Just as we all thought 2010 couldn't be more difficult that 2009, the universe throws us a climatic curveball and decides that the country should freeze under a blanket of snow and ice.   Businesses are hit again, individuals can't move around and worse still, some lose their lives as a result of the intense weather.

Seems cruel doesn't it?  All we wanted was for 2010 to wipe clean the difficulties of 2009 and here we are struggling to even get 2010 underway.   But is there a lesson for us hidden away in the shivering and sliding that we are having to endure? Perhaps there is....

Like many lessons, sometimes life pushes us to the limit to get us to change.  When the universe wants us to shift our thoughts, tweak our life direction or behave differently, it does have a tendency to "box us in" and stop us from moving for a while.  It takes major life changing events to get us to make life changing events too.  So is this climatic shift a way of getting us all to think differently?

For those that have seen the film "Day After Tomorrow" where a huge super storm caused by climate change threatens the northern hemisphere, the weather patterns currently being experienced in the entire northern hemisphere show remarkable similarities to this fictional film.  So perhaps the human race won't change its habits until real pain is felt - economically and politically.

But my point is once again that when things are very difficult, there are lessons to learn.  "In the seed of every difficulty is the seed of equal or greater benefit".  So as we struggle to get the new year going amongst the snow and the ice, and we are perhaps kept at home, let us use this time effectively.  Let us spend time thinking and planning rather than "doing".  Let us consider what is important to us this year in our personal and professional lives and then we'll discover that this cold snap could turn out to be the moment when we warm up our dreams, goals and plans.

And of course remember that every difficulty needs perspective.  It may be cold, it may be tricky to use our cars, it may be frustrating for our progress.  But around every corner in every part of the world, there are far greater difficulties being encountered and overcome than we face with a little snow and ice.

So enjoy the opportunity to slow down, think and contemplate.  It's good to do so from time to time.  

I hope you enjoy this issue of The Kindred Spirit Network newsletter and look forward to spending more time together in 2010.

In love and life

Paul
x x
P.S.  Look out for details of the next get together on the left of the page as the date has changed!