Perfection of the Imperfect

We recently attended a holiday performance of a dance group my son was part of.
There were a total of 20 10-year-olds on stage. They were pensive, shy and modest.  Having only rehearsed for a few weeks, all was new to them.

The insecurity was palpable as they looked at (looked for?) one another before, during and after they completed their routine.

There were arms and legs everywhere as these children pranced across the stage.  They giggled nervously when they dropped their props, but went right back to doing their thing. 

At one point, the routine required 2 groups of children, on opposite sides of the stage to skip and glide (bounce?) sideways, arms in the air, crossing one another.

I was just glad no one crashed into each other!

These brave children, bless them, did their best to mimic what their teacher was trying to teach.  But, I would not say they were ready to officially audition to be an opening act to any show.

Clearly, this was more of a family style get together “show” for the parents, than an audience-ready polished routine for Broadway.

Despite how it turned out, all the parents (and I mean every single one) were ultra proud of their children.

The performers received standing ovations and even whistles from the crowd. 

After leaving the performance, I reflected on my very different dance training experience when I was a child. I was trained rather stringently.  Performing, for me, was all about perfection.

Yet, as I am now older, and have had this very loving experience of watching this performance, I come full circle.  

I am seeing the perfection in the imperfect.

I have learned so much from watching the courage of these children.  This performance experience for my child, and others, was clearly not about getting everything exact. 

Among my lessons were: allowing, accepting and being present to what is.

Perfection is not about being perfect.

Sure, they were not at all what I would consider performance ready, but they went on anyway.  
They had fun, and enjoyed themselves even despite the imperfection of their routine.  They didn’t let insecurity stop them.  They embraced their fears and mistakes, nonetheless.
And the crowd absolutely loved it, and loved them, even more.  

How supported they must feel to have that kind of backing!

Despite their imperfection, the performance was perfect, just as it was.  

The moment was perfect as dotting parents watched their kid do their thing with heart, and joy, and big bright smiles.

Imperfection is perfect because it leads me from where I am now to where I am next.  Imperfection is the process of my becoming. 

The lesson here, I have come to realize, is that I need to learn from these magnificent kids and embrace my process of being also.  

There is perfection in everything we do in life because we are always in process. 

And rather than expecting my living to look a certain way, I shall live more presence, and thus, more life, into the experience of being alive.

Releasing my attachments to perfection, and letting go of judgement for how it “should” be or “should” look, I realize how we, human beings as works progress, often mistakenly label moments in our life, rather than being present and awake to the sacred process that is happening through us: life.

“We are in process of being.  We are being, regardless of what we may be doing in every moment.  In every moment of our lives, we are being human.”

— Rev. Evelyn Foreman

Our labels, for example:

• “Good days vs bad days”
• “We had a great time...”
• “It was a terrible experience...”

Each of these proclamations lead us to judge our experiences.  From there, we live out what we claim, and our subsequent experiences are clouded by good and bad.

No longer do we stay present to possibility, we’ve doomed ourselves to the decision we have already made about whether we will enjoy the experience, or not.

When we stop to really look at each moment in our lives, we will realize that whatever is at the moment, is perfect.

It is perfect because we are in process, progressing to evolve our beingness in every moment.

When we step back and get over ourselves (release our attachments, expectations and judgements) we can then learn to be with what is, seeing the perfection in every moment of life.  

In doing so, we allow ourselves the gift of possibility and become open to the positive unfolding of our sweet, sweet life.  

How (in what ways) do you see perfection in what might seem imperfect in your life? 

Practice Gratefulness

“Gratitude opens the heart to possibility and the eye to see the good.”

— Rev. Evelyn Foreman

The definition of respect is a feeling of deep admiration for someone or something elicited by their abilities, qualities, or achievements.

When we are grateful, we cultivate conditions to open our heart to possibility, and our eyes to good.

To be grateful is to expand our energy, releasing us from a position of defensiveness (one that is guarded with suspicion), to a an open, expansive welcoming, embrace of anyone with whom we might feel in opposition.

