ONE LEFT SHOE

ONE LEFT SHOE

Since the beginning of September, I have only been wearing one left shoe. Its become a joke around our house, because everywhere you look, there is a left shoe of all kinds, while the right shoe patiently sits in my closet awaiting its return. I have asked myself so many times for the answer to how my right foot got put in this big, non attractive black boot. Nothing specifically happened, I can't remember one moment where I thought, "Shit, I just hurt my foot." Nonetheless, pain came into my life and so did the dreaded foot doctor. A stress fracture later, I have been wearing one left shoe and hobbling around my days very slowly. 

I am a firm believer in the phrase, "Everything happens for a reason." Well, the reason immediately smacked me hard in the face. As much as I hate to admit it, my stress fracture was my divine intervention yelling SLOW DOWN SHANNON. Over the last few months, I have had to quit working out and stop hiking (two of my favorite activities). I cannot go dancing, I had to sit on the couch with my foot up, no working in the yard....I could go on and on. If you know me at all, you know that slowing down is not something I ever do or find to be enjoyable. Surprisingly, after I finally came to grips with a much needed slowing down process, I am enjoying my unexpected fracture, which has taught me the seasons of life.

Each and every one of us are walking colors of the brightest shades. We are so beautiful, with so much to offer the world and people in our lives. Just as during the season of Fall, some of our colors are on display when we allow our inner love to shine brightly. That love is seen and felt in utter amazement when you gaze at its vividness. Unfortunately, many of us hide our color with curled up, hardened textures filled with fear. Even for the brightest colors, there does come a time, where the leaves dry up and fall to the Earth. This is the time to slow down and assess what colors in our life need to be changed, brightened or released. Which colors have fulfilled their time in our lives and which ones need letting go? Which colors do we hold to tightly and polish as we await the next season to shine? 

The first snowfall brings a feeling of relief. A welcomed chance for rest and hibernation. The time where we allow ourselves to curl up and stay warm with the white blanket of Winter. January is the start of a new year, a start of new you. A chance to redo all things with love, a chance to begin again. As we sit on the couch, next to the fireplace, we let all the new beginnings get a chance to relax and refuel for the next season of change. 

When our new beginnings have had enough rest, they patiently start to grow. They start from a tiny thought or action and as in Spring, they start to bud with the most incredible green color. Spring is a season for growth, a chance to grow into a flower, tree or plant of your choosing. As we start to grow, be aware of the tiny weeds that might be growing inside of you. Weeds that we might not have pulled, for various reasons, but are now getting thicker and starting to hide our true selves. As we know in Spring, weeds can grow fast and there are many days when we have to go back into our garden and get rid of more that just don't belong. That's what Spring is about...maintenance. Not letting the weeds take over who we are, who we want to be, and how we love. 

Just as we have pulled our last weed, the heat starts to make everything bloom.  Summer is where all the work we have done over the past three seasons gets a chance to bloom and swell with beauty. Just like a flower opening up, our soul is gradually unfolding from the inside. It's the time of the year, that our soul dances in the sun, soaking up all life's possibilities. Summer is when we show the world who we are, with pride, acceptance, and love. We all bloom in a different way, but together we weave an amazing tapestry on this Earth. 

During this season of Fall, my left shoe and I are enjoying all the colors within the people we love. We are assessing the rainbow inside our soul, we are looking forward to our chance to rest this Winter, excited about the new growth in the Spring and ready to dance in the Summer.