Are You Led by Fear?
| Ciao Amica Mia, Has this ever happened to you? You’re doing the dishes, standing in line at the grocery, preparing dinner, or paying bills when a memory washes over you. In a flash a seam opens, time stands still and you are right back in the moment. Well, that happened to me the other day. I was folding laundry when boom, I found myself catapulted back to Orvieto Italy enjoying an espresso and a pastry in a little shop with my husband and two friends. Then I noticed the owner approaching us. He sauntered over and he was unabashedly staring directly at me. He stopped in front of me and began gesturing, as only an Italian can, and began rapidly speaking. While I’m proud to be a second-generation Italian American, I’m sad that I neither understand, nor speak the language. As you can imagine the Italian gentleman was quite expressive and passionate as I tried to tell him I didn’t know what he was saying. His expression quickly turned to disbelief and he began to shake his head. He pointed at me and with a very heavy accent, “where you from?” “I’m from the States.” “No” with another shake of his head. “Yes, I’m American.” “No, you from Italy. You like me.” This struggled exchange went on for a few minutes with the owner attempting to engage me in conversation. Finally, he walked away only to return with a young woman who spoke English more fluently. He pointed to his face and his eyes, then pointed to mine and with her help the owner of the café assured me that we were both Italian. That we were in fact “the same in our blood.” It was obvious that initially he was frustrated that we weren’t able to communicate, but more than that he felt an unexplainable connection with me and wanted to lean in. This sweet man seemed to recognize something in me that reflected back a part of himself. I don’t know why that memory suddenly surfaced while doing an ordinary household task. ~Maybe I’m longing for the expansion that visiting a different culture offers. ~Maybe I’m missing traveling and leading retreats and being live and in person with my community of the heart. ~Maybe I’m damn tired of the divisive climate we’re living in. The truth is, it’s not only my Italian heritage that connects me exclusively to other Italians. As I watched the DNC speeches this week, I was reminded again that we are not separate from one another. All peoples of the earth share the same blood. We are mirrors for one another no matter what country we’re from or language we speak, the color of our skin, the religion we affiliate with or what gender and sexual orientation we identify with. There’s no denying that 2020 has been a bitch, with some segments of the population more adversely affected than others. Let’s face it, it’s not going to get better overnight either. Yet it can get better if we come together in our shared humanity. If we consciously cultivate and grow in decency. If we demonstrate empathy. But how will we ever do that if we’re led by fear? First, I want to remind you of the old adage, “try walking in another person’s shoes”. This is the time to not only stand and walk proudly in your own shoes, but to uplift and support each and every person to walk and stand proudly in their own. Then, we must be willing and open to take a real honest look at ourselves. So today, on this Sacred Sunday, I ask you my friend to please, for your own well-being and that of your family and that of others, create a daily ritual of self-reflection. Take an inventory of your inner and outer terrain. Challenge yourself to look for the bias in your thinking. Examine the ways in which you operate on automatic. When fear arises take a pause, and a breath, and then acknowledge its presence. I ask you to please not put up your dukes when you feel frightened. Instead, try asking yourself what the emotion is really about. What’s stimulating the unease? My friend Desiree’s mantra is, “love is stronger than fear”. I’m a Breakaway Girl. And as a breakaway girl I choose to breakaway from the fear that hides out in the dark corners of my mind. I choose to breakaway from what’s preventing me from living and loving full out. If you’re reading this missive then I consider you a breakaway girl or guy as well. And I imagine that you too want to live and love fully. So, whether you’re a supporter of Joe Biden or not, I hope you will join me and stand with his conviction, “I will be an ally of the light, not of the darkness.” With lots of love, xoxo Paulette P.S. If you feel ready to tap into your inner badass BREAKAWAY girl, don’t wait any longer. The world needs you now! Book an appointment with me and let’s dive into what’s possible for you. |