In practicing gratefulness, we surrender belligerence and the need to be right.  Rather, we decidedly take a stand in awe, and we intentional marvel at the possibility before us.

It is in times when we feel the least grateful, when we catch ourselves complaining, whining, blaming or shaming, that we need most this practice. 

Let the practice of gratitude, and open-hearted appreciation be the path home to your sacred, most noble self.

What might you find difficult to give thanks for?  How might you start shifting your awareness of the good that can come out it?  Please share as it speaks to you. <3

Experience Life

“All of life sings; see me, dance with me, I’m here.”

— Rev. Douglas Duerr

Guest Post by Rev. Douglas Duerr

Embrace the Season!  A new season of beauty and wonder is exploding in expression through the symphony played out in her leaves - the crisp air dances to the autumn song as the trees begin to blush against the oh so charming blue sky.

***

What have you noticed in this season of change and how do you practice the courage to embrace it?  Please share as you are called. <3

Gratitude Changes Everything

In times when all seems stagnant, awry and unwell, remember to give thanks.

Remember:  Gratitude changes everything.

It has been over 6+ years since I lost my baby through a fetal miscarriage.  At the time, my experience of loss was raw, and I was in deep grief.  Life felt like a burden as I dealt with the experience of grief and deep sadness.  

I wondered if I would ever stand amid the light again as I laid in bed, wondering what and how I could have changed things.

Inspirational readings and spiritual know-how did very little to move the energy along. 

One day, in the silence of meditation, it dropped in like a ton of bricks.  Almost as severe as devastating loss, the practice of gratitude entered my consciousness like an Angel, giving hope and new life.

I started to give thanks and with each passing day, I felt slowly excavated from my stagnation and heavy heart.  

As my heart opened, new life began - so much so that we conceived another time.  

Today, this miraculous conceptions my daughter, who is now 4 years old.  One of middle name is Grace.  It is through grace and gratitude that my life has been forever altered.  For this, I give whole-hearted thanks!  

Did you Know that October is Pregnancy Loss Awareness Month?  Be a blessing: Find out more and learn how to help others through this experience.

What one circumstance in your life might you want to change? 

What of gratitude turns it completely around for you?  How might you give thanks (either by deed, action, or affirmation) to activate this change?

Love IS the Bridge

“Love is faith, a living practice, and path of possibility.”

— Rev. Evelyn Foreman, M. Div.

Love is...

As simple as that. 

I am, Love is.

LOVE: It is the healing, harmonizing, neutralizing energy of the universe.  It is the common denominator that all human beings share.  Rather than race, religion or creed, I believe Love is the human cultural phenomenon that can unite us all.

Love is faith, a living practice, and path of possibility.

What feels as though it is on the other side of a bridge that you'd like to get to?  

What one action item can you accomplish today from a place of LOVE to begin building a bridge?

Life is a Series of Tiny Little Miracles

Life is a series of tiny little miracles, and when I am present to this, I am profoundly grateful.

Even before conception, the pattern of possibility is imprinted in our DNA.  Each moment, each breath, each millisecond, life is a miracle.  

One miracle, strung together with another, in each moment of our lives, we become who we are, and we realize who we are to be.

What better way to express thanksgiving but to embrace each moment, living fully in alignment with our soul's purpose?

Whether we accept it, or not, each one of us is a miracle, unfolding as an expression of sacred life. Realize this, and be grateful <3.  Namaste.

Pause...take a breath. 

For moment, what are you present to that is profound to you, dear One?  

Be Grateful

I declare every Thursday as Thankful Thursday!!

Let us BE GRATEFUL.

As I give thanks, I become present to the power of how my attitude sets me up for my experience.  When I practice mindfulness and give thanks for the abundance of the present moment, I become present to the gift that is my life.  

Immediately, I remember that I have everything I need to succeed and live happily: oxygen, water, food, shelter, clothing.  Everything else that is present - which is ALWAYS so much more than the basic necessities - is a bonus!  

I become present to the abundance that overflows, continuously, creating for me experiences of grace, mercy, and serendipitous fortune!

As a human being, there are times when I forget just how abundant my life is.  (Anyone ever experience this forgetfulness?) 

