Posted: 7/29/2011 | Personal Development	Comments
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Our mind is capable of passing beyond the dividing line we have drawn for it. Beyond the pairs of opposites of which the world consists, other, new insights begin …

 –Herman Hesse

Summer arrived in New York and there have been many sweltering days in the city– phew!  A few weeks ago, I took a walk along the Hudson River where it was a little cooler. I watched interesting people, enjoyed the scent of all the lovely roses on my path along with the scent of New York (which isn’t quite as lovely.) I helped a cute French couple on the subway find their way to the library. I enjoyed smiling at people and seeing them relax in response. My day was filled with sweet and simple moments.

Life always brims with contrast, but never so much in my memory as right now. This feels like a most profound time for me. I’m experiencing important events with opposing feelings, both very difficult and wonderful. In my business and career, I have numerous and exciting projects in the works, including having been involved in many recent teleconferences, a book being shopped by my agent to publishers and still the possibility to be part of a show on the OWN network. I’ve also had the great pleasure of interviewing amazing individuals, people I’ve always wanted to connect with, on my radio show. It’s fulfilling and exhilarating.

At the same time, my father who had been very ill for a relatively short time, just passed and I’m finding myself navigating the waters of being with all of it: the pain, the sadness, the memories, the grief, the beauty and the love. It’s not all tied up with a pretty bow– it’s difficult and complex.

Most spiritual and philosophical teachings acknowledge the yin and the yang of life. Some speak of the “reconciliation of opposites.” Simply put, as we grow in our psychological and spiritual capacity we can learn to hold all of life’s opposites, the light and dark, great joy and deep sorrow, and all that lies in between. An essential part of our journey is learning to be with whatever arises in life, including the polarity of thoughts and feelings that accompany our challenges and victories. This learning actually helps us embrace the power of life’s poignancy and its preciousness.

Of course, events in our lives are always open to interpretation. We are who assigns meaning to them, deciding whether they’re good, bad or both. As we grow, change and allow our egos to heal, we can begin to see events from a larger perspective. Circumstances that in the past would have caused us great pain for a long while are now resolved more quickly within us. Life becomes fuller, richer and more tender. We come to see the beauty and sweetness in simple moments as well as complex ones.

I want to once again express how grateful I was for my friends and for our community. Your prayers, good thoughts and sweet messages regarding the passing of my father will always be with me.  You gave me so much solace as I walked through this life passage with grief, deep reflection and penetrating transformation.

I look forward to hearing how you navigate the sorrows, the pain, the challenges, the exciting, and the everyday. By making a comment, your sharing makes a difference for all of us.