"An authentic life is the most personal form of worship. Everyday life has become my prayer."
- Sarah Ban Breathnach
With the New Year and a birthday just days away (I will be 43 in a minute)...I always tend to get very introspective. Thinking about the life I have, the person I am....how I want to evolve , what I want to shed (drama, negativity, stuff) on and on. As I go on in life...one of the things that really call to me is the neccesity of authenticity. Our time here is so limited, so fragile...our lives filled with intangibles. All we really have is this moment....this luscious moment of breath and light and life. Whether we are in pain or joy or...we are alive and that is a gift.
You know...I am not a religious person...never have been. I was born a Hindu but then-in my twenties-walked along the path of Buddhism. The dogma of religion has never appealed to me...has never fed my spirit and imagination.
But give me art and poetry, imagination and stories...luscious well-worn lives full of imperfections and contradictions. give me song and dance, pasta ...good chatting and laughter, friendships of heart + soul, warm fires, nature in all her fury and grandeur. give me tree I can hug, a bird I can watch. a kiss. chocolate. tiny hands holding mine. a good book. travel. photography. a full moon. give me kindness and authenticity. give me sadness...letting go...courage. give me ....a hug. tenderness. a walk on the beach. writing in my journal. simplicity. a hot cup of tea. give me yourSELF. shiny thoughts. give me love. a hearty laugh. connection. hearts carved deep by sorrow. give me quirky. zen. these are the things that fill me up.
6 comments:
happy birthday, in a minute!!
i'm just about 6 months behind you.
Well, first of all.... I loved reading this because you and I have had many conversations along these lines and, as you know, we are on the same page!! Eloquently stated. And second, I am a bad birthday friend - first Jane and now you in the same week! Yikes! We are packed and ready to hit the road for Arizona in a few minutes.... so I guess I will just offer my biggest and sincerest birthday wishes and hugs and send them on wings to your doorstep. Happy celebrating and happiest of new years to you in your brand new home!!!!!
What a beautiful post Soraya, and HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!
I wish you a very Happy New Year.
Oh I love this post, so beautifully written, Soraya, and your words describe my approach to spirituality perfectly, which is why we are both SOUL sisters and birthday sisters! Love to you!
Authenticity has been on my mind all year long - authentic was my word of the year (no word for 2012, authentic is good enough for an entire life). I wish it was easy to be authentic, it just doesn't always happen. At least not for me. But I'm working on it, because like you I think it's important and we only have so much time. Better use it with and for the "real" things, those that are important for us. And set a great example for our daughters.
Happy birthday to you, Soraya.
What lovely thoughts Soraya...
Have a truly wonderful 2012!
S
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