When mindfulness of thanksgiving is absent in consciousness, I notice a less ideal experience.  I might feel it in my body as constriction.  The voice in my head speaks loudly, sometimes shouting.  My breath becomes a bit shallow, and I feel tightness all around.

“Come back to your heart. ”

— Give Thanks

In times like these, when I feel restricted, I get to return to the sticky note on my desktop:  "Come back to the Heart."  

My road back is always a change of mind - to the positive!  Rather than anything else, I choose again to cultivate gratitude.

Gratefulness puts me on the right track. Again and again, I return. 

Join me in returning back to the heart - give thanks today for 3 things present in your life.  

Mine are: My precious children, the love of my husband and gift of sacred friendships.  What are yours?

Where Ever You Stand - Be the Soul of That Place

There is no argument that children are among life's many blessings.  

I've been blessed to be Mommy of 2 very dear souls, dropping in by divine order, and allowing my spouse and me to be sacred guardians of their upbringing. As of this post, my son is just about 10 years old, and my baby girl, 4.  

As I have the honor to watch them grow and bloom each day, one of the most interesting and rewarding experiences I have when with them is to witness their becoming.  

As they learn, grow and master their path, I get to watch with doting eyes, heart full of love, as they embrace who they've come to be.  Whether it is seeing them pick up an instrument for the 1st time (like the violin) or learning how to do long division, I marvel at their process of embrace.  

They embrace what is ~ not simply the object - like the instrument, or the math problem, but wholehearted, they go through the process of embracing themselves!

From never having touched or seen what they are learning, they begin to accept and integrate newness by being OPEN. As they learn and traverse the path of mastery, they embrace it and are then present to all that is available to them through the lesson itself.

It is a marvelous process that I love and am blessed to see each day!

Having my little ones as spiritual teachers have enabled me to reclaim the reminder that Rumi shared so long ago - that wherever I go, wherever I am, whatever I may be doing ~ I am to be One with the PRESENT, and therefore, with my WHOLE self, be the soul of that place.

What are you open to today?  How will you allow yourself to be the soul of the place where you stand?

An Attitude of Gratitude

Ever since I was a little girl, I was taught that your attitude determines your happiness in life.  Regardless of the adversity I've experienced, I have always held this lesson near and dear to my heart:  for all things, be grateful.  

Things go right?  Be grateful.  Things out of control? Be grateful?  Things falling apart? Be grateful.  

“Being grateful is the key to all things good.”

Honestly, by the time I was a teenager, I was tired of being grateful.  As a teenager, I could remember many things that I was living with that I didn't want to be grateful for - and still, gratitude had been such a foundational practice for me that I found myself giving thanks, even though I was rebelling from family and finding my way.

Today, I give thanks for this foundation.  

My Mom taught me well, to have an attitude of gratitude, regardless of comes my way.  It has been a foundation of abundance, perspective and healing for me.  This lesson continues to teach me that grace is always in the midst and that being grateful is the key to all things good.

Follow Your Heart

Relationships. Life adventures. Relocations. New beginnings. Entrances and exits. 

No one said that following your heart is ever an easy choice. 

There are days when we are confronted, face-to-face with our own fear, perceived, or otherwise ~ the FALSE evidence (appearing real) shows up. On days like that (like, perhaps, a Monday), distractions might arise to make you wonder why you are on this blessed path! 

Self-doubts rears it's lil head - second guessing and questioning whether you were in your "right mind" when you made the decision to follow your call... On days like these - perhaps today, if you feel other than completely aligned and centered, take a breath and remember just how connected you really are. 

Just for today, if you are not feeling TOTALLY CONNECTED within, know that you are connected to SO MANY who are having the same experience... and then, through a conscious, deep breath, the choice to return to your heart, and therefore to your center, is always available...and waiting! 

Join me in taking a breath (right now, in mid sentence :-D and remember: When all else fails, follow your wise heart ~ it knows the way. 

Please feel free to share below as you are called. 

With blessings, <3 Evelyn

#SacredHeart #Courage #PathofPresence#TheCallofSpirit