We start a new year.

Maybe you have made some new years resolutions, maybe not – either way is fine.

And really the days pass and the years pass. We don’t have to have the expectation that just because the calendar says its a new year, that it really is new “year”. What’s in a word, eh?

Having said that, I realize that for our culture, there is a whole thing around this time of the year and for most people, it is fun and holidayish. For other people it may not be, as they feel the expectations of our culture and just can’t fit into that, whether from a financial or emotional or other reason.

It’s our minds that like to make meaning out of words. Quite complicated meanings sometimes. Whereas, when we stay here in this moment, the passing time becomes a non issue.

I’m not negating that you have memories that annoy or upset you. And that you have worries about the future. They are real or seem real because there are feelings attached to them.
Stuff from the past hangs around when emotions have not been felt. Or when we haven’t been open to life and willing to see what is going on in us. Stuff from the future continues to be strong when the emotions connected to them have been practised and reinforced over and over. An old pattern, set up when you were young, trying to help you survive, by thinking and planning in detail.

But as an experiment, just stop for a moment and be aware of what is here in this moment. Just this second. And what do you notice?

For me when I stop, there is nothing here. Just quiet nothing. Could be scary for a mind that likes to think all the time! I find it so liberating. And my mind definitely used to think absolutely all the time, at speed. Now it likes to think most of the time and I don’t take so much notice of it.

But recently my mind has been getting up to speed at times about my upcoming trip. So, I have been taking more notice of it than I usually do.

Some things are important to think about, aren’t they?
Really? Is that true?
Because I know from experience that when I loosen how much attention I give my thoughts, that the answers pop up anyway. Not only that but I can be aware of the fear driving the thoughts, allow the fear and not be bogged down in it.

I “thought” that the fear generated thoughts might increase as the date of departure got closer but actually it seems the opposite. Don’t know why. We often don’t know why – we can notice without needing to get tangled in the why questions – that’s just the mind keeping us busy!!

So my trip. Would you like to know?
I am going to a retreat in Australia to spend 5 days fasting with only water and then 2 days of juice. My body feels like it needs a real rest and a reset. The retreat is a lovely 6 acre place in the mountains one hour from Gold Coast airport. (windspirit.com.au)
It’s started already with a herbal Intestinal Cleanse and 4 days of a Colon Cleanse.
I am curious about how my body will be and how I will be.

With love,
Annette