Dear Gatherers,
Summer is here but sleep-away camp, outdoor festivals, family barbecues and travel are not.
For many of us, sheltering in place is getting harder.
Since we cannot change what's happening, all we can work on is how we respond to what's happening.
Last week was a tough one for me. I found myself in a dentist's office having emergency surgery on the same day I was scheduled to move out of my office in Century City. The metaphor was not lost on me. A wisdom tooth extraction! What wisdom could I gain here? How would I extract any wisdom in this painful moment?
With a throbbing mouth, I went to pack up the office I have been in for ten years.
Not having an office for the first time in 40 years will be a huge change! Much of my identity is wrapped up with being a working woman. I was a lawyer for 20 years and a business woman for the next 20 years. Much of my work has been helping women balance families and careers. During those years, I had four kids, and after each maternity leave, I returned to my office. I am comfortable in my office and feel strong and empowered.
But I am being called upon to adapt to a new life. I want to cling to the old, familiar structure, but as Joseph Campbell said, "we must be willing to let go of the life we planned to have the life that is waiting for us".
I am dedicated to making The Gathering a place where women can support one another in the next phase of our lives. This is your time. Women spend so much of their lives devoted to helping others in their families, communities and jobs, that they often forget to take care of themselves. My mission is to nurture these women, and bring them together for meditation, reflection and sharing. I am committed to providing the calm, clarity and connection that was lacking in my own life to as many women as I can.
Maya Angelou's quote is perfect for this moment in my life:
"The desire to reach for the stars is ambitious. The desire to reach hearts is wise".
As I evolve, I am leaning into the wisdom that comes with the desire to make my life about connecting with others and offering them tools to connect more deeply with themselves. I hope to see you at a Gathering soon.
Let's allow ourselves a little inner peace.
Please share this with one or two women you know who might need a little nurturing.
Join us on Wednesdays at 5 PST/ 8 EST for a 45 minute meditation session
and on Sundays at 4 PST/ 7 EST for meditation, reflection and sharing
With love and light,
Nora