{"id":598,"date":"2012-04-23T07:20:41","date_gmt":"2012-04-23T07:20:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/flightofthesoul\/?p=598"},"modified":"2012-04-24T08:24:55","modified_gmt":"2012-04-24T08:24:55","slug":"what-a-difference-a-year-makes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/flightofthesoul\/2012\/04\/what-a-difference-a-year-makes.html","title":{"rendered":"What a Difference a Year Makes"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Being<\/a>Standing in the kitchen talking to two of my dear friends over a hot cup of tea we came to a sudden realization looking at each other and said. “What a difference a year makes.”<\/p>\n

Never had a statement resonated with such a beautiful gong ringing zest.<\/p>\n

After all we had been through last year we were happy to be alive. We were happy that we were together and in so many ways felt blessed that in our own way we were celebrating.<\/p>\n

The previous year they had been diagnosed with colon cancer and leukemia – respectively – causing all the requisite upending of life. In my own case, I related. Last year while my health was good I was in a massive crisis and was wading through so much psychic material having reached the end of the line with my deeply unfortunate past patterns that would not quit.<\/p>\n

Happily we were all alive. Each of us had dealt with death and come out the other side. We each had a working understanding of what it was like to surrender to that which we can not change and having been through our experiences we each had developed a tenor of acceptance and a mechanism to live in uncertainty and to allow a process to unfold over which our imagined control had no possibility of being believed.<\/p>\n

There had been so much fear. So much pain and in equal parts so much healing that had to take place for all of us to be standing together in the kitchen making this statement.<\/p>\n

My one friend just back from Venezuela where he met a woman and asked her to marry him. He reasoned “I love her. I lover her son. What am I waiting for?”<\/p>\n

I agreed. “Nothing. This time next year we’ll all be a year older and we can make any change we need to make. Happily ever after is moment to moment.”<\/p>\n

Starting now.<\/p>\n

We never know what lies ahead or if this breath will be our last.<\/p>\n

God willing we will be given more tomorrows.<\/p>\n

Every time I make a choice to expand my heart, answering the call and being in service to my soul’s growth I am rewarded with warmth and love and a full knowing I have this moment. I have this time to be myself, to share who I am and I have this moment to be fully with who is in front of me and love them fully and eternally leaving it all in the moment.<\/p>\n

Because.<\/p>\n

That might be it. All I am given.<\/p>\n

My dear friends and I feel nothing but gratitude.<\/p>\n

In hearing their story. In listening to their troubles and triumphs and in understanding the healing of body, the minds perceptions that had taken place I know that I am every story. I am that person. I am that.<\/p>\n

AND I am better for everything that I have overcome.<\/p>\n

I remember to be happy with what I have. I practice loving with all my heart and take the action I know in my heart needs to be done.<\/p>\n

I Love in the moment and live my life in the explosive intensity of now.<\/p>\n