As I've gotten into my mid-60s I've become afflicted with this thing called spirituality. Yup! Even with a name like Karma, I've never thought about it until this year.
I have begun to send out messages to my personal mailing list that are derived from Eckhart Tolle, Thich Nat Hanh, Lynne McTaggart, and many others who talk about "being here now," the power of intention, gratitude, and topics like these that I barely skimmed when I saw them earlier in my life.
In case you're interested in getting a compilation of my messages from 2008, you can get it here. Once you purchase the 1st one, you have the opportunity to send the ebooklet out to as many people as you like. It can be a gift of thanks to any client/customer contacts, as well as a gift of love to friends and family. Hope you like it. If you do, please sign up for my mailing list so you'll get all new messages in 2009.
I've been much affected by the breast cancer diagnosis of a dear young friend. Rather than hide, when she was first diagnosed, she threw a party. Since then, as her diagnosis got more serious, she chronicles her (mostly spiritual) journey on her blog.
One of the wonderful posts my friend published goes like this:
"I was speaking with Laureen the other evening and she asked how it felt emotionally to have had a mastectomy. I haven't written much about this as it's pretty much a non-issue. Before I knew I was stage 4, I viewed it as a trade; I was willing to sacrifice the breast with the idea that the rest of me would remain healthy. My yoga teacher John Friend was very helpful at that time, when he suggested the (obvious) truth that the body ages and changes over time. I accepted the loss of the breast at that time, and haven't looked back since. Unfortunately now I know that the rest of me is not disease-free, but I still feel fine in this different body. I am mostly focused on my ongoing physical recovery and don't think too much about the lack of the breast itself. Mark still calls me his "one breasted beauty".
I started yoga all those years ago to be in my body, but ironically the practices have also helped me transcend my body as an identity. I have learned that "me" is not my body, although it houses my spirit. I still take very good care of my body but am not attached to it as such. In Iyengar yoga we were taught that the body is a temple, and asana (the physical postures) is the prayer. My body is a physical manifestation of my spirit. I want to remain as healthy as possible for as long as possible, and love to physically challenge myself. So as far as the breast itself, I am at peace. I will not do reconstruction -- I don't want more surgery and I feel comfortable as I am."
For my 65th birthday this week my husband and I are going to take a Zen painting course, yoga and meditation classes at a retreat in the Berkshires in Massachusetts. Neither of us has done anything like this before. I've also joined a women's spirit circle.
How about you? Have you been on a spiritual journey? If so, what is it like? What does it do for you?
Comment below and I'll offer you a free telephone coaching session.
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