I’m in a strange spot with my blog this week…having a hard time tying it all up with a bow, even with the most amazing energy and butterflies in my stomach for what is to come.  But it’s Sunday, and I’m a creature of habit so I’m checking in. 

Trust your vision and work to clarify it.

These are the words that come to me time and again in my mindfulness practice. I started my blog to find clarity on my own journey, and with the hope of helping the next generation learn things from my insights, grounded in optimism, younger than I learned them. I like to call it the ‘game of life’. 

I feel such a connection, not just to my own kids, but to the relationships I have made because of them. It’s so easy to generalize, and put a label on a generation or a group of people, one of life’s greatest lessons for me has been to challenge myself not to do that; to take the time to get to know people, one on one, rather than believe a label or what someone else has said about them.  Real connection is the name of the game and when I have one on one conversations with kids from this next generation, their strength and insight inspires me.  I’m grateful for my strong emotional memory, because I can still remember what it feels like to be 15 or 18 - both the joy and wonder of it, and the struggle.  And each time I get the chance to be with one of these remarkable young people, I am in awe of their wisdom and strength.  Yesterday, that was my experience with Allie Taylor, almost 14 and showing up for it all in life. I shared some of her wisdom back in November in this blog - What Matters Most - about how we can honor differences, get along, and understand each other better. She knows it’s good to have a passion and apply yourself to it - her’s is dance and music.  I had the blessing of seeing her Christmas dance production and it brought tears to my eyes it was so beautiful. She understands that challenges come along to make us greater versions of ourselves… and she meets hers head on with bravery and love.  Her game of life is the stage, much like my third born Kate. And the lessons of discipline, tenacity, confidence and so many others are the same as sports. Passion is an amazing catalyst for growth. No matter what our age, we are all works in progress, and passion for what we want to create in our lives will open us up (and hopefully allow our ego to soften a bit) for new insight to impact and change us.

This past week, the signs have been everywhere for me.  The energy has shifted and doors are opening I wouldn’t have imagined a week ago.  The game of life has been in full swing…from Save Stanford Men’s Volleyball, to watching Luke’s first college game on Zoom, to anticipating the opening of TCU Beach Volleyball season next weekend, to a trip to St. George to visit one of my dearest friends (credit 1990 volleyball season for our lifelong friendship) the theme is there.  What we learn on the court, we carry with us our entire life.  

From my deep clay roots to my bare feet in the sand, this process of evolving and paying attention to the energy I attract has taught me that the greatest journey is one of openness and strong boundaries, inclusion and the ability to honor our uniqueness, and forgiveness, both of myself and others. With a spirit of non-judgment, we can help generational stories evolve into traditions of strength and deep inner knowing that make the world a more healed and stronger place. When we find our passion in doing the work, the sky is the limit, and what is coming has my heart full of gratitude and excitement.  I can’t wait to share it all with you. 

With love & optimism,

Wendy

Feeling these lyrics this week…a little wisdom from Florida Georgia Line