Three quarters of the year 2019 are almost behind us and it
seems like a little late to be introducing ‘Connect’ my word of the year. But
as they say, better late than never.
Besides, there are things happening in my life and provoking
thoughts as a direct consequence of choosing this word that it seems like a
good time to talk about it. And perhaps, I have a perspective to share now that
might have been very different at the beginning of the year.
A bit of a general thought, I’ve been choosing Word of the
year since 2007 and even if I decide that I won’t choose a “word of the year”,
I invariably do. At the very least, it sets an intention for the year, makes
you aware of your thoughts, brings perspective to the abundance or lack of the
word (intention) in your own world (quite a mouthful there).
And for a believer like me, I think more than just bringing
my awareness to situations, the universe creates and attracts circumstances and
draws me closer to what I truly need with the intentions I set for the year.
My intention for setting this intention was to build a
community, feel like I belong and feel more connected to fellow humans that I
share this journey with. Mostly the horizontal connections… I took a few
initiatives to feel more connected; I reached out to people with similar
interests, I went on more walks and more coffee dates. There were a couple initiatives that
I shared/ started on social media, both of them related to my fondness for the six-yard
unstitched fabric – the saree. I organized local meet ups for women who love to
wear sarees.
And I started an Instagram group for building sisterhood around a
traveling saree very much based on the movie ‘The sisterhood of the traveling pants
saree’.
Here’s what I wrote on my Instagram post:
Have you seen the movie- the sisterhood of the traveling pants... it’s
about teen girls finding comfort and support in their friendships. I was
watching the movie and realized that the craving for sisterhood and support and
the longing to belong that the teens in the movie were seeking exists even when
we get older.
With that intention, I decided to
share my saree and sisterhood strength with Ramya and all others who’d like to
join the sisterhood. #sisterhoodofthetravelingsaree
The intention of the sisterhood is
that the collective feminine power will bring us what we desire and most need
at this juncture in life.
Please let me know if you’d like to
join and follow the tag to see who is contributing to the sisterhood before
you. If my saree is taking it too long to reach you please reach out to others
who might want to become your support system and start another
#sisterhoodofthetravelingsaree in your community, in your family, among your
friends (real or virtual). If you don’t wear saree, share a t-shirt, a dupatta,
a bracelet whatever binds you into sisterhood.
And talking about sisterhood, why
leave the men out they probably need the support of the feminine energy the
most and an avenue to express their solidarity.
Whatever it takes, sisterhood,
brotherhood, a saree or a bracelet or just a prayer, please reach out, support
and be supported in turn, now is the time... Please tag
#sisterhoodofthetravelingsaree so we can follow you and see how you are bonding
and how your common intentions are bringing us all together.
Like I've said before, I set intentions, but I don’t get
to determine the path, often universe sends me what I need at the moment and
although my word ‘Connect’ was for my horizontal connections, strengthening
vertical connection was part of the divine plan.
I was thinking about doing a 100-day project, but I wasn’t
sure if the time was right to commit to something too time-consuming since my
plate was full and was going to get worse in May and June. The 100 Day project kicks
off in early April.
So, I kept it simple and my target was, one month of self-care
through at least 5 minutes of daily meditation. I was easily able to manage that,
and I continued it for May and most of June as well. Most days my meditation
sessions were more than 10 minutes but there were days when I needed to squeeze
in my meditation in the car at a parking lot while waiting for kids at their
activities. I managed a 90+ day track record but then travel schedules upset it
and I didn’t quite make it to the 100
th day, not a very good track
record there.
I came back from vacation and slowly settled into a routine
and I was missing meditation, and this time I knew that I wanted something
deeper, something more guided to continue on this journey. I joined a local
group for just that purpose, my vertical connection and my inward journey and
guess what, found a bunch of people on that exact same journey and a community
formed around our practice. I’ll talk more about the program once I’m a little
more experienced with it but needless to say, the word ‘Connect’ is leading me
on journeys that I didn’t plan for. And as soon as I think I have figured it
out, it changes again, just like life itself.
So, the journey continues- inward, outward, vertical,
horizontal and sometimes it sits still within me and those are the most
precious of moments.
And as I mentioned in the beginning about sharing about my
word in the 9th month of the year gives me a unique perspective that
I didn’t have at the beginning of the year, well, looking back at my list I
realized that I had chosen this word – ‘connect’ for 2014 as well and had I written about it at the beginning of the year, I would have been very tempted
to change it but I’m glad I didn’t and even though the word is a repeat the journey
is as different as day and night.
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