Tuesday, February 9, 2021
Meditation: In the Stillness: Liquid Mind – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHbeC8Xj8JU
Question: Choose a photo from your past. Write the thoughts and feelings that come to mind as you look at it.
Answer: I decided to use one of my baby pictures…I think I was six or eight months old when this picture was taken. A few
years ago, I decided to use this picture to write a letter to my younger self – and chose this because I was so, so happy in this picture. I was rarely this happen through my sophomore year in college – and then this happy for all the WRONG reasons throughout the rest of my college career. I have now traded happiness for contentment, where I’m extremely grateful for everything that I have. I must admit…when I look at this picture, it does bring a smile to my face. I think I remember being told that I was generally a happy baby. I have another baby picture with me under covers, but I wasn’t smiling like this. I also had to laugh because it’s black and while…didn’t have color photos back then – or they weren’t affordable to my family back then. No biggie…I think this black and white photo is pretty good. Maybe I need to put this photo up with my personal manifesto (my words of wisdom that guide my life every day), since it brings such positive vibes. I think I wrote to that younger version of myself that although you’ll go through some serious traumatic events when you’re younger, you’ll come out a better person on the other side – which has happened.
I knew this section would be tough. When you’re being asked to reflect on your past, there’s a possibility of some revealing some painful events from the past. There’s no need to keep holding on to them, since they aren’t providing me with any opportunities for growth. It’s only day 9 – and I can tell you that this has been much harder than the January theme of “Identity.” I hope March isn’t this hard – or maybe a much easier topic to write. We’ll see, since I’m only looking ONE DAY ahead at most – because I want to be somewhat surprised by the question of the day.
Thanks for allowing me to share…
Other Stuff
It’s funny how the right song just comes to you when you need it most. As I was meditating on this post this morning, I didn’t know what to include for “Other Stuff” today – and it came to be in the form of a song. I typically listen to music when I do my long walks/runs/elliptical workouts – and this morning, I listened to a song that is so appropriate for the topic this month (Your Past). I listen to a lot of Christian music for my workout and the one I’m sharing today just resonated with me so much that I can’t get it out of my head AT ALL right now. Here’s the song:
- for KING & COUNTRY: Burn the Ships – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pOVrOuKVBuY
All castaway on a lonely shore
I can see in your eyes, dear
It’s hard to take for a moment more
We’ve got to
Send a flare into the night
Say a prayer, turn the tide
Dry your tears and wave goodbye
We can rise up from the dust and walk away
We can dance upon our heartache, yeah
So light a match, leave the past, burn the ships
And don’t you look back
This fear is fear of fallin’ again
And if you need a refuge
I will be right here until the end
Oh, it’s time to
Send a flare into the night
Say a prayer, turn the tide
Dry your tears and wave goodbye
We can rise up from the dust and walk away
We can dance upon our heartache, yeah
So light a match, leave the past, burn the ships
And don’t you look back
Out of the fire into tomorrow
So flush the pills, face the fear
Feel the wave disappear
We’re comin’ clear, we’re born again
Our hopeful lungs can breathe again
Oh, we can breathe again
We can rise up from the dust and walk away
We can dance upon our heartache, yeah
So light a match, leave the past, burn the ships
And step into a new day
We can rise up from the dust and walk away
We can dance upon our heartache, yeah
So light a match, leave the past, burn the ships
And don’t you look back
And don’t you look back
The Dream Dean 