Bill's tip for March: "In like a Lion...out like a Lamb"
I am gazing toward snow-capped mountains as I write to you. Billowing clouds interweave above the partly sunny desertscape as a blustery early-March day begins just outside Palm Springs, California.
Joey, my 18 year-old furry boy, has bounced back a bit (a very heart-felt thank you for all the well-wishes) and we find ourselves at an amazing place spiritually as well as physically - Joey and I are guests at The Dog Spa Resort and Wellness Center. This oasis, created by holistic veterinarian Paula Terifaj as a respite for people and their pooches, is not to be missed!
From my picture-window vantage point, the first half of March's "In like a Lion...out like a Lamb" adage is perfectly depicted -Dogs play unencumbered, clouds race by, the wind stirs the soil. Yet, there is a natural rhythm to this process that pushes this well-worn definition to another level: I am struck by the harmony contained within this lion-hearted day. Nature is stroking a bold canvass, yet this process seems easy and struggle-free to all involved.
It's not the events in life but how we perceive these events
that determines our sense of well-being.
As I slipped into the resort's cool pool this morning for aqua-aerobics (Joey watching from a nearby lounge-chair) I found myself struggling and uncomfortable. Busy judging the hour (this class is too early) and the water temperature (I'm freeeezing) I was disconnected and discontented.
As class began, my focus shifted to the instruction and the movements required of me. I became part of the developing canvas, rather than the art critic to that canvas. I actually stopped being cold because I was no longer focused on being cold....I let go of my internal conflict, which allowed me access to the elemental harmony outside of me -I became part of the scene.
As this month's wintery early days shift toward springtime, March serves up a healthy reminder that transition does not have to be conflictual.
Choice is abundant: We can struggle against the wind, or let this breeze take us to new and unexpected places. We can wrestle with mortality or recognize the grace of life's unfolding cycle. We can stay cold, or warm to the idea of acceptance and, therefore, transmute our self-absorbed struggles into unifying solidarity.
This month, may we all wake up to the beautiful experiences offered by God's creatures - be they people, pets, lions or lambs.
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