Hello—
and welcome to this last Summer SwaffWords© from The Archives.
Next week we'll be fully into autumn / spring and I'll resume offering new material, along with helpful companion pieces and other resources.
So for this summer swan song, I decided to reflect on the various pieces of how we build our lives and see what that might teach us.
When we’re willing to take a step or two back from a current challenge, we can begin to see common threads and motifs that run throughout our lives. All those experiences that seemed random, disjointed or even a waste at the time begin to come into focus as a more complete image—what I call the tapestry of our lives. To illustrate and trace the arc of this concept, I thought I'd draw on a few examples from my
own life:
"The Backstory" (2:54)—Dare to consider the backstory of someone. It will fill in blanks, explain how they got to this moment, and give you a much broader perspective on them. It also creates
breathing room for deeper understanding, compassion and forgiveness.
"AHA Moment" (2:44)—There are certain times in our lives that end up being major course corrections and life altering moments. Sometimes they’re small whispers and other times they’re loud bellows. These “AHA” moments can set us in an entirely new direction—one that
perhaps we’d never considered.
"Through the Book" (1:27)—When we’re beginning a new area of our “tapestry”, we tend to dive into all the info we can get—soaking up facts, styles, protocols, and even minutia. But in the long run, all that info is really only a doorway. It’s up to us to
cross the threshold and step into this rich new aspect of our lives.
"Straight, no Chaser" (3:15)—This will give you an idea of the current culmination of all my varied experience, work, and learning. It shows the full circle that emerges not only in certain aspects of our tapestries but also in the full tapestry itself. Note that I said current culmination,
rather than completion. The weaving continues…
How do these concepts land with you? Where are you in your weaving practice? Are you just beginning to choose the threads and color scheme of an area? or are you putting the finishing touches on it? Weigh in with your take by commenting.
"Like a quilter, your words transform my patchwork into a framework."
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In the meantime, may you continue to weave your lovely tapestry, taking time to step back and not only notice but also savor all the riches that you've created in your life. Well done!
Here's to You and your continued healing.
Stay safe and well.
Onwards—gently.
Until next time—
Thanks much.
Cheers,
Steph
Stephanie Swafford, BCPP, BFRP
"When It’s Time to Listen To Your Self"
