Page 12 - Winter 13

Spring Resolution
Jane Keogh, BAHVS Junior Vice President
As I write, the shortest day is approaching, and although it will not be perceptible for a month or so, the days will begin to lengthen once more.
As you read this, the Spring Equinox will be near, and Spring will be a reality. We will have truly stepped from the introspection and quiet nurturing of the winter months into the Equinox moment of balance, moving forward to the expression and development of our plans and resolutions.
Those New Year resolutions are a faded facsimile of a deeper possibility. The decision to stop smoking, drinking, overeating, or to take up a gym habit, yoga, running, spend more time with the family, whatever floated in your con- sciousness a few weeks ago, are all worthy ambitions, but they lie on the surface.
Now, as the sun feels warmer and the days are clearly longer, now is a time to act on a much deeper level on the thoughts and prom- ises made in the dark winter months. To allow the seeds planted at that time to germinate and grow.
Gandhi said: “Be the change you want to see in the world.” It is so easy to externalise the imbalance and negativity that we see around us, to feel hopeless and helpless. Practising homeopathy in a world that seems violently hostile in it’s response to this form of healing merely adds to the sense of despair. It is all too easy to reflect back the anger of our detractors. Yet we cannot hope for acceptance and toler- ance, while we carry anger and resentment within ourselves. We cannot create a world we want to live in, until we become the kind of peo- ple others want to live with.
As the Earth stirs around us, it is time to consider your unique “contribution footprint”, to recognise that each and every one of us is important and that you are each, individually a part of the solution. In the end, you can only change yourself. To perceive and act on this
realisation requires real courage. It is not nec- essarily an easy path, yet ironically, if you turn to this inner transition, then the anger and despair start to dissolve. For if we are no longer trying to change our external world by shouting and railing against it, if we are no longer franti- cally trying to fight the shadows that we see as enemies, then we start to realise that the only enemy is the voice inside that destroys our self esteem and creates inertia and apathy.
It takes courage and strength to dismantle self-imposed limitations, to recognise that you matter. Sometimes it is easier to live with the feeling of despair and anger and to lay them at the door of your detractors, than it is to shed that skin and step into your own potential. The reality is that if we each decide to truly believe in our own truth, to step into our own power, then nothing and no one can stop us. If, beyond that, as we each, individually hold to our truth and stand to be counted, also stand with each other, individual parts of a great whole, then those who would discount us fall away. I see us as bricks in a wall, each a separate unit, but bound together by a common cement creating something strong and immoveable.
“We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, handsome, talented and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be?”
Nelson Mandela
So, maybe this should be the germinating seed that we carry forward as the year progresses and the days lengthen. For each one of us to individually recognise our own worth, to deeply understand our own potential, as at some point the acorn recognises that it can become a tree.
Maybe this is the deeper resolution, made as the energy of the year builds, to let go of self- imposed limitations and to actively stand beside each other and reflect our truth. Now is a chance to start building the foundations of that wall. Those who already count themselves as part of our community can remember the strength to be found in a shared vision and con- tinue to cement that relationship. Those who stand on the edge, unsure whether to stay or go, for whatever reason, I would urge you to look deep into your hearts, to find the courage to stand up and be counted. Resolve to step up this year and re-join the community, become a part of the wall. Just for this year come and seek out your colleagues. Re-join the Association. If you didn’t make it to London, come to York. You have nothing to lose except your isolation and maybe your limitations. And we have much to gain from your shared truth.
As Nelson Mandela said: “We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, handsome, talented and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be?”
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