Hello,
My friend.
Thank you for joining me to listen to this poem by Jeanette and Sinéad's Begin Again.
A poem that speaks to all of us.
Of beginnings,
Renewal.
The tiny simple moments in life that are brand new or where we ourselves are participating in beginnings.
I find this poem really helpful during those times when we feel maybe a little knocked down,
Life weary or suffering some feeling of loss,
Disappointment or failure.
After I read this poem,
We'll move into a wonderful meditation with it and you can do that any way you want.
But begin now by getting super comfortable in your own body and in your space.
Begin again.
Little moments.
Tending to the flowers.
Cutting the fruit.
Opening the curtains so that the entire sky can greet you.
It's never easy,
But no matter.
Steam from the tea so quiet.
An open book and door and arms.
You have time.
Time to create a life that you can stand up straight in.
Even though life may beat you down hard.
Even though things,
Situations and people you love may be taken away from you so that your arms can memorize the grace of letting them go.
Even then,
Especially then,
Begin again.
Remind yourself that nothing really dies.
Rather,
It transforms.
Everything and everyone you have loved lives in the mysterious memory of yourselves.
Turning.
Healing.
Renewing itself.
Until one day,
A photograph of something or someone very dear,
Long gone,
Visits your mind and you bow your head with appreciation.
Meanwhile,
Take your pain to the sea and your trouble to the mountain.
Leave it there and walk home clean.
When failure knocks and rattles and quakes,
Let it.
Watch it make a fresh canvas of you.
Failure,
That great teacher,
Is kinder if you thank her as you are getting up off the floor.
She knows something that you don't know,
That she is usually the last face you will see before breaking through.
Such a little light in the crack of the door.
But today,
If you are wading through the waters of loss or confusion,
Begin again.
Open the avocado.
Draw the bath.
Call your best friend.
Gather the books.
Play your favorite album.
Write.
Create art.
Open your arms.
Move your legs.
Lovely little blessings.
Whispering to life that you won't give up.
Not ever.
Let's move gently into a space in our bodies where we can practice what it feels like to begin again.
You might begin by taking a long,
Slow inhale through your nose and a soft,
Open exhale through your mouth.
And as you do that,
Sense how every breath is already a beginning again.
Because no matter what came before it,
Each inhalation is new and each exhalation is release.
Keep that sense as you gently roll your shoulders,
As if brushing away the weight of the past.
The past moment or any past moments that feel heavy on you.
You may not know why.
And then feel your arms and your legs.
Feel your chest,
Your heartbeat.
And feel the length of your spine.
All of you.
Alive.
All of you.
Here.
Every piece.
Whisper to your body.
We begin again.
Place a hand on your heart.
Feel its steady rhythm supporting you,
Carrying you through.
Inside or aloud,
Say softly,
I can begin again here and now.
I am not defined by what has ended.
Each breath I take opens a new door.
And just as the poet did,
Picture something in life that is simple and kind.
A cup of tea steaming.
The sun slipping through the curtains or warming your skin.
The ocean carrying away what you no longer need.
Feel yourself lighter.
A little freer maybe.
And ready to take one small step at a time.
Forward.
Remember this moment for when you most need it.
That your body is feeling alive.
Your breath is renewing you.
And your spirit is whispering,
Begin again.
And as we finish here,
Perhaps taking one more breath.
Feeling the gift of being able to begin again,
Always.
What does it mean to you to hold that gift of being able to begin again?
Of being part of the ever-regenerating nature of life,
Of creation.
What does it mean to you?
And as you breathe here,
What might it make possible for you?
And as you move into the rest of your day,
Keep that with you.
Keep with you the truth that you don't need to wait for a perfect time or a grand transformation or permission to begin again.
Life is constantly renewing itself in small,
Sparkling acts.
Sometimes tenderly and quietly.
And so does the life inside of you.
Thank you for being here.
Come back anytime.
And until next time,
Bye for now.
