This year has already been full of unanticipated events around the world changing life for all of us. It has reminded me that we are all one on this earth. I remember when my universe consisted only of the street I lived on as a little girl. As I grew up, my circle became larger and larger. Thanks to technology today we are able to see and talk to people all over this earth without traveling. The pandemic has affected many countries and racism is not just an American problem. The bond we feel with our fellow humans worldwide is strong.
At the beginning of each year I choose a word to guide me for the year ahead. For 2020 I chose the word, BELIEVE. What an appropriate word for all of us today. As our year progresses, my thoughts on its meaning have changed and I have stretched forward from what I need to believe in to what we all can aspire towards.
I spent three days last week attending a virtual seminar on how to plan and offer a virtual retreat. In my mind, the word retreat describes people coming together in a physical space away from their everyday living to take time to get away from it all, to renew and refresh. A time for reflection in a location that provides peace and serenity. Women still need to be together, even in the midst of a pandemic. A virtual retreat can provide a sense of community and allow time away from what is stressful to nurture ourselves. I will be emailing a survey to many of you to hear your voice, to determine how to stretch forward in a safe, virtual world. We have strayed off the path for a short time, but life is still worth celebrating. We start by taking baby steps.
Stretching Forward
never backward
looking at where I am today
and hoping for a better tomorrow
Grateful for today
with the sun and flowers
Hopeful for tomorrow
keeping the faith until then
One moment at a time
Stretching Forward
