three months.

The past few days I've been reflecting a bit *sur ma nouvelle vie* ... so many experiences, so many feelings, so many changes have been compacted into what, with a little distance, I realize is a very short time.

I have thought about how little time three months really is. At least in my old lifetime. Not a lot new and different happened within three months. Same corporate Groundhog Days... same dismal evenings ...

Life seems magnified for me here. I've been told I am not the same woman that arrived here July 13th. I think my first month was spent in a state of confusion. Of trying to shed the layers accumulated for survival and protection. Of paying attention to the moments instead of worrying about the coming days, weeks, months, years. My physical metamorphosis is a manifestation of similar changes occurring on the inside.

My dear friend Kathleen calls it being 'present'. For non-new agey types like me, she translates that to an instruction to 'feel your feet'. That's right, think about feeling your feet on the ground. Bringing your attention back to what is happening right now, in this moment, and savoring it. Noticing it. Appreciating it.

I still have my days. Hours. Fearfulness. I'm also noticing that sometimes the fear and worry is being replaced by excitement. Instead of fearing for the unknown future and what it may hold, can I be excited by the unknown? sometimes yes, I'm actually doing just that.

I've never been a patient woman. I'm the kind of person who somehow just 'sees' a situation, how it should be, how it can be, how I want or expect it to be. Once I 'see' it, I desire immediate gratification... seems simple to me.

But that was when I was in control. My lessons in vulnerability are frustrating, requiring patience, reflection and letting go. I'm terrible at all of those. I'm not a good student but it seems that in these new instances, it doesn't really matter. There is no choice for me but to submit to the fates. (or whatever one might want to call it...)

Because I seem to be learning and changing and growing a lot, it just doesn't seem possible that it has only been 3 months (or so for you control freaks!!!)

I can't imagine where I'll be in three more ... or six more ... or ... um, wait a minute, Kim, feel your feet, feel your feet!

fearless friday.

I'd like to tell you all ... life is too short.

Life is too short to spend time in a fruitless relationship.

Life is too short to waste in a dead-end job.

Life is too short to put off the experiences you dream of.

Life is too short not to learn something new each day.

Life is too short to spend endless hours in front of a television.

Life is too short to mindlessly collect 'things' to distract you from whatever it is you'd really like to be doing.

Life is too short for the merry-go-round (unless it is at the amusement park!)

Life is too short for regrets.

Life is to short to live in fear.

Fear of taking a risk. 

Fear of the consequences (what really IS the worse thing that could happen and how bad would it really be?)

Fear of failure.

Fear of embarrassment.

Fear of what others will think.

Fear of discomfort.

Fear of tomorrow ruling how you live today.

Friends and readers, I spent many years of my life doing all of the above.  I'd just like to tell you that it is okay to stop.  

I'm living proof that it can be done.  I'm okay. My world still spins.  Every day I'm finding a new way.  I still don't have a plan.  But I'm seeing the light a little more clearly every day.

I hereby declare today "Fearless Friday".  I encourage you all to take a step, however small, toward something new.