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 It
is the autumnal equinox 2005, one year since I wrote a newsletter; a
year of global and national tragedy; of personal grief, transition and
grace. Zora Neale Hursten wrote, "There are years that ask questions
and years that answer." For me, this has been a year of letting go.
My Mother lived in a lovely colonial style home built by her father
David when she was a child. Mom was a prolific shopper, a collector and
a keeper. A year ago August, I sorted out through each and every
filled-to-the-brim drawer, dresser and closet in the house, and gave
away or sold for a song the material remains of her life. In
retrospect, what at the time seemed a monumental task, I now understand
as a significant chapter in the grieving cycle.
Earlier this summer, I repeated this cleansing ritual with my daughter
Molly as she reluctantly gleaned through and packed her belongings.
Privileged for years with her own bed and bath, she would soon be
sharing a college dorm room with two others. And though there were
times when I grew impatient with her pace, I honored her inventory of
the past and preparation for moving on.
By early fall I, too, had packed up house. With children grown, I
decided it was time for an open-ended exploration. I am not alone on
this journey. Time magazine recently ran a cover story on the "female
mid-life crisis" and I am "the" woman: single, educated, empty-nester,
turning fifty on my next birthday, and asking, "What’s next?"
I’ve eagerly devoured neatly published stories of women who held one
career, switched, and now do something else. I have yet to discover an
article that focuses on how the women transitioned from one choice to
the next. I want to write that story. When asked last spring where I
was going, I would boldly respond, "my only agenda is to have no
agenda." People tell me how lucky I am and yes, I am most fortunate and
privileged to take this time. It is also an unsettling, uncomfortable
and challenging situation to be at such choice. We are all creatures of
habit and place and when we take away these structures, what remains?
Just as in a yoga practice, one pays attention not only to the posture,
but to one’s mindset as they move; so am I most interested not only in
the outcome of my journey, but how I am with the unknown. A wise friend
of mine wrote, "Congratulations, you are officially in the in-between
time." If I have a goal, it is to find stillness within the chaos and
trust the futur
Though I am claiming this time as "mine," I am hardly alone. It is only
through the grace and generosity and love and humor and support of
loved ones that I am able to comfortably journey outward. Travels thus
far have primarily been to South and Central America. Tentative plans
for this fall include volunteering at a community center in Mexico,
teaching yoga and assisting in program implementation of a wellness
center, while learning Spanish and hopefully, how to surf!
I still coach and welcome new clients; particularly those excited by
what’s next. I am also available for workshops and retreats in your
area incorporating yoga, expressive arts, and coaching.
Take a moment and ask yourself the following questions: What is next
for my life? What is one change I can make now to begin moving forward?
What do I need to let go of in order to have what I want?
I look forward to hearing from you.
Namaste,
Misha
"Some
stories don’t have a clear beginning, middle and end. Life is about not
knowing, having to change, taking the moment and making the best of it,
without knowing what’s going to happen next. Delicious ambiguity…"
Gilda Radner
10 Tips for Travel
What I have learned (so far) along the road:
1) Read about your destination.
Guides come in handy but I love to read authors of the region as well as the "Traveler’s Tales" anthology series.
2) Pack lightly.
In all honesty, I‘m still working on this one (footwear is the tricky
part!) but I do pack well. Simplicity, organization and
compartmentalization are key.
3) Walk on the ground before you fly.
As often as possible, I’ll hike in nature the day before I fly and once
again, upon my arrival. My personal response to time travel.
4) Enjoy the wait.
You can count on travel delays so you may as well be cheerfully
prepared. I use the time to stretch, walk and catch up on phone calls.
5) Water, water, water.
Flight attendants will often surrender and just bring me full bottles
after I request an "umpteenth" glass. Hydration and light eating help
ease jet lag.
6) Routines keep us healthy.
People often "vacation" from certain habits- exercise, vitamins, floss. Practice wellness everywhere.
7) Under schedule and leave room for the unexpected.
This summer I was in Europe with a friend and our respective daughters.
In every city, we’d each name one or two activities/places that we
wanted to experience. Everyone participated by choice and the trip was
amazingly relaxed and stress-free.
8) Talk to the locals.
The memories of a trip that stand out are the conversations with new
friends. This is where I learn most about a place.
9) Honor solitude.
When traveling with others, take time to yourself.
10) Give back.
Give gifts, share a story, offer your services, write thank you notes, contribute to our global home.
Share with me–I love your feedback!
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To subscribe, send an e-mail to: subscribe@misharenclair.com
To experience a sample coaching session: schedule@misharenclair.com
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