Love.

The start to this year feels quiet.

Muffled even.

Like a breath in … or the subtle shingle tumble sound of a receding wave in anticipation of its return to shore..

For me, January arrives like a quiet restoration after the busy and anxious December festivities.

We celebrate the Winter Solstice, a day of pure joy and community singing and storytelling around a fire symbolic of the return of the light and the longer days ahead.

This is our sanctuary. A loving space of like minded souls and a moment of joy tucked quietly into the busiest months of the year.

I have to admit I don’t find Christmas easy. I don’t enjoy the Social pressures or the sheer volume of mass produced gimmicky land fill destined ‘stuff’ that hits the shelves at this time of year.

But.. I am a sucker for a soppy Christmas movie, and I can find myself sobbing uncontrollably at Paddington,

You see, what I do buy into at this time of year is the love.

Buried deep in amongst the cheesy Christmas music and the bonkers  new competitive tradition of the tear jerky Christmas adverts that arrive in our living rooms … is, I think, a craving for love and kindness. I mean, if it wasn’t then the likes of John Lewis wouldn’t reach for the cute nostalgic film tropes every year .. they spend millions on research to learn exactly what will create the right feeling for us to want to spend in their stores .. right ?

So underneath all the plastic glittery baubles and fake red Santa suits (Santa only wears a red suit because Coca Cola pictured him that way!) is apparently a global yearning to love and be loved.

And that’s kind of cool… right?

So if the big multi million pound stores believe in our need for love so much that they’ll make their most important advert of the year to pull our heart strings… why can’t we recognise this for ourselves and move through our lives understanding that we all crave loving kindness?

All the time …

We all just want to be happy.

Research shows that kindness is the opposite of stress.

Let that sink in …

Can you imagine the potential shift in our world if, rather than calming prescriptions or alcohol we turned to kindness to self medicate against stress ?

A simple act of kindness can shift your and someone else’s day.

I was reading a fascinating book by David R. Hamilton recently in which he talks about the scientific research behind some of the most ancient belief systems to do with healing, things that have been forgotten or related to the world of ‘woo woo’.

And he discusses the concept of telepathy.

Now before you stop reading, there is evidence of tribes throughout the world using telepathy to communicate after a hunt or to warn their people of approaching danger … enough evidence for the subject to be scientifically researched and tested.

Hamilton explains that many experiments have now shown that when two people have a connection, even a very casual meeting or small amount of time together, when parted into separate spaces the brain waves of one can indeed affect the other. For example, flashing lights shown to one person in one room produces  brain activity which is simultaneously seen in the brain of the second person with no lights in a completely different room.

So… if this is true.. can you imagine how we can move through our lives affecting all around us simply by ‘giving off’’ kind energy ?

Kind energy towards others but also to yourself.

I’m not one for loading myself with the pressure of New Year resolutions ..

Instead I set intentions.

I light a fire, a fire pit or even a candle and write my wishes for the year ahead on a piece of paper.

My wishes to be a kinder person.. to consciously consider how I travel through my life and the connections I make.

My wishes to be successful… whatever that means …

And my wishes to have a peaceful year full of joy, for my family and everyone else…

Then, whilst thinking about these things, I burn the paper, sending my words into the sky..

This is my annual ritual to begin the year.

In that moment … where the sea takes its breath before the wave crashes once again over the pebbles and the bustle of life returns once more.

I have often launched myself into the world and felt a little overwhelmed. I’m not a naturally outgoing person person and I prefer a small group of friends to large gatherings. So my response has always been to ‘make myself’ go to that party or stand in that crowd or … stand in front of a class of strangers and teach (!). To toughen up and develop thicker skin. All the while with the internal dialogue that I am somehow weird or different for not enjoying being around so much energy.

But, now.. in an act of kindness to myself I have created boundaries which honour my personality.

I no longer see my introverted nature as anything but a super power which needs to be respected and protected.

My courage is soft, gentle and quiet.

My strength is powerful in its subtlety and I can be myself in ways I never could whilst inauthentically forcing myself to be someone else.

I am excited for the year ahead.

We have so many new ideas for our businesses and our personal life, so many adventures to share with our loved ones and challenges to face.

This will be a year of kindness, learning and joy.

Al and I wish you all a beautiful year full of love and laughter.