Reflections

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  1. Nannette

    My faith and prayer have anchored me in the past when my life was upside down. I was in a long term relationship in my late 30’s and through my 40’s. I had just started a Masters program and my partner who was finishing his doctorate decided not to come home one day. No explanation, just a phone call late in the evening…” I am not coming back”. My world seemed to crash- I didn’t know what to do. Thankfully, I had extremely supportive faculty and friends to help me. Now …I have a good husband and together we work on what needs to be done in our lives. My friends…many have passed away…and others were there when needed and now have moved on. I still have prayer…and I have this wonderful group of people on this site who are always encouraging. Thank you all.

    2 months ago
  2. O.Christina

    To perceive storms as chances to alter own perspectives; dear family and friends; to be of service if required and allowed; to be open to see what´s behind, to be open to Light and Love.

    2 months ago
  3. Robin Ann

    My faith, very close friends and possibly earth angels that remarkably just appear during the storm.

    2 months ago
  4. Dolores Kazanjian

    Music. Meditation. Prayer,

    2 months ago
  5. L
    Lovely Poppy

    Like my favourite childhood film said, “Just keep swimming!” Nothing lasts forever really, especially the bad things in life. So I suppose if I were to really jump into the metaphor of being anchored, I guess I’m really not anchored at all. I’ll be swept away by the currents of life, but I hope to see some nice sights, meet good people, and keep my chin up along the way.

    2 months ago
  6. Carol

    Searching my journals, I discovered that we have had this question before and for the most part, my response to it has not change so I share what I wrote at that time. I’ve pasted it below:

    I have had many anchors. I think we all have because growth in self-awareness comes from our life experiences. As a child who was bullied, I would say determination was my anchor. As a young adult, fear of failure taught me to proceed even if I was shaking in my boots! The birth of my children made them my anchor. They needed me. My husband was a good man but he suffered from the disease of alcoholism. I had to be strong for them. Many dear friends come to mind and their loving support through many challenges was such a welcome anchor. Sometimes you just need a friend with skin! I had been taught that faith was a list of beliefs and one of those beliefs was a God who demanded perfection of me if I wanted Him to love me. For me faith is no longer a list of beliefs.. For me, faith is trust and it took me many years to realize that dogma can be dangerous but life is trust worthy and grace is always flowing. I knew I was to go with the flow. When I began to let life show me the way, I found that I, too, was trustworthy. Today my job is willingness. Today I know I am loved. Today, I am rooted and anchored in love.. Today, I am filled with gratitude because I choose love. One of the biggest storms in my life was my divorce after 35 years of marriage. It took over ten years of grief for me to write the poem below. I share it and the author note I wrote at the time it was written. I share it in hopes that it may be helpful to others facing their own storm of loss.

    A Time to Let Go by Carol Ann Conner

    What is grief?

    But a passage — a letting go

    that comes draped in confusion

    and seems too harsh for me to face

    without protection.

    But protection doesn’t come

    as the anger of loss pulses

    through my body

    like a fire raging out of control,

    a fire that can only be contained

    if accepted and felt.

    The internal storm begins.

    A primal scream

    fuels the burning flames.

    I smolder like a chard building

    stark against the horizon.

    My shelter gone,

    I bargain with my ghosts,

    with bolts of emotional lightning

    that I am convinced

    are trying to destroy me.

    I desperately look

    for a place to hide.

    Finally, I surrender.

    I seek haven in my humanity,

    clinging to the dust of creation.

    A gentle rain of tears begins to fall   

    and I release my pain.

    Embracing life’s cleansing ritual,

    I look at my wound.

    I grant it permission to heal.

    Peering into the mist

    of new beginnings,

    I sense that I am not alone,

    Just lonely and afraid

    as I start all over again.

    This time

    I will embrace willingness

    instead of willfulness.

    Love instead of fear.

    Life instead of death.

    Only then will the path widen,

    the storms cease,

    and the fires light

    the way

    to my new home.

