In Los Angeles, it can take a little longer to see evidence of autumn, so I was excited this week when I observed a beautiful red leaf that had fallen from a tree and was lying on the sidewalk. It was a gentle reminder of how trees teach us during the fall season about letting go and embracing transformation. This was so timely as both the topics of letting go and transformation have been on my mind a lot lately. This is mostly due to my father’s struggle with brain cancer over the last year and my reaction to it.
I have been so blessed to have both of my parents still in my life, so it has been a process over the last few months to learn to let go of the image of the strong stubborn man I have known since childhood and to embrace this new person who is learning to cope with the changes in his own life. My main lesson during this journey has been acceptance- learning to listen and acknowledge my father’s (and mother’s) choices regarding his illness, letting them know I am there to help them in a way that serves them best.
Seeing and hearing the changes in my dad has not only caused me to reflect on how I view and interact with him; but it has also led to a very sudden awareness of my own aging process and the transformations that my body is going through as a woman entering my early forties. I sometimes feel overwhelmed by all of the change that is happening- and how it is happening whether or not I want it or am ready for it.
Reflecting on this I realized I needed to allow myself to take a moment to honor and experience these changes that are going on in my life. This realization has led me to look for small moments of reflection and quiet that I am able to take in a day. A moment to appreciate the sunrise or sunset, the full moon, the sukkot celebration that was going on down the street from my house. These small reflective moments help increase my vitality and enable me to energetically keep pace with some of the changes that are occurring in my life.
When I do not organically find a moment, sometimes I create one using aromatherapy at home. I will take a bowl of water and add geranium, bergamot, and a dash of peppermint. I will either place it in a spritzer bottle or take a face cloth and soak it in the aromatic water. When I need a moment, I spritz a pillow and sit for a moment with some music; or I take one of the cloths I have made (which if it is still warm outside, I keep in the refrigerator) and I pat my face with the scent.
When I am overwhelmed by the changes or reflecting on how to best move forward in my life, creating the space in the day to breathe in the scent, to feel the cool aromatic water on my face, reinvigorates me and helps me stay positive, refreshed and ready to tackle whatever comes my way.
Try it! No matter how big or small the changes that are occurring in your life, taking a moment to acknowledge the change, to breathe forward movement into your life is a sacred rite you deserve to give yourself.
I have been so blessed to have both of my parents still in my life, so it has been a process over the last few months to learn to let go of the image of the strong stubborn man I have known since childhood and to embrace this new person who is learning to cope with the changes in his own life. My main lesson during this journey has been acceptance- learning to listen and acknowledge my father’s (and mother’s) choices regarding his illness, letting them know I am there to help them in a way that serves them best.
Seeing and hearing the changes in my dad has not only caused me to reflect on how I view and interact with him; but it has also led to a very sudden awareness of my own aging process and the transformations that my body is going through as a woman entering my early forties. I sometimes feel overwhelmed by all of the change that is happening- and how it is happening whether or not I want it or am ready for it.
Reflecting on this I realized I needed to allow myself to take a moment to honor and experience these changes that are going on in my life. This realization has led me to look for small moments of reflection and quiet that I am able to take in a day. A moment to appreciate the sunrise or sunset, the full moon, the sukkot celebration that was going on down the street from my house. These small reflective moments help increase my vitality and enable me to energetically keep pace with some of the changes that are occurring in my life.
When I do not organically find a moment, sometimes I create one using aromatherapy at home. I will take a bowl of water and add geranium, bergamot, and a dash of peppermint. I will either place it in a spritzer bottle or take a face cloth and soak it in the aromatic water. When I need a moment, I spritz a pillow and sit for a moment with some music; or I take one of the cloths I have made (which if it is still warm outside, I keep in the refrigerator) and I pat my face with the scent.
When I am overwhelmed by the changes or reflecting on how to best move forward in my life, creating the space in the day to breathe in the scent, to feel the cool aromatic water on my face, reinvigorates me and helps me stay positive, refreshed and ready to tackle whatever comes my way.
Try it! No matter how big or small the changes that are occurring in your life, taking a moment to acknowledge the change, to breathe forward movement into your life is a sacred rite you deserve to give yourself.
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