Grace and Strength

“To offer no resistance to life is to be in a state of grace, ease, and lightness… Realize deeply that the present moment is all you ever have. Make the Now the primary focus of your life.” ~ Eckhart Tolle
 
When I was young I was clumsy - I would trip and fall a lot and my family sarcastically called me “Grace.”  What I have learned from a meditation and mindfulness practice was that I wasn’t clumsy at all; I was just not living in the present moment.  Now, when I trip or stumble, I realize it is because I am rushing and not paying attention in the present moment and I invite grace into my life.  I stop; I take a deep breath, slow down and come back to this moment.
 
Recently, I have noticed that I have been running into things, tripping and getting paper cuts.  I realized that I had unconsciously entered the holiday rush.  I was rushing from one activity to the next and in that rush I was stumbling, crashing and hurting myself.  I was not only injuring myself physically with  bruises and cuts, but the hurried pace were causing me to lose the peaceful state of mind that I treasure.
 
My gifted and spiritual yoga instructor and yoga therapist, Mary Carhuff, provides her students with a “heart rock” intention card each year.  She captures a stunning image of a rock or rocks in the shape of a heart and inscribes an intention we focus on for the year.  This year the intention is Grace and Strength. During this holiday season, whenever I become aware that I am racing from one thing on my to do list to the next, I will stop and take a deep breath and fill by body, mind and spirit with grace and strength.  I will remember the true meaning of the holiday season and come from a place of peace and love. May you find grace and strength this holiday season and throughout the coming year.
 
Do you have things that happen in your life, like tripping, that make you aware that you are not living in the present moment?  How can you use these signs to bring your focus to the Now?
 
How can you bring more grace, strength, and love into your life for the holidays and coming year?