Finding Joy in the New Year!

It is the day after Christmas. I feel blessed to have been able to enjoy the holiday surrounded by friends and family. It is not something that I take for granted.                                                                                                                                                       I know people who have suffered tragedies, loss and depression around the holidays and I know that it is not always a joy filled time for  everyone.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            If you are one of those people, my heart goes out to you.

I understand the pain of loss, having lost my father, sister and mother in law in the past 6 years. I had a huge gaping hole in my heart after losing my sister. My Sunday phone calls with “cookie”came to an abrupt end.                                           I was upset that the sun still rose and that birds still chirped yet my sister was not on the planet anymore. With time and the love and support from my circle, I was able to dig out of the hole of sadness. Now three years later, my sisters photo resides over me in my office-keeping watch and bringing me a sense of comfort.

This past year in September, my husband of only one and a half years almost died. His body went through an almost complete shut down due to out of control high blood pressure, diabetes and too many medications. He was in a coma for two weeks and in the hospital and physical therapy for a total of 6 weeks. My stable life was turned completely upside down. I fluctuated between crying, panic, feeling completely lost and empty and barely able to get out of bed to being vigilant, strong and praying to every God and Goddess out there for a healthy and miraculous recovery. I was blessed to have several members of The Conscious Community offer up their talents; reiki, angel protection, healing prayers and medical intuitives assisted in both our enlightenment and healing. It truly is a miracle that my hubby is here, healthy and whole now. I am so grateful for everyone who reached out.

So now, the day after Christmas, I am in gratitude for all the abundance in my life. I was spoiled once again this Christmas with gifts galore, new pjs and perfume. But I know that my true joy comes from the simple things in life: holding my husbands hand and seeing him smile,  hugging the dogs, taking the time to smell the  flowers and feeling the sun on my face. In creating my calendar for the New Year, I am taking the time time to really honor those things that bring me joy. Between work, networking, writing and organizing I am making valuable space for the simple things that make me smile.

The lessons of 2011 are allowing me to start 2012 with a real knowledge of miracles, faith and true JOY in my heart.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  I wish you the same!