The Art of Opening (and Closing) Doors

Well, hello, Reader!

It's been a minute and a wonderful minute (aka month+) at that. I hope the same is true for you.

Pausing can be everything. A chance to settle, get out of our heads, become present to what is right now, and let go of the noise, busy-ness and false expectations we place on ourselves (and the world around us) in our quest to be enough, do enough, have enough.

That's what this past month+ has been for me. Among other things, I have been fundraising for our local professional ballet company, Ballet Idaho, and we just wrapped The Nutcracker. It was enthralling and magical.

I watched Clara every night in the opening party scene beg her parents to let her keep the toy nutcracker that the magician, Drosselmeyer, has brought for her.

Of course, through the powers that be, she gets to keep the toy and he takes her on a winter wonderland sleigh ride to faraway lands with dancers extraordinaire.

What occurred to me while watching, beyond the magical powers of our imaginations, and how it's possible to manifest our true heart's desires, is how I have spent much of my life energetically begging, like Clara for her toy, for people all around me to approve of me, find me acceptable, and give me permission to matter, count, belong.

While this isn't the kind of feel-good gift we hope to unwrap under the Christmas tree, this recent dawning in me has had profound ripples into my psyche, and has freed me from a heavy burden that I've carried unnecessarily to this point in my life.

Not all of us have the same burdens. People-pleasing, approval-seeking, trying to prove we are enough in the eyes of others, is not universal. But. Lots of us struggle with the impossible belief that if we only do more and get more will we be good enough.

This holiday season, my prayer for you is that you PAUSE. Long enough to see what kinds of burdens you might be carrying invisibly on your back that you can let go of. See this as a big red velvet bag, akin to Santa's sack of toys, that you can swing off your shoulder and set down on the ground next to you.

Take some time during your weeks or days off to sort through all the expectations and false beliefs in this bag. Set the ones that aren't meant for you at the threshold of the open door awaiting you. Then, step through and close that door behind you.

Unburden yourself this holiday season and watch the whole world get a little lighter. If that isn't a gift worth giving—and receiving—I don't know what is.

Celebrating you, Reader, and all that you are beyond the layers of proving you are enough.

You are enough.

Happy holidays!

Keep opening that door to a life and livelihood you LOVE.

❤️💕