.
In every journey there will be days on the road of pursuing a dream such as I had last week, when the demons come marching in, with their chorus of "You're not good enough," and "Who do you think you are?". In those moments, a choice must be made: Either give in and give up or keep on working.
In every journey there will be nights of insomnia, mornings with headaches, afternoons of grogginess, weekends of laziness and months that feel like a freight train of fun and productivity.
In every journey balance will be elusive and perfect calm rare.
In every journey there will be love, there will be tears, there will be hunger and there will be questions.
In every journey there will be an ongoing struggle between the ego and the soul. No matter how uncomfortable or unsettling it might sometimes feel, any time the choice is made to release the ego we are one step closer to our very best selves.
This is my first time commenting, but this REALLY spoke to me!! This was beautiful! I love these deep rich insightful blog posts!!! xx
Posted by: Holly-uk | August 29, 2009 at 05:58 AM
That was great! Thank you!
Posted by: Dana Barbieri | August 28, 2009 at 06:57 PM
love the post and photo!!!!
Posted by: trish | August 27, 2009 at 08:13 PM
Incredibly awesome post! Thank you! That's what beach...in Oregon? Where the love bomb were??
Posted by: Leisa A. Hammett | August 27, 2009 at 03:33 PM
In every journey we will meet a fellow warrior and welcome them and rejoice in the tribe we all have...thanks Swirly..this was awesome...I needed that!
Posted by: Justin | August 27, 2009 at 08:45 AM
loved this - thank you!
Posted by: stef | August 26, 2009 at 09:59 PM
and in every journey you will stumble across amazing, beautiful strangers that completely inspire you and seem to know exactly what to touch on to give your inner being a little nudge. THANK YOU
http://www.heartwingsisters.blogspot.com
Posted by: k | August 26, 2009 at 12:09 PM
So much truth in those words. Well written and just what I needed today. Thank you.
Posted by: Carmen Torbus | August 26, 2009 at 09:46 AM
I love the way you write. x
Posted by: mbutterfudge | August 25, 2009 at 10:46 AM
. . . forever and ever, Amen. Thank you for your words. I love it when I resonate with a kindred spirit!
Posted by: Suz | August 25, 2009 at 08:40 AM
christine, THIS was truly beautiful in so many ways! so lovely...
Posted by: sperlygirl | August 24, 2009 at 11:41 PM
swirlacious...so breathtakingly beautiful and true and needed. right. now. xox linda
Posted by: Linda | August 24, 2009 at 06:40 PM
oh my-- you had me at that photo and THEN such wonderful reflections-- I especially savored the part about failures-- that was so beautifully put and so needed--- we are learning learning learning-- and I loved how you wrote that-- and? you're pretty.
Posted by: elizabeth | August 24, 2009 at 06:09 PM
well, lookee that. we're on the same journey, or at least a journey in the same vicinity. hello there, fellow traveler.
Posted by: rowena | August 24, 2009 at 01:16 PM
Oh, how true!! Lovey and reasuring message, Christine. See you in a few weeks.
Love, Hugs and Smiles,
Jill from N.H.
[email protected]
Posted by: Jill Nalette | August 24, 2009 at 12:45 PM
did you write this? DAMN.
Posted by: mati McDonough | August 24, 2009 at 12:35 PM
beautifully written... and exactly the words i needed read today.
thank you.
Posted by: jenn | August 24, 2009 at 11:34 AM
Having just made a step in my own journey that has left me feeling free, but also in tears, I, too, was led here today. No one can tell me the Universe doesn't point us in the direction we need to go. Today I am unsettled, uncomfortable, my belly a little upset. Tomorrow - who knows? I suspect remorse, sadness, but still that knowing that I have done the right thing. From there strength builds.
Thank you so much - so much! - for this post.
Posted by: debi | August 24, 2009 at 11:28 AM
i knew i needed to come here today. in this moment where i am in the harder parts and choosing to "release the ego" as you say.
i know that i am closer with each perfectly imperfect day where i choose to be fully alive and present with what shows up.
thank you. deeply and truly. for telling it like it is.
much love, lisa
Posted by: doorways traveler | August 24, 2009 at 11:08 AM