    This poem is reflective of my own journey, of my capacity for denial, for fighting and fleeing from life when I experience loss, even though every religious discipline teaches us to flow, to let go, to release our hurt so it can be transformed and provide us with renewed energy for whatever life still holds for us. As I enter the winter of my own life, I am thankful for the awareness letting go brings.  I know that my job is willingness. When I am truly willing, life dances me, romances me, and helps me pack and unpack, sorting what is worth keeping and let go of what is not life-giving.  For this I am most grateful.

    2 months ago
    1. Nannette

      Dear Carol, Thank you for sharing that heartfelt poem…it is beautiful and painful….You are a brave woman. Blessings of all good things to you.

      2 months ago
    2. Joseph McCann

      Thank you Carol.

      2 months ago
  7. Don Jones

    At my core, I feel it is faith. That clarity of knowing at the very center of my being that just Is. Storms happen on the surface, but in deep, they are indiscernible.

    2 months ago
  8. Barb C

    I’m anchored by a resilience that it took me years to recognize, and by the existence of all the lessons learned during those years that help me put storms into perspective. And by much more: the teachings and example of my parents, both of whom grew up poor during the Depression; knowing I love and am loved in return; recognizing how much I have to be grateful for, knowing that no matter how fierce the storm it will have its lulls and will eventually pass, or I will come to accept and perhaps even to love the wind and rain.

    2 months ago
    1. Dolores Kazanjian

      Like your parents, I grew up during the Depression. Yes, things were hard – we had nothing. But at the same time there was a sense of community – a kind of “we’re all in this together.” And we shared what little we had.

      2 months ago
    2. Carol

      Barb, love the line: ” I will come to accept and perhaps even to love the wind and rain.” Trusting the process!

      2 months ago
  9. Charlie T

    What keeps me anchored, are my
    practices. Also, having a routine.
    Now, using the anchor metaphor,
    sometimes, during a storm, I must be
    willing to “drop anchor” and head out to sea.
    Meaning, I must leave the security of the
    known, and head directly into what I fear.
    This is where I’ve found growth and
    change in my life. Also, my metaphorical
    anchor chain has broken in a storm and
    left me drifting. The worst feeling.
    Drifting with a broken mast and no forward
    motion. Forcing me to cobble something
    together out of the bits and pieces and limp
    on to the next destination. I like this metaphor.
    As I sit here fully anchored in this protective
    bay, surrounded by safe and abundant hills.
    I have found a safe harbor, but this doesn’t
    mean I shouldn’t venture out into the vast
    and unknown sea, occasionally.
    In reality, I’m no sailor. I like to be firmly
    planted on solid ground. 😁

    2 months ago
    1. Joseph McCann

      Thank you, Charlie….I liked that reflection.

      2 months ago
    2. Carol

      Charlie, your words are a poem. Thank you

      2 months ago
    3. Barb C

      Not to suggest you should leave dry land, but this reminds me of a quotation:
      “A ship is safe in harbor, but that’s not what ships are for.”
      ― John A. Shedd

      2 months ago
    4. Josie

      Just love your imagery, Charlie. I find it so relatable.

      2 months ago
  10. Michele

    Family, friends, meditation and this site helps to anchor my life amidst the storms.

    2 months ago
  11. Butterfly

    My family, my connection to Spirit and knowing that “this too shall pass”.

    2 months ago
  12. Yram

    Seeing and being in nature
    Authors and art work
    Talking to friends and family
    Reaching out to others
    Doing a creative activity
    Being quiet
    Going down a rabbit hole on the computer
    Playing games
    Just getting up and move

    2 months ago
  13. Antoinette

    The meditation practice that teaches How to let go !

    2 months ago
  14. Laura

    Family and friends help. Journaling has pulled me through some dark times, being able to express myself unfiltered provides release and reassurance.

    2 months ago
  15. Pilgrim

    First, my family and friends, their wisdom, listening and support. Reference to my past experiences in many directions that held me firm in a storm also helps.

    2 months ago
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