This physical realm is filled with riddles for us to solve along the way… perhaps the greatest riddle of them all is that the answers are different for each of us at any given moment in our lives, or that reality is relative. You can examine two people whose lives appear to be similar, both of whom had an abusive mother and both of whom find themselves at a personal crossroads regarding the relationship with said mother, and when you seek the truth behind the wizard’s raven-blue-black velvet curtain, find that one must forgive and embrace the mother, receiving her into the fold of her life, and the other must forgive and release, creating a boundary which must be maintained in order for a healthy life to be achieved. There is no right answer.

Which is why life is a creative process.

Which is how we are uniquely creating our lives from the decisions we make in each moment of now. Even now! Especially now. This “theory of relativity” could be the canvas on which this entire realm is painted. It’s everywhere. There is no corner of the physical realm which has not been permeated by this truth. Granted, on top of this backdrop are countless other malleable truths and riddles of reality, but all of it is relative to all the rest of it. This is where contrast comes into play… creating balance, teaching us grand lessons of who we really are with the presence (oh the persistent presence!) of all that we are not. Contrast can be so uncomfortable if we resist it. Er, ahem, when we resist it.

When we resist that which is contrary to what we believe, or what we live, we find ourselves locked in arm-wrestle with a person of exactly equal strength. Nobody wins. Everyone is exhausted. Energy which could be applied elsewhere is being constantly funneled toward this endless battle against what? A little bit of judo goes a long way in life. I can turn loose. Let go. Trust that God/dess will handle all of this while I do my thing. Have faith that God/dess will not let the bad guys win just cause I slept with both eyes closed. Possibly even turn my awareness from the opposition completely, knowing it is there but knowing I don’t have to give it my valuable attention.

Attention is currency in the universe. High-dollar real estate. What you “pay” attention to is what you are investing in. Clever expression, isn’t it? To pay attention… the clues are everywhere!

I went into this new year very differently from the last. My last conscious thought of 2009 was at 11:55 p.m. as I was crawling up for a snuggle next to my already-sleeping man… “should I rally? Should I force myself to force him to get up and pop that bottle of chilled prosecco to ring in the new year? Not a chance.” I, my honey, my daughter and her friend, and my dad were all crashed before I heard those fireworks in the backdrop of my very peaceful dreams.

Since then, I have risked accepting the business of my is-ness. I know that my best work comes from that place, when I allow it. This really is the focus of 2010 for me. Taking my attention away from the contrasting energies and putting my valuable attention- and time-investments in my own garden.

It’s time to start minding my own Is-ness.

(Speaking of my is-ness, the comedy night didn’t make it into the calendar year. Tried to force it, but we know how that goes… I have my bit planned and will hit the stage {soapbox…stump…} in January. Thanks for all the encouragement!)

Andrea Lea is a writer who is cracking the code of the symbolic and recording the spiritually hilarious. Her adventures so far have included several years and a cooking show in post-Apartheid South Africa, a stint in rural south Georgia, a brief but sparkling singing career which she intends to revive, and a glorious indigo daughter named Dom. When she's not painting, taking photos, writing, singing, or doing laundry, Andrea can be found in her kitchen, channeling her grandmother through new recipes, and feeding folks.
Email this author | All posts by Andrea Lea