Let’s face it, change is here and in many forms. Most visibly is the weather. In all its beauty nature has shown some harshness in ending this summer season. Mother Nature gave us a great reprieve from Spring and as we transition into a new season it has now shown up as the disciplinarian in the form of temperature changes, to violent winds, fires, tornados, hurricanes, etc., to get us back on track with reality. Summer was a great vacation from springtime and The Virus. Here we are back to school time. Back to The Virus time. Back to the PPE. We can avoid another shut down if we all continue to take precautions. Just do the right thing, social distance, wear the mask, shield and/or gloves. We, together, can avoid another shutdown.
After our Spring “pause,” I enjoyed reconnecting with my salon community. While it is my job to make my clients look better together we felt the support and made each other feel better. I so love the salon industry for the gift of being a community center place to gather and refresh ourselves. I tried retiring from the beauty business after 34 years, but I had to jump in and be with my tribe during all this craziness. Too bad it had to happen this way but it has been a lifelong dream of mine for the community to figure out how essential we really are. The things people did or tried to do just to get their haircut and/or colored during the shutdown was amazing!
We just experienced a time of great limitation and great freedom at the same time. Although the pause may have taken a toll on one’s mental and financial health many have admitted to enjoying the time-off to recharge and reflect. Many have finally been able to make the changes they have wished for and bought, sold, retired or totally relocated since the shutdown. Did you make any life changing decisions during this time? How did you get yourself through this time of uncertainty and restraint?
I personally got through this period of time by indulging my spiritual health and found an ally in YouTube. I connected with and meditated daily with spiritual practitioners and gurus. What I learned about meditation, similar to “Just wear the Mask,” was to just sit in a cross legged posture with your face slightly upward and just let my thoughts flow while paying attention to my breath for about 21 minutes. I have come to realize that meditation transcends daily drama and connects you with your real thoughts and purpose. Not to mention that by sitting cross legged for the same amount of time daily totally healed any hip issues that I endured as a hairdresser standing behind the chair for all those years.
Meditation releases you from your current life drama and allows you to just be you. Similar to when you were a child and you knew exactly what you liked and wanted. Through repetition and daily practice you will be able to plug into your own internal guidance system with ease. You will be able to transcend your daily haze obtained from other people’s energy and get a glimpse of clarity, which is basically the point of meditation. It is self-medicine, no substances of any kind needed.
I also continue to take long walks a few days a week. As I explored I also discovered that I was meditating when I walked alone. I discovered a magical area hidden in plain sight. It continues to be a challenging walk but the abundant beauty of the emerald green rolling hills make it all worthwhile. This walk has now become sacred to me as well. I began documenting the seasons with pictures to capture the beauty of change in the landscape and farm animals. I have become so aware of change through the lens of nature.
I have watched the birds, butterflies and dragonflies play along side me as I walked. I have learned how to communicate with nature through its signs and symbols. Which led me to begin the study of archetypes as symbols, for instance, change or transcendence could look like a caterpillar turning into a butterfly. Change should not be feared it is usually worthwhile in the end. My recent challenge to myself is to reveal my natural hair color. Sure, this is very uncomfortable. I am embracing the”covid-hair” phase and ready to expose my authentic self. Can I continue with it, is the question. This experiment will also prove to be a life challenge for those who color their hair. Embrace the change.
So while the media continues to rehash old news, fake news and stupidity. I have been moving my body while reconnecting with myself and nature during this time. Some of us may have been able to take a time out for renewal, but for nature there is no time out. Nature just keeps on keeping on recreating itself to the best of its ability. My favorite quote is from Albert Einstein, “Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving.”
Keep it moving.