Into the New Year

This week I have heard multiple people (all separate from one another) reference an activity that they do with loved ones in which they choose a word as an intention for the new year. I have heard words such as "flexibility" and "growth" and "patience" and "love" -- all used in a way to start the calendar with a bit of mindful movement.

The word I choose for this year is one that can relate to almost everyone moving into 2021. The word is GRACE - we all need to give ourselves a bit more of it this year. I believe it encompasses flexibility, patience, kindness, and so much more. We need to give ourselves some grace to fumble, to be scared, to lean into the unknown that this year can bring.

We also want to have grace for one another. While the world is chaotic and we do NOT want to give leeway to things that are unethical, cruel, violent, or in support of intolerant systems (such as white supremacy), we do want to offer grace in moments of difference, of learning, and of struggle.

In my first yoga class of 2021, the instructor said something that resonated deeply with me. "We are human beings, not human doings, and all we are asked to do is just to be." While I disagree that this is true for always, I do believe it should always be the first step in a series of future steps. We need to be okay to just BE in order to move forward into the doing. We need to acknowledge ourselves, our worth, our being in order to get to the next step of doing. If we can say "I am good enough just as I am" or "I will be okay" prior to next steps, would that open more doors for us to trust ourselves? If we are able to have grace for ourselves, might we be able to tolerate more vulnerability? We do not have to be perfect or do all of the right things all of the time - all we are asked is [first] just to be.

My goal with grace is to seek guidance within the self, stillness in a time of chaotic movement, inhale there, and then move into doing, activism, supporting, loving, struggling, and leaning into 2021.