Bing. Bam. Boom.

Today we welcome back Lisa Rough as our Guest Contributor. More about Lisa below.

“We seldom notice how each day is a holy place Where the eucharist of the ordinary happens, Transforming our broken fragments Into an eternal continuity that keeps us.” ~John O’Donohue

December is here. I swear that just yesterday, it seemed as though the leaves were beginning to turn from deep greens to fiery oranges and yellows and reds. This time of year always surprises me. Bing. Bang. Boom. It’s here. It’s not only time for the seemingly inevitable rush of holiday chaos… but for many of us reflective types, it’s also time to re-evaluate our lives… size up what the last year eleven months have looked like for us and glean wisdom from our mistakes. Time to squeeze into the next thirty days all those things that we’ve been procrastinating on. And by golly, it’s also time to think ahead and plan out the next 365 days of our lives (which will no doubt be better, richer, healthier, skinnier, and happier!). That’s all wonderful and good. But there’s something missing. The thing that this time of year often lacks is celebration. Isn’t it ironic? In many cultures, this is thought of as the most festive time of the year. But in the midst of gift-giving, big fancy feasts, and dysfunctional family reunions, we lose sight of what we’re actually celebrating. So here’s my invitation to you (and quite frankly, to me!). Rather than looking back over the last year and seeing all of the things you could’ve done differently (we can be sooo hard on ourselves!), think about all of the things you did that nourished your vision (which incidentally can include bouts of spaced out day-dreaming)… all the things that nourished your body (which incidentally can include brushing your teeth)… all the things that nourished your capacity to love (which incidentally can include smiling at a stranger as you walked by). Rather than trying to cram your lofty to-do list into the next thirty days, create a gentle practice around letting go, being willing to be imperfect and unpolished, and redefining what success means to you. Slow down. Breathe deeper. Take some time to honor the rhythms of the season and hibernate. Remember that you’re human, and that in reality, the turning of another year is simply the turning of another month, another day, another moment. Rather than throwing all your energy into how you’ll make things better next year, rejoice in the ordinary, roundabout ways in which you live right now… the way that sometimes the dishes get left in the sink because you have something better to do; the way the cat curls up on your chest and snores in your ear; the way you have a roof over your head and enough food to feed your family; the way the clouds create a brand new design in the sky every single day; the way your dreams have a curious way of communicating to you through adversity. Rather than bombarding yourself with a lengthy menu of New Year resolutions and goals, tune into how you’d like to feel right now and create a simple and brief, not-too-thought-out, gut-based intention around that. Stop waiting around and envision what’s already yours. Go cold turkey on worrying about outcomes and become the journey itself. And don’t forget to add a little wild into the mix -- invite your friends over for a burning ritual as you release the things that no longer serve you… dance naked in your living room… and volunteer to contribute to a meal at a homeless shelter. Eat dinner by candlelight… make gifts from scratch… count your blessings, especially when you don’t feel blessed… and lavish love on your relatives, even when they make you crazy. Take lots of long bubble baths with Epsom salts and lavender oil… get take-out for your holiday feast... allow your imagination to stretch beyond what’s reasonable, and make room for the unpredictable, the mischievous, the spontaneous… Celebrate because this moment, right now, is just as holy and just as ordinary as any other day that we have scribbled on our calendars. And YOU are just as holy and just as ordinary as any saint, yogi, ceo, or bagboy at the supermarket. Let loose, make merry, and dare to fully embrace this moment, because before you know it… Bing. Bang. Boom. It’s gone.

About Our Guest Writer

Lisa Rough is a creative coach, tribe builder, and self-taught artist living in the mountains of North Carolina. She is also a writer and currently working on her first book. Her work is truly about daring women to recognize the creative, wild visionary that they indeed are. Her celebrated women’s circles have become a powerful catalyst for positive change and creative juju, and she will soon be offering virtual circles for those too far away to join her in person. For more information on how to participate, visit her website at: SacredCircleCreativeLife.com Facebook: LisaRough                   Twitter: LisaJRough