Happy Holidays

If you are like me, the end of the year is an opportunity to review the year’s events, appreciate the many blessings received and to think about what you gleaned from the experience. I had several significant “Aha!s” this year. Here are my top three — one of which is about you.

BB’s Personal Aha!s from 2009

1. Life is impermanent. Loved-ones die and there’s not a darned thing you can do about it.
I re-learned this lesson when my best bud, my dog, Layla, died in May.

2. When good things happen — embrace it.
Most everyone has fantasized about writing a book and getting it published by a big publishing house. While I was over-the-moon happy to be in that situation, I had a very hard time getting used to the idea. I kept asking myself “how ?” and “why ?” this happened to me — of all people.

Thankfully, I finally figured it out last summer after a long meditation retreat. I concluded that while I am still not certain how I did it exactly, I managed to write a quasi-autobiographical story about a woman (Olivia) who as the result of a series of life experiences and some sage advice, learns some universal truths. Truths that in the end allowed her to get out of her own way and be a whole lot happier.

As for the “why” part of my question, I concluded that sharing whatever wisdom I have learned (whoops, that Olivia learned….) with other people (via writing, speaking, etc.) is my passion and as such is what I was meant to do. I just didn’t realize it until now.

The truth is, you don’t get a registered letter in the mail that informs you that what you thought you were supposed to do with your life has been trumped by a new purpose that, had you been paying attention earlier, may have occurred to you before now, but now that it has revealed it self — it’s time to embrace it.

3. Having a supportive community makes me way-happy.
This is where you come in. Whether you are a reader of my book, my blog or are one the 1300 people who subscribe to my Monday Aha!s, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart. Your support and encouragement has been (hokey as it sounds…) the “wind beneath my wings.”

I have no doubt that my adventure will gain momentum in the coming months. I invite you to enjoy the ride with me. I’d also like to ask you a small favor — if at any time you get the sense that all of this is going to my head, please remind me that it’s not all about me.(Aha! #2)

I wish you and yours a joyous holiday season and new year filled with peace, happiness and many wonderful Aha!s.