I have been hanging out in the company of Joan's lately. Last month I was driving around to a book by Joan Borysenko and this month I am escaping with Joan Anderson's "A Year by the Sea". As I read Joan;s chronicles of her year sequestered into a cabin on the cape with the sole purpose of finding her own voice, it has inspired me greatly.
It is also reminded me of the importance of pausing, retreating and taking some time out from the hustle and bustle of life to hear your soul's whispers.
Joan writes:
I'm learning that what's important is not so much what I do to make a living as who I become in the process".
Now that's a statement and a half. I know myself, I can easily get caught up in the categorizing of who I am with what I do and the many hats I wear of wife, mother, friend, neighbour, coach, writer but the truth is, none of those roles is who I am. They make up lots of what I do and certainly contribute to who I am, but what I do is not me.
Sometimes I think I could write my own book and call it "A Year on the Farm" because living on 54 acres on a mountain in the middle of nowhere has taught me much about myself. Living surrounded with family, animals and a forest has afforded me breathing space, living space and space to just get quiet.
I realize that many women do not have such a place to live but could use a dose of quiet, of nurturing and surrounded by other women who lift them higher.
And so I am planning my own version of a weekend by the sea in January - when the weather is nasty and curling up by the fire and discovering what we want next year to be about will be the perfect backdrop.
Stay tuned for more details...
Comments