Floating Hearts in February

And this too shall pass.

Today I sit here, looking out my back window and I cant help but to reminisce. One year ago we were in the middle of selling our adorable little home while purchasing another home and preparing to renew our nuptials in the Catholic church. All in the month of February. Old chapters were closing, while new chapters were beginning. February a life full of love and emotions.

I look back at the long and treacherous 2020 filled with uncertainty, challenges, and fear that led into the many countless blessings of 2021, and now I sit here well into 2022. Seeming like one giant cycle of events with lots of movement, variables, and inconsistencies. The world spinning around on its axis keeping me alert, aware, and on my toes.

I can see the ice crystals forming on the trees and plants, as well as on the rooftop. A beauty in and of itself as ice in Texas is a rarity except since our snow adventure last year I'm beginning to assume this will be an annual occurrence. As I sit, with a cup of warm Earl Grey tea in hand, mesmerized by the ice crystals I cant help but to think of being frozen in time and the contrasting beauty in the weather. I just love how Mother nature grabs our attention and forces us to slow down, look, and listen.

Ice, freezing temperatures, grey clouds, cold, frigid, slow, harsh, chilling ..all words we can use to describe a cold winters day- All words possibly associated with a negative connotation depending on what your describing. As opposed to warmth, heat, sunshine, passion, fervor, hotness, or intensity. I do love the cold weather, wrapped in warmness, at home cuddled next to a fire with a nice warm beverage in hand and or cuddled next to my sweetheart. I most definitely embrace the winter and all it brings.

Can we see beauty in such descriptive words? Can we associate words of positivity with harsh environments? I love the duality in conditions, environments, and circumstances. Can we see the beauty in darkness? Can we see clarity in smoke? Can we embrace a frigid time in our life with love and compassion? Can we rise and overcome variables of weakness in our life with strength and power.

Today reminds me of just that. Because although the weather may speak other wise, I would like to say that the majority of us have food, shelter and or have someone by our side loving us and keeping us warm, a pet, a family member, a friend, a loved one. Or perhaps a nice cup of warm coffee or tea, warm soup on the stove, a cozy fire with radiant sparking embers keeping us warm. And or knowing that we have someone that cares just a phone call or text away.

There is something beautiful in the cold stillness, a feeling of needing to be present, appreciate and recognize that there is always something greater beyond our control. Mother nature reminding us of her great power and the power within each and every one of us to be strong, to over come, while withstanding the tests of time during moments of great turbulence. We stand, we rise, we fall, we get up again. Repeat. Ahh the cycles of life, the winds of change, all meant to serve a higher purpose if we could could stand still long enough to acknowledge, that

This too shall pass.

"as we look not to what is seen but to what is unseen; for what is seen is transitory, but what is unseen is eternal." 2 Corinthians 4:18

Seasons change, people change, behaviors change, attitudes change, the world changes. We change, we accommodate, we pivot, we turn, we learn what works for our well being and what doesn't. For in everything there is a season. A season of cold ice crystals, of warm sunshine, a season of falling leaves.

Chapters or Seasons in our lives come and go. All to serve a purpose. All to show us who we really are and what we really need as people. Thought patterns and behaviors that served me in my early twenties, I find no longer serve me in my 40's. And in order for me to know and understand that, I had to experience it.

Do we sometimes get stuck or "frozen" in old though patterns and behaviors? And how can we melt away, dissolve or change something that no longer serves us?

When time stands still or when the world is swirling around you and your caught in center of a storm unable to move forward or backward I pull back, secure the doors and plant my feet strong into the earth. I'm quick to adjust, pivot, stop, and call the troops in for support. Life happens to all of us and at this point I've experienced enough of life and its fierce weather conditions that my emergency activation plan is always in place. Do you have an emergency activation plan in place when things are swirling around? How do you secure your fort of emotional wellness? A good portion of my activation plan include a deeper sense of awareness, a realization that something is occurring and the need to stop and realize what is the next best move to ensure security, safety, and stability. Just knowing is the biggest part. Than I recoil and pull back. Time to assess and think. Stop, breathe, and listen to the inner knowing. Is what's happening out of your control? What DO YOU have control of? During times of uncertainty I'm tapping into several things and when one is not working I try another, and another. A back up plan and a list to better serve my needs. Acceptance versus avoidance always serves me best. Here are a few things I do when I'm uncertain or when going through a season of change. And most importantly to AVOID falling into old thought patterns or behaviors.

• Call a friend or family member who you know and trust, someone that has earned the right to hear your story, someone who understands you emotionally

• Take a deep breathe, close your eyes

• Take a nap

• Sit outside, plant your feet on the earth

• Pray, meditate, journal

• Go to church

• Visualize an outcome of positivity

• Eat something wholesome, I love to make soup

• Watch a funny movie

• Go for a walk

• Gentle stretching/yoga

• Aromatherapy with a favorite essential oil

• Hug Someone you Love

Its the month of February and whatever season you may be in- whether a season of great love, or a season of great change I hope that you EMBRACE wherever you are and know that

This too Shall Pass.

May you enjoy the month of February with all the things that make you happy, healthy, and whole.

From My Heart to Yours,

Erica Jane