Re-surfacing

My second blog post of the entire year. This is the result of taking on a job as Program Coordinator for my local arts charity - a supposedly part-time job that has pulled me into its vortex and taken over parts of my brain. It has its rewards - the chance to book great arts events and meet interesting people; the opportunity to practice being bold and taking risks; a constant path of learning; challenges that make me refresh my boundaries or humble me into softer practice. I have the satisfaction of serving my community and the pleasure of seeing visible, positive results. This seems fortunate at a time when so many aspects of our world are troubling.

My last post expressed the horror of the US election and all that followed, and now we know it is worse than we imagined. Is this when we need to take the long view - acknowledge that we are in a dark part of the story but remember that the story itself is still unfolding? Malign influences imported across the pond meet murky forces in our backyard. I take solace in a strong and loving community, in the arts, in voices raised against despair and hate, in resilient nature, and in the privileges of my life such as good health and safe shelter.

Another year comes to rest, and I am drawn to quiet reflection - allergic to the excesses of a commercial Christmas, to the stress evident in impatient drivers and crowded shops. I wonder which, if any, seasonal rituals hold value for me now. What brings me closer to self? What offers respite and connection? What is the path to joy?