On the Coast #Families  – Dec/Jan 2019/20

Summer of surrender – time to love and let be

It is officially Summer. School is done. Holidays are here. The weather is great…..I hope. We are busy with Christmas and New Year’s celebrations with family and friends. So why does a little part of me dread all this?

I have to confess, there is a secret Grinch inside of me that says “enough fun and frivolity”, “too much good times”, “leave me alone”! There is a shadow side of me, my inner killjoy scrooge that resents the enforced bling and baubles of Christmas and the chaos and uncontained consumerism. I mean, where’s the meaning?

At some point in the silly season, I begin to get overwhelmed by it all and crave the return of normalcy.  I even want to get back to work and for the kids to be back at school.  I get agitated by too much relaxing and socialising. I want my routine and rhythm which includes healthy doses of ‘alone time’ and ‘creative space’.

Now I wouldn’t have ever defined myself as a ‘control freak’, but I think I might be. It seems that everything I do is highly diarised, scheduled and intentional. I need to know why I am doing something and see a result; produce an outcome. The whole idea of having a holiday and relaxing……doing nothing……is hard for me to surrender to, but surrender is what I need to do.

Surrender allows us to STEP into our lives ready to receive, completely able to manifest and willing to embrace everything – the good, the bad, and the ugly – with an open heart. It’s from this place that real magic happens.

Ok ok I get it, I’m blocking the magic. I’m trying to create the moment instead of just creating the space to allow it to unfold, to trust and let things happen. To just be.

Here is my Christmas wish list:

  • I really want to be able to lie on the beach all day and read a trashy novel, and be ok with that.
  • I’d really love to declare today a pyjama and movie day marathon and not feel guilty.
  • I’d really love the whole family to have a… (gasp!).. media-free day. That means no newspapers or books, no email, no phone, no TV, no Facebook, no games or internet of any kind!
  • I’d really love to jump in the car with the kids and a tent and have no idea of where we end up, and feel completely excited by that.
  • I’d really love to be able to spontaneously host a BBQ for thirty friends and their children and not spiral into a complete stress and panic.

Normally, of course, any of that would unhinge me and stress me out badly. And the huge irony of it all, my Christmas wish list of ways for letting go, is still really controlling.   I am defining the ways and means for how I will let go.

Do you find this letting go thing hard to do too? Does this sound like you? Then maybe you might like to join me in an experiment, to love and let be.

For this silly season and holiday period, each day, I am going to begin my day with a prayer.  Here is my prayer for invoking within me the Spirit of Christmas and Summer Holidays. Feel free to use it and share it:

A Prayer of Love & Let Be

Dear Spirit, fill my heart with unconditional love for my family and friends

Spirit, guide me to the people, places, experiences and events where my gifts and presence are of best service

Spirit, fill me with grace and faith in the perfection of the now, so I can fully participate in the great unknowing and go with the flow of life and love

Spirit, fill me with generosity and joy so I can freely share it with everyone I meet

Spirit, fill me with wonder for nature and gratitude for everything, so I can see the sacred all around me.

Spirit, relax my body, mind and soul, so I can be renewed and refreshed to be present in each moment

Spirit, I give thanks for the blessings and gifts that are always there to be found.

And so be it.

Merry Christmas. Happy Holidays. Much love and peace to you all. Love Sarah