Reflections From the Threshold

Here we sit, the threshold of the new year. It is only tomorrow, an arbitrary Friday, another day, yet it represents something greater — hope, newness, perseverance, renewal.

As I sit in final reflection of 2020, I look backward at the incredible sadness and grieving this year brought for so many. Lives lost, jobs lost, security lost, spaces lost, communities lost, rituals lost — so much loss. The structures of our society shaken, the foundation of our security may never be quite the same. 

I have grieved, adapted, persevered, cried, shouted, cursed, accepted, resisted, given up, started again, evaluated, hoped, dreamed and stayed put when I wanted nothing more than to fly away from my life. Indeed, though, there is no where to go and nothing to do. I have done the very best that I can.

I have surrendered the things I cannot control, tried to control them, and surrendered once again.

When I look back on this year, when I acknowledge the gifts, the lessons, the growth, what will I see?

I am rich in friends and love. My home is a refuge. I have made it through times I thought I could not withstand. I am tenacious and determined. And vulnerable and open. And privileged beyond my own comprehension.

I have flowed when required and stood rooted when I found the strength. I have lain on the earth and looked at the sky and taken refuge in the magnificence of the Cosmos. I have drawn strength from my ancestors and those who came before. I have lived day by day, minute by minute. I have contained my own presence with as much grace and compassion as possible.

I have survived, and for that I am incredibly grateful. 

Moments of serenity are gifts, open spaces where doing used to exist are sometimes precious, sometimes painful, but for each of these gifts, these lessons, I am grateful.

On the other side of This Weird Time, may I take with me the strengths I have discovered. May I always value the sweetness of community, the priceless gift of a touch, the treasured presence of a friend. May I cherish every past and future moment when I sit in companionship with others. May I value every laugh, each hug, every gaze into a three-dimensional being. May I sip in the sacred spirit of community in every possible way.  May I never forget what was lost, may I always be grateful for the gift of being.

Happy New Year. 

May health, safety, peace and contentment fill your New Year.

~Susan

Photo ~ Susan Mathis, Playa del Carmen doorway 

About The Author

Susan Mathis, M.Ed., E-RYT 500, RCYT, YACEP

Susan is deeply committed to the practice of yoga, pranayama, and conscious living. A Professional Level, Kripalu Yoga Teacher, she offers steady guidance, practical knowledge and infuses the deep wisdom of yoga philosophy into her teaching. A lover of the natural world, adventure, and travel, Susan engages with nature through hiking, biking, and scuba diving. She is the owner and director of alleyCat Yoga and Yoga to Grow.