Thursday 25 February 2010

It's time to put a spring in your step!

This has been one of the wettest and snowiest winters I have experienced while living in Spain. Since December, we’ve had rain, snow or some combination of the two falling from the sky nearly every day. It was getting hard to remember what the sun looked like.

Living on a mountain means that we don’t have to worry about flooding. But that doesn’t mean that the ground doesn’t get so soggy that you feel like you’re about to lose a boot with every step while attempting to prevent cabin fever from setting in.

But at long last there has been a change in the weather. The sun is shining. The daffodils are trying to poke through. Even the sheep have ventured out from their shelter to graze and frolic in the meadows. And I have to say that I share their excitement and enthusiasm for being freed from indoor confinement.

The weather here is so changeable. We’ve got the sea on one side and snow-capped mountains on the other. I have never lived anywhere else that gets every form of weather possible. We can get winds, fog, gales, hail, sleet, snow and sunshine all in the same day. My heart goes out to the poor weatherman who does his best but rarely manages to produce accurate forecasts.

What is constantly happening on the weather front here seems to me to be a perfect metaphor for life. You never quite know what’s about to happen. Those pretty, puffy clouds give the sky a Simpsons effect. But they could signify that the heavens are shortly about to open. You just never know.

Jobs and ongoing projects, on the other hand, are more predictable in the sense that they don’t stop. The animals have to be fed. The hedges have to be maintained. The renovation and restoration work on my farmhouse still needs to be done. The work doesn’t go away just because we cannot get to it.

I’ve come to learn that you really do have to make hay while the sun is shining. And this nugget has become something of a teacher and motivator for me. When the rains stop and the clouds break, I have to grab that opportunity to do some work outside with both hands.

Sometimes when the weather breaks, it’s not the ideal time to shift the schedule around. Sometimes when the sun returns, I would rather be doing something else than dropping everything to work outside. But then I think back to what I heard Dolly Parton say once in an interview talking about her hectic professional life – “You live once and then you’ll be dead a very long time.” (Now, let’s put aside any debate or discussion on reincarnation for the moment!) There’s just so much truth, wisdom and magic in the sentiment of her words.

Hurrah – the seasons are changing! And after a long, dark winter, sometimes the best tonic for our bodies and souls is to embrace nature. I urge everyone to try to get outside and do something active. After all, study after study has shown how physical activity enhances our attitudes and elevates our moods.

Get yourself out of the office if only for a stroll around the block or ideally in a park. Shun the gym for a walk or cycle to work. And when you arrive, leave your colleagues in the elevator while you take the stairs. By getting your heart pumping and doing more outdoors to connect with nature, you’ll find you perceive things in such a better light.

As you know, I’m an advocate for being active in one’s health be it spiritual or physical. Don’t sit around waiting for things to happen. Get out there and make them happen.

It’s a straightforward and powerful philosophy. And it takes motivation. Sometimes we know exactly what needs to be done and how to do it. Sometimes, however, it’s not that simple. Sometimes we need a helpful but firm hand to guide us. If you find yourself in the latter category, then consider my Intuitive Life Coaching services.

Every day I work with clients who have chosen to empower themselves to make the changes that they need to live a healthier and more authentic life. Through my Intuitive Life Coaching I provide one-on-one sessions to guide and inspire my clients to do it for themselves, whereas my Medical Intuitive Readings help identify the spiritual issues underlying illness. If you are ready to accept that challenge and behold the awesome potential of your own powerhouse, then let’s get started today!

And don’t forget about my Journey to Power forums. Please join me there and let me hear what you have to say on what I’ve written here. I look forward to your postings!

I always welcome your thoughts and feedback on IntuitiveBridges, so let me hear from you by clicking here.

Until next week,

Kindest regards,

Back To